Abuja, Nigeria, 13 December 2016 –The Economic Community for West African States (ECOWAS) and the United States Government signed a certificate of recognition in attestation of the multi-year Development Agreement between the two institutions, originally signed on November 21, 2015.

Under this agreement signed by the President of the ECOWAS Commission, Marcel de Souza, and the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) West Africa Regional Mission Director, Alexandre Deprez, the U.S. Government will provide up to U.S. $221 million over the period of five years, 2015 – 2019 in support of activities promoting ECOWAS priorities.

Under the agreement, USAID will support the strengthening of democratic institutions, enhance economic growth, Trade and investment as well as Peace and Security in the region. Over the five year period, the agreement aims to also increase opportunities and development in Sub-Sahara Africa in the health and education sectors.

Following the initial obligation and various amendments, today’s signing ceremony witnessed the obligation of an additional $23 million, bringing the total funds obligated to date to $92 million.

U.S. Ambassador to Nigeria, W. Stuart Symington witnessed the signing of the agreement at the ECOWAS headquarters. Ambassador Symington reiterated the U.S. Government’s commitment to supporting African regional organizations to better deliver on their respective mandates. He acknowledged that the goal of the USAID’s regional development cooperation strategy is to support key U.S. Government initiatives including Trade Africa, Feed the Future, Global Health, Global Climate Change and the Trans-Sahara Counterterrorism Partnership.

As a symbolic gesture, this ceremony underscored the deep and longstanding cooperation between the United States Government through the United States Agency for International Development, USAID West Africa and the ECOWAS. Ambassador Symington hoped that this signing ceremony will help both institutions to achieve the desired goals.