ECOWAS Vice President commends committee members

The ECOWAS Vice President, Dr. Toga McIntosh has commended members of the organization’s Strategic Planning Coordinating Committee (SPCC) for the high degree of commitment displayed during a 3-day meeting which ended in Lagos, on Saturday, 11^th July, 2015.

In his closing remark at the margin of the 10^th meeting of the SPCC, Dr. McIntosh expressed satisfaction with the effort invested by members and the quality of job done to examine the draft Community Strategic Framework (CSF) 2016 – 2020 as well as the Strategic Action Programme of ECOWAS Institutions and Agencies, saying that this was a sign of their involvement and commitment to the process of delivering a comprehensive and implementable CSF.

The Committee reviewed the five goal areas of the detailed CSF and the associated strategic objectives, themes, priority areas, expected outcomes and basic assumptions and then made relevant recommendations.

The CSF goal areas include deepening the process of socio-economic development in Member States, forging and consolidating production, trade and monetary integration within the Community, deepening the process of political cohesion and participation, consolidating, mobilizing and sustaining societal and industrial support as well as expanding and improving infrastructural facilities within the region.

During the meeting, the Committee formulated a template that will help participants to ensure that every programme is linked to the Community goal. According to the ECOWAS Director of Strategic Planning, Mr. Essien Abel Essien, the template will bring discipline and ensure that the CSF is strictly implemented.

The ECOWAS Chief Internal Auditor, Mr. Sidiki Traore during the meeting debriefed the Committee on the procurement of the Risk Management Software (RMS) emphasizing the need for institutionalization of the software.

Fifteen ECOWAS Institutions, Agencies and the offices of the Financial Controller and the Chief Internal Auditor attended the GIZ sponsored meeting.

The 11^th meeting of the Committee will be hosted in Bobo Dioulasso by the West African Health Organization (WAHO) while the Dakar based GIABA will similarly host an extraordinary meeting in September to populate the SAP.