The Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) has announced a need for approximately $300 million to fund peace initiatives across the West African sub-region over the next five years. This sum is critical to the success of the ECOWAS Peace Fund (EPF), which aims to implement a strategic plan from 2021 to 2025.
To discuss the way forward, ECOWAS recently convened a meeting with partners and stakeholders in Abuja. During the meeting, Dieudonne Nikiema, Manager of the ECOWAS Peace Fund and Capacity Department of Political Affairs, Peace & Security (PAP), emphasized the importance of securing resources—both financial and technical—to ensure the fund can operate independently of the ECOWAS Commission.
Since its inception in 2006, the EPF has focused on mobilizing financial resources, managing the fund, and coordinating donor-funded peace and security projects. The fund has raised over $1 million in cash from bilateral donors and €68 million from multilateral partners, facilitating the funding of 40 peace initiatives at a cost of $15.7 million. Significant portions of this funding have supported peacekeeping operations in Guinea-Bissau and The Gambia, totaling $38 million.
At the meeting, Dr. Tony Elumelu, ECOWAS Director in Charge of the Private Sector, highlighted the crucial role of a peaceful environment for business growth, stressing that the private sector is eager to support initiatives that ensure stability in the region. He emphasized that the private sector’s participation is essential for the fund’s success, as businesses are drawn to regions where peace and security foster a conducive investment climate.
The meeting concluded with a consensus on the need for a robust structure for the EPF, one that could efficiently mobilize and manage resources to meet the diverse needs of the ECOWAS community across its 15 member states.
