9th Steering Committee Charts New Path in Abuja Talks, As ECOWAS, Germany Strengthen Regional Stabilization Efforts.
By Raymond Enoch
The Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) and the Federal Republic of Germany have reaffirmed their strong partnership and shared commitment to advancing peace, stability, and sustainable development across West Africa. This came as the 9th Steering Committee Meeting of the ECOWAS Regional Stabilization and Development Fund (FRSD) convened at the ECOWAS Commission Headquarters in Abuja, Nigeria.
The high-level meeting was co-chaired by the Vice President of the ECOWAS Commission, H.E. Damtien L. Tchintchibidja, and Mr. Christoph Rauh, Director for Africa at the German Federal Ministry of Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ). It brought together senior representatives from ECOWAS, BMZ, the German Embassy in Nigeria, Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ), Kreditanstalt für Wiederaufbau (KfW), and the Fund Management Unit (FMU).
The Committee reviewed progress in the implementation of ongoing stabilization and development projects in Guinea-Bissau, Togo, and Benin, and assessed ongoing interventions in The Gambia. It also provided strategic guidance for upcoming implementation phases and deliberated on strengthening the Fund’s institutional and operational frameworks to enhance sustainability and long-term impact.
Participants further discussed plans for post-2026 interventions, explored institutional options for the Fund’s future structure, and identified new potential beneficiary countries within the ECOWAS region. The meeting also examined strategies to attract non-traditional donors as part of efforts to diversify and strengthen the Fund’s financial base.
The FRSD remains a cornerstone of ECOWAS’s peacebuilding and development strategy, serving as a key mechanism for addressing post-conflict challenges, promoting regional stability, and fostering inclusive growth across West Africa.
