ECOWAS, GIZ Holds Retreat, Set New 2026 Communication Strategic Work Plan.
By Raymond Enoch
The Communication Directorate of the ECOWAS Commission and the Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) has converged in Lagos for a two-day retreat that could redefine how West Africa communicates its collective vision in 2026.
Backed by the Government of Germany, the high-level retreat brought together communication experts from ECOWAS institutions and agencies to fine-tune three key instruments — the draft ECOWAS Communication Strategy, the Communication and Information Policy, and the 2026 Joint Work Plan. The exercise focused on aligning institutional narratives, strengthening visibility, and creating a unified voice for the subregion’s premier economic community.
Participants engaged in rigorous discussions aimed at ensuring the new communication framework reflects ECOWAS’ renewed priorities of integration, peacebuilding, and sustainable development. The Lagos retreat also provided a platform to refine technical approaches and synchronize strategic messaging across member states.
The outcomes of the meeting will inform a broader regional review and validation session slated for the first quarter of 2026. The initiative, they noted, underscores ECOWAS’ growing commitment to strategic communication, transparency, and collaboration — ensuring the organization’s voice resonates clearly from the ECOWAS Member States and beyond.
