ECOWAS, UNHCR Rolls-Out $500,000 Humanitarian Lifeline for Refugees, Displaced Persons in Senegal. By Raymond Enoch
In a bold demonstration of regional solidarity and commitment to human dignity, the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), in partnership with the Government of Senegal and the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), has launched a major humanitarian assistance initiative aimed at improving the lives of refugees, internally displaced persons (IDPs), stateless persons, and asylum seekers across Senegal.
The initiative, valued at US$500,993, was officially unveiled in Dakar at a high-level ceremony that brought together senior government officials, development partners, humanitarian actors, and representatives of affected communities. The event underscored ECOWAS’ growing leadership role in addressing displacement and humanitarian challenges in West Africa through coordinated, people-centered solutions.
Speaking at the launch, the ECOWAS Commissioner for Human Development and Social Affairs, Prof. Fatou Sow Sarr, reaffirmed the Community’s commitment to protecting vulnerable populations, stressing that displacement remains one of the region’s most pressing humanitarian concerns. She noted that the initiative reflects ECOWAS’ vision of inclusive development, social cohesion, and durable solutions for displaced populations within Member States.
The programme is being implemented by the Government of Senegal through the National Committee for the Management of the Situation of Repatriated Refugees and Displaced Persons (CNRRPD), with technical and operational support from UNHCR. It is designed to deliver life-saving assistance, strengthen livelihoods, and reduce vulnerabilities among displaced populations, while also easing socio-economic pressures on host communities.
Representatives of displaced communities from Casamance and Mauritanian refugees settled in the Senegal River Valley were present at the event, lending a human face to the regional intervention. Their participation highlighted the urgent need for sustained humanitarian action that goes beyond emergency relief to support long-term resilience and peaceful coexistence.
Also in attendance were senior officials of the Senegalese government, including the Chief of Staff to the President of the Republic, who also serves as Chairman of the CNRRPD, alongside diplomats, civil society actors, and international development partners.
Speakers emphasized that the initiative aligns with Senegal’s national priorities and international protection frameworks.
UNHCR representatives described the programme as a critical step toward strengthening national capacities for refugee protection and advancing durable solutions, including local integration and self-reliance, in line with global refugee and displacement commitments.
As forced displacement continues to challenge stability and development across West Africa, the ECOWAS-UNHCR-Senegal partnership signals a renewed resolve to place people at the centre of regional integration, ensuring that no one is left behind regardless of status or circumstance.
