The ECOWAS Representation in Benin and the West African Health Organisation (WAHO) held a “Multi-stakeholder Dialogue for a more active citizen participation in the full realisation of the ECOWAS of peoples”

The ECOWAS Representation to the Republic of Benin, the Government of Benin and the West African Health Organisation (WAHO), in collaboration with the University of Abomey-Calavi and the Union of ECOWAS Nationals in Benin (UN-ECOWAS) organised a Forum on the theme: Multi-stakeholder dialogues for a more active participation of citizens in the full realisation of the ECOWAS of peoples. The Forum was held at the Idriss Déby ITNO auditorium of the University of Abomey-Calavi (UAC) on 30 and 31 May 2024 as part of the commemoration of the 49th anniversary of ECOWAS in Benin.

The aim of the Forum was to create a space for multi-stakeholder dialogue to encourage more committed citizen participation in making ECOWAS a people’s organisation, by enabling participants, mainly the various target groups involved in implementing ECOWAS policies, to (i) explain regional integration through the objectives, achievements and major accomplishments of ECOWAS, (ii) prevent fake news and misinformation about ECOWAS, (iii) understand the crisis affecting the institution, (iv) and develop a sense of community citizenship.

Held over two (02) days, the Forum brought together a number of stakeholders: Beninese authorities, Members of Parliament, the ECOWAS diplomatic corps in Benin, civil society actors, regional integration experts from Togo, Côte d’Ivoire and other countries, the twelve (12) ECOWAS communities living in Benin, brought together within the UN-ECOWAS, students and ECOWAS citizens.

ECOWAS agencies and institutions (West African Health Organisation, Regional Agency for Agriculture and Food, West African Power Pool, Zone E Multinational Maritime Coordination Centre, Office of the Vice-President, Political Affairs, Peace and Security Department) as well as partners such as the African Development Bank (AfDB) and the International Organisation for Migration in Benin (IOM-Benin) also took part in this important meeting.

In addition to the address by Ambassador Amadou DIONGUE, Resident Representative, the opening ceremony of the Forum featured words of welcome from Professor Félicien AVLESSI, Rector of the University of Abomey-Calavi, the address by Chief Uneke OKEREKE, 1st Vice-President of the Union of ECOWAS Nationals (UN-ECOWAS), the address by H. E. Mr Sidu N. TIGGI, Acting Chargé d’affaires  of the Federal Republic of Nigeria to the Republic of Benin, representing the current Presidency of ECOWAS, and the opening speech by Mrs MASSIM-OUALI AFFO Alice, Deputy Secretary General, representing the Minister of State, Minister of the Economy and Finance, in charge of Cooperation.

The Forum began with an inaugural lecture by Pr Nassirou BAKO-ARIFARI, former Minister of Foreign Affairs and Member of Parliament, representing Benin at the ECOWAS Parliament, on the theme “ECOWAS of States and Peoples: a construction site at a crossroads”.

The panelists then discussed four major themes. The session ended with a brainstorming session to build solutions with all the participants: Experiences and perceptions of ECOWAS by grassroots communities (panel 1), Institutional architecture and governance of ECOWAS: state of play, capitalisation and lessons learned (panel 2), Major achievements of ECOWAS: assessment and prospects (panel 3), Emerging threats to peace and security: issues of peace, security, elections and unconstitutional changes of power (panel 4).

During the forum, citizens of the Community were surprised to learn of the existence of ECOWAS projects/programmes in various areas that affect their daily lives, particularly in the public health, agriculture, food, energy and infrastructure sectors, carried out by ECOWAS itself or through the intermediary of their States or selected NGOs. They called for major reforms to build a more efficient ECOWAS, more capable of meeting the challenges facing the region.