In a landmark ceremony today at the ECOWAS Commission headquarters, West Africa’s leading regional organization reinforced its commitment to food security, rural development, and social cohesion with the launch of the West Africa Milk Offensive Support Project (PAOLAO) and the signing of the financing agreement for the Regional Project to Strengthen a Platform of Solutions in Support of Pastoralism and Livestock Farming in West Africa (PEPISAO II). Attended by diplomatic representatives from France, regional officials, ECOWAS Directors, and stakeholders from the agricultural sector, the event highlighted the critical role of partnerships in addressing regional development challenges.
Speaking to an audience of policymakers and technical experts, the President of the ECOWAS Commission, H.E. Dr Omar Alieu Touray, described the projects as cornerstones for transforming the region’s agricultural landscape, improving livelihoods, and mitigating sources of conflict linked to pastoralism and food scarcity. He stressed that these initiatives are designed to reach local communities directly, strengthen economic resilience, and foster inclusive growth, particularly for women and youth. “The success of these projects depends on robust collaboration and strategic investment,” the President of the Commission said, acknowledging the vital support of the French Development Agency. “By promoting local milk production, enhancing cross-border pastoral systems, and supporting regional value chains, we are delivering tangible benefits to the people and laying the foundations for an ECOWAS of peace, prosperity, and resilience by 2050.”
