Abuja, Nigeria – On Friday, November 10, 2017, The United States Government and the Economic Community for West African States (ECOWAS) reaffirmed their commitment and collaboration to strengthen harmonization and delivery of development programs that aid millions of people throughout West Africa. Alex Deprez, Mission Director, U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID)/West Africa and the President of ECOWAS, Marcel de Souza, recognized the multi-year Development Agreement between the two institutions.

Under this Development Agreement, originally signed by the President of the ECOWAS Commission, Kadre Desire Ouedraogo, and USAID West Africa Regional Mission Director, Alex Deprez, on November 19, 2015, the U.S. Government will provide up to $298 million over the five year-period of 2015 to 2020 in support of ECOWAS priorities, including:

• Strengthening Democratic Institutions;
• Enhancing Economic Growth, Trade and Investment;
• Advancing Peace and Security; and
• Increasing Opportunity and Development in Sub-Saharan Africa.

Friday’s signing ceremony , held at the ECOWAS Commission headquarters, also obligated an additional $31.6 million, bringing the total funds obligated to date to $143.3 million.  Notably, of the obligated amount, $25.5 million will support Countering Violent Extremism activities in the region.

USAID’s West Africa Regional Mission Director reiterated the U.S. Government’s commitment to supporting African-led solutions by supporting regional organizations to better deliver on their respective mandates. He acknowledged that USAID’s regional development cooperation strategy also supports key U.S. Government initiatives including Trade Africa, Feed the Future, Global Health, Global Climate Change, and the Trans-Sahara Counterterrorism Partnership.

This ceremony underscores the deep and longstanding cooperation between the United States Government, through USAID/West Africa, and ECOWAS. Mr. Deprez hopes that the signing of this Development Objective Agreement will help both institutions achieve their shared goals to “reduce violent extremism, reduce poverty, and improve the health and livelihoods of people across the region.”