ECOWAS advances social protection capacity

ECOWAS advances social protection capacityThe Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) is making significant strides in enhancing its social protection systems through a comprehensive five-day workshop taking place in Abuja from September 16 to 20, 2024.

This initiative, spearheaded by a consortium of experts in collaboration with key international organizations such as the International Labour Organization (ILO), United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF), and the African Union, aims to cultivate a network of proficient social protection leaders throughout Africa.

The workshop adopts a system-strengthening approach, focusing on improving the design and operational efficiency of social systems.

Central to the workshop’s agenda is the objective of bolstering the capacity of ECOWAS staff to effectively implement the Social Protection Framework while fostering enhanced collaboration among social protection stakeholders within the region.

This effort marks a vital step toward establishing an inclusive social safety net in West Africa, equipping ECOWAS to tackle broader socio-economic challenges faced by its member states.

This timely workshop follows the historic validation of the ECOWAS Social Protection Framework and its Operational Plan in November 2023. During that pivotal gathering, social protection experts and ministers from ECOWAS member states convened to endorse the framework, which was subsequently recommended to the ECOWAS Council of Ministers for formal adoption.

The ECOWAS Social Protection Framework aims to address some of the most urgent challenges confronting member states regarding the design and implementation of social protection programs.

It specifically targets critical issues such as financing, coverage gaps, and coordination—long-standing hurdles that have impeded the region’s capacity to provide comprehensive social safety nets for its citizens.

In her opening remarks, Dr. Sintiki Tarfa-Ugbe, the ECOWAS Director of Humanitarian and Social Affairs, represented by Dr. Daniel Amankwaah, P.P.O, Law Enforcement (Drugs), emphasized the essential role of enhanced social protection systems in Africa’s broader fight against poverty.

She stated, “Strengthening these systems directly supports the achievement of Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 1, which aims to eradicate poverty in all its forms.” Dr. Sintiki highlighted that the framework aligns with SDG target 1.3, which calls for the establishment of nationally appropriate social protection systems and measures for all, particularly for the most vulnerable groups.

Furthermore, the training aligns with ECOWAS’s strategic objectives outlined in the 4×4 Strategic Objectives and the ECOWAS Community Strategic Framework (Strategic Orientation 16). The Regional ECOWAS Social Protection Framework is a crucial component in realizing these goals.

Dr. Sintiki noted the importance of improving coordination among stakeholders to ensure that the framework achieves its intended impact.

“By empowering social protection leaders and reinforcing regional cooperation, ECOWAS is laying the groundwork for a more robust and inclusive social safety net across West Africa,” she added, highlighting the region’s capacity to better address its social and economic challenges.

Mrs. Adebisi Arije, Partnership Manager (ECOWAS) at UNICEF, praised the ECOWAS Social Protection Framework as a significant indicator of the importance placed on social protection and the strengthening of social protection systems and mechanisms, particularly in humanitarian and fragile settings.

She remarked, “The UN organizations consider this a milestone and are willing to support ECOWAS and its member states in its full implementation.”

The transformative training provided by this workshop sets the stage for future progress, demonstrating ECOWAS’s unwavering commitment to creating a more secure and equitable future for the people of West Africa.