The Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) and Spain’s development agency AECID have signed two cooperation agreements worth €16 million to strengthen resilience, inclusion, and regional integration across West Africa under their 2025–2028 programme.

The partnership will support rural development, gender equality, and the empowerment of women and girls, while investing in agriculture, food security, energy access, infrastructure, and institutional capacity building, in line with ECOWAS Vision 2050.

ECOWAS Commission President Omar Alieu Touray described the deal as the bloc’s most significant cooperation with a regional partner in Africa, emphasizing mutual interests over aid dependency.

AECID Director Antón Leis García reaffirmed Spain’s long-term commitment, calling the programme a structural investment in sustainable development.

The agreements aim to boost regional stability, economic growth, and deliver tangible benefits to communities, especially women and girls, across West Africa.

ECOWAS is a 15-member regional bloc working to promote economic integration, peace, and stability across the region through coordinated policies and development programmes.

AECID serves as Spain’s main development cooperation body, supporting sustainable growth, humanitarian assistance, and institutional strengthening worldwide.

Their latest €16 million partnership builds on years of collaboration to advance resilience, inclusion, and long-term development in West Africa.