ECOWAS To Expend $9m On IDPs And Refugees
By Adoba Echono
The Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) said it has released $9 million for humanitarian activities within the region in 2024.
The ECOWAS Commissioner for Human Development and Social Affairs, Professor Fatou Sow Sarr, disclosed this at a press conference in Abuja, Nigeria.
She said ECOWAS has released 9 million dollars for internally displaced people, refugees, asylum seekers, as well as for the communities that welcome them in all 15 member countries.”
“ECOWAS has allocated $1 million for stabilization in Nigeria (victims of terrorism, displaced people, injured people, rehabilitation and strengthening community resilience,” she added.
Out of a fund of 25 million dollars intended for the fight against terrorism in Nigeria, Burkina, Mali and Niger, ECOWAS has reserved 4 million dollars for humanitarian actions, the Commissioner said.
. ‘She said ECOWAS emphasizes prevention, saying the regional bloc had a disaster reduction strategy and tools which allow it to monitor displaced populations and floods, anticipate problems and better manage crises.
“Humanitarian actions constitute an important concern because of multiple crises and population displacements, to which we must add climate change and natural disasters. It should be noted that whatever the situation, even in the event of sanctions, ECOWAS humanitarian actions never stop.
Guinea, under sanctions received nearly 600,000 dollars in January 2024, namely: 100,000 dollars for the fire at the oil depot and 499,390 dollars for the floods,” she said.
She disclosed that between 2023 and 2024 ECOWAS spent over $26 million on humanitarian activities in West Africa.
The Commissioner also disclosed that there were plans to host ECOWAS Youth Forum in the coming month.
The forum, she said is “to take stock of the current situation, identify the changes and ruptures which have led to the general malaise observed in the sub-region.
“Consultations will be organized in member countries by bringing together young people concerned in their geographic, social and socio-professional diversity.”
“At the end of the process, the ECOWAS meetings will be organized in a member country, allowing the regional organization to review its policy, strategy and roadmap accordingly.”
Professor Sarr said the regional bloc also supported sport federations in the region with $100,000 each per year.
She said the regional body supported startups in scientific innovation with the sum of $50,000 in the area of youth innovation.
Professor Sarr said a total of $700,000 was used for the training of 30 young people from the region in Masters and PHD programmes.
She also revealed that countries under sanctions were not excluded from the humanitarian gesture of the regional body.
“ECOWAS works to promote the spirit of volunteering among young people to give them opportunity for professional development, enhance their civic engagement and foster their conscience for community service.”
Professor Sarr also listed other sporting activities and Union supported to include the Union of deaf sports associations, university sport development organizations.
ECOWAS cycling tours Lagos- Accra 2010, Lagos Abidjan 2012.
“The ECOWAS Game Event that included 5 to 6 sports disciplines were organized in 2009 and 2011,” she added.
She also said ECOWAS supported the Entrepreneurship project and youth mentoring Business incubation project.
She listed the area of training to include “Training in agrosylvopastoral farming from 2010-2018 at the Shanghai Center for 1,300 young people
“Training in refrigeration and air conditioning, auto mechanics in Burkina between 2014 and 2019 for 500 young people
“Training in building electricity in Mali for 500 young people.”
Professor Sarr also revealed that ECOWAS initiated cooperation with the People’s Republic of China in 2023 to support young people, “Thus 12 entrepreneurship projects for young people in the sub-region received an awardcompetitors out of a total of 100 worldwide.”
In the area of Science Education, the ECOWAS Commissioner said the programs of the Directorate of Education, Science and Culture focus largely on young people, we can cite
“The academic mobility and professional integration program for young people within ECOWAS institutions, which from 2016 to 2024 enrolled 845 young people.”
“The youth integration program in industries and the private sector in ECOWAS countries, which benefitted 180 young people between 2021 and 2022.”
Sarr added that: “Since 2019 ECOWAS has sent 42 young people for master’s degrees in diplomacy and international relations in Spain.
“Support for young people through prizes to the most successful startups in scientific innovation ($50,000).
“With PARI (Research and Innovation Support Program) from 2018 to 2024, it was possible to train more than 30 young people in Masters and PHD through funds donated to research consortia, for a total of $700,000.”
She also said the commission was supported the youths during film and art festivals, ad prizes were awarded to young artists.
For the ECOWAS Gender Center, Sarr said: “1,720 excellence scholarships were distributed from 2010 to 2022 to young girls from disadvantaged families.”
The Commissioner also revealed that there are plans to host ECOWAS Youth Forum in the coming month.
The forum which will be extended by webinars to reach a larger number of people, television shows and radio debates, she said “will allow populations in each country to know that ECOWAS is looking into youth problems.
