ECOWAS deepens EU cooperation to improve disaster response in West Africa

The Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) has stepped up efforts to strengthen disaster preparedness and response across West Africa following a five-day study visit to Germany and Belgium.

The visit, held from October 12 to 16, brought the ECOWAS Commission into contact with the European Union Civil Protection Mechanism (UCPM) and other European civil protection institutions to learn best practices in disaster management.

The discussions focused on early warning systems, coordination among institutions, rapid response operations and resource mobilisation.

According to ECOWAS, lessons from the visit will support the development of its Regional Cooperation and Solidarity Mechanism for disaster preparedness and response.

The initiative forms part of a project titled Strengthening Disaster Preparedness and Early Warning Systems in West Africa, funded by the European Union through its Directorate-General for European Civil Protection and Humanitarian Aid Operations (DG ECHO).

The project is being implemented by the ECOWAS Commission with technical support from the United Nations Office for Disaster Risk Reduction (UNDRR).

It seeks to improve regional coordination, strengthen disaster risk reduction and climate services, and ensure better cooperation among early warning and civil protection systems.

ECOWAS said the initiative aims to build a more resilient West Africa with improved capacity to anticipate, prepare for and respond to disasters.