ECOWAS Allocates $9 Million for Humanitarian Assistance in Nigeria, Others

• ECOWAS has allocated $9 million for humanitarian activities, focusing on IDPs, refugees, asylum seekers, and host communities across West Africa
• Specifically for Nigeria, $1 million will support stabilization efforts, aiding victims of terrorism, displaced individuals, rehabilitation, and community resilience

The Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) has announced a $9 million allocation for humanitarian activities in the region in 2024.

Speaking at a press conference in Abuja on April 19, 2024, Professor Fatou Sow Sarr, the Commissioner for Human Development and Social Affairs, stated that the funds are earmarked for internally displaced persons (IDPs), refugees, asylum seekers, and the communities hosting them in all 15 member countries.

ECOWAS has allocated $1 million to aid in stabilization efforts in Nigeria, including support for victims of terrorism, displaced individuals, and injured persons, rehabilitation, and bolstering community resilience.

Out of a $25 million fund dedicated to combating terrorism in Nigeria, Burkina Faso, Mali, and Niger, ECOWAS has set aside $4 million for humanitarian interventions, according to the Commissioner.

She emphasized ECOWAS’s focus on prevention, highlighting the regional bloc’s disaster reduction strategy and tools for monitoring displaced populations, floods, and crisis management.

Even in challenging circumstances, such as sanctions, ECOWAS continues its humanitarian actions unabated. For instance, despite facing sanctions, Guinea received nearly $600,000 in January 2024, with funds allocated for addressing incidents like the oil depot fire and floods.

In Science Education, ECOWAS is prioritizing programs geared towards youth empowerment. Since 2019, ECOWAS has sponsored 42 young people for master’s degrees in diplomacy and international relations in Spain. Additionally, through the Research and Innovation Support Program (PARI), over 30 young individuals have received training at the master’s and Ph.D. levels, thanks to funds provided to research consortia.

Looking ahead, the Commissioner revealed plans to host the ECOWAS Youth Forum in the coming months. The forum aims to assess the current situation, identify challenges, and engage young people from diverse backgrounds in consultations across member countries. Subsequently, ECOWAS meetings will be convened to review policies, strategies, and roadmaps based on the outcomes of these consultations.