The Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) has provided 12 member states with grants of $100,000 each to support projects aimed at strengthening cooperation and development in border communities.

The grants, totalling $1.2 million, were provided under the ECOWAS Regional Cross-Border Cooperation Support Programme (ECBCSP), which seeks to promote social cohesion, regional integration and sustainable development through collaboration among communities and neighbouring countries.

The initiative was discussed at a meeting organised by the ECOWAS Commission in Conakry, Guinea, on October 22, 2026, to launch the National Platform for the programme in the country.

Director of Free Movement of Persons, Migration and Tourism at the ECOWAS Commission, Albert Siaw-Boateng, who represented the President of the Commission, General Birame Diop, reaffirmed the regional body’s commitment to using cross-border cooperation to promote lasting peace and shared prosperity.

He said the programme would support joint planning, stronger communities and a safer, more stable region.

The 12 countries covered under the programme’s first phase are Benin, Cabo Verde, Côte d’Ivoire, The Gambia, Ghana, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Liberia, Niger, Nigeria, Senegal, Sierra Leone and Togo.

The Conakry meeting brought together stakeholders to discuss the establishment and operation of the National Platforms, clarify the responsibilities of participating institutions and identify practical projects to improve the livelihoods of people in border areas.

It also provided an opportunity to advance the signing of Framework Cooperation Agreements between the ECOWAS Commission and member states.

Director of Cabinet at Guinea’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, African Integration and Guineans Established Abroad, Mariama Bailo-Barry, welcomed the initiative, emphasising the importance of cooperation among countries sharing borders within the ECOWAS region.

She said Guinea was interested in accessing the platform to benefit from existing opportunities and strengthen cooperation, expressing hope that the initiative would advance regional integration and deliver practical benefits to border communities.

The ECBCSP provides for capacity-building, training and public information on cross-border cooperation. It also supports initiatives relating to migration management, free movement, regional security and the strengthening of institutional, legal and coordination frameworks.

Through technical and financial assistance to regional, national and local actors, the programme is intended to help communities and institutions develop and implement joint socioeconomic projects in border areas.

The initiative forms part of the ECOWAS Cross-Border Cooperation Support Programme 2023–2027.