ECOWAS is facing a food sovereignty crisis, with nearly 50 million people out of a population of 381 million currently in a situation of distress. This structural crisis is worsened by insecurity, climate shocks, and heavy dependence on food imports. To address this, the region must fully capitalize on its agricultural potential (rice, maize, cassava, etc.) and strengthen intra-regional trade. A paradigm shift is considered essential, including the adoption of agroecology to build more resilient food systems. Regional institutions, such as ARAA and EBID, are multiplying initiatives to coordinate agricultural policies and strengthen solidarity in response to recurring crises.
The Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) is at a decisive turning point regarding food sovereignty. Despite its enormous agricultural potential employing 60% of its active population and generating 35% of its Gross Domestic Product (GDP) ECOWAS faces a paradoxical food crisis. With 50 million out of its 381 million inhabitants experiencing food distress, the time has come for radical reform, particularly in the face of an import bill that threatens the region’s autonomy. The contrast between the untapped potential of the ECOWAS region and its dependence on external markets is striking. Mabouba Diagne, Senegal’s Minister of Agriculture, highlights the scale of this imbalance.
“You know, ECOWAS has 381 million people. To say that 50 million are in a state of food distress and that the ARA was created back in 2013 fundamentally means that something is not working. Africa, in general, imports over 30 billion CFA francs in food. If we do nothing, that will rise to 120 billion CFA francs. It is time for ECOWAS, and Africa in general, to rethink their approach.”
Mabouba Diagne, Senegal – Minister of Agriculture and Food Sovereignty
In the face of these structural challenges, ECOWAS relies on its Regional Agricultural Policy, ECOWAP. Sy Alain Traoré, former Director of Agriculture and Rural Development at the ECOWAS Commission in Côte d’Ivoire, recalls the foundations of this initiative.
“ECOWAP is ECOWAS’s agricultural policy; it aligns perfectly with the CAADP framework, the Comprehensive Africa Agriculture Development Programme. Since 2005, we have been trying to implement ECOWAS’s agricultural policy through National Agricultural Investment and Food and Nutrition Security Programs and the Regional Agricultural Investment Program for Food and Nutrition Security. The regional program addresses issues that are common to all of us, it tackles problems shared by all member states, for which we must provide solutions.”
Sy Alain Traoré, Former Director of Agriculture and Rural Development of ECOWAS – Côte d’Ivoire
The transformation of the sector today requires a major reorientation. The Regional Agricultural Policy has decisively shifted toward agroecology to ensure sustainability, productivity, and food security in the face of climate change. This transition is driven by the failure of conventional methods. Borgui Yerima, PAE/ECOWAS coordinator, confirms the need for this break with past practices.
“The old practices, which we call conventional, no longer address the concerns of producers. It was really necessary to change the approach, and the approach that was adopted is to move toward agroecology.”
Borgui Yerima, PAE/ECOWAS Coordinator – Benin
Food imports in the ECOWAS region are massive, covering over 90% of the demand for strategic products such as rice and wheat, 90% of which come from outside the region. Despite strong local potential, this dependence creates a structural deficit, exacerbated by low local processing and significant post-harvest losses.
