The Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) regional agriculture body has taken a significant step toward embedding climate and gender safeguards into all agricultural projects it finances and coordinates across the region, following the technical review of a new governance framework in Togo last week.
The Regional Agency for Agriculture and Food (RAAF), the specialised technical arm of ECOWAS responsible for implementing the bloc’s regional agricultural policy, convened a two-day workshop in Aného on March 12 and 13, 2026 to review a draft Climate and Gender Sensitive Environmental and Social Management System (ESMS). The workshop brought together government technical experts, national environmental assessment bodies, Green Climate Fund (GCF) focal points, ministries of environment from ECOWAS member states, regional farmers’ organisations and representatives from other ECOWAS agencies.
The ESMS framework is designed to ensure that all agricultural projects led or coordinated by RAAF respect local, national and cross-border ecosystems, with specific attention given to the inclusion of women and young people. RAAF’s mandate covers the coordination and facilitation of regional agricultural policy under the ECOWAS Agricultural Policy (ECOWAP), and it works with technical institutions, non-governmental organisations, farmers’ associations and public and private sector actors across West Africa to identify and scale up good agricultural and pastoral practices.
RAAF Executive Director Konlani Kanfitin described the new framework in terms that go beyond regulatory compliance. “The framework is not a mere formality. It is a contract of trust between RAAF and rural communities,” he said at the opening ceremony.
Among the pillars of the system is a strengthened Grievance Relief Mechanism, designed to give local communities direct and transparent channels to report any negative social or environmental impacts arising from RAAF-coordinated programmes. The framework also addresses environmental and social assessment procedures, organisational capacity, awareness-raising and stakeholder engagement across project cycles.
Bernard Koffi, Director of Environment at the ECOWAS Commission, noted at the workshop that the new ESMS is fully compliant with ECOWAS Regulation C/REG.16/12/13, the bloc’s environmental and social assessment regulation adopted in December 2023, which is aimed at harmonising national environmental assessment procedures among member states and establishing a common approach to cross-border environmental and social impact assessments.
The alignment with international best practices is also central to the framework’s strategic purpose. By meeting the standards of multilateral institutions, RAAF aims to strengthen its credibility with international funders and improve its ability to attract financing in support of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). The framework is expected to be formally adopted after the technical review process is concluded.
Ghana, as a full ECOWAS member state, falls within the scope of the new system. RAAF coordinates programmes across all 15 ECOWAS member states, and the ESMS will apply to any project operating within national borders or across shared ecosystems.
