Food security, economic performance, and regional integration have taken center stage as the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) continues its efforts to enhance data-driven policymaking and regional development.
These issues were addressed on Monday, October 5, in Congo Town, outside Monrovia, during a five-day Leadership and Statistical Management Workshop.
The gathering brought together managers of National Statistical Systems from ECOWAS Member States.
As part of the engagement, participants were introduced to the ECOWAS Regional Outlook, an analytical framework for assessing economic conditions, and development challenges faced by countries in the region.
At the event, Edna Johnny, an ECOWAS Consultant on Regional Outlooks, emphasized the importance of food security, highlighted its direct implications for public health, household welfare, economic productivity, and national development.
Johnny noted that food insecurity extends beyond mere availability, and can lead to social, and economic consequences.
She cautioned that prolonged food insecurity may contribute to instability, particularly when communities struggle to access adequate and affordable food.
The regional outlook situates food security within the context of economic performance, and regional integration, issues that influence the development prospects of ECOWAS Member States.
The ECOWAS Commission recently published Regional Economic Outlook for 2025–2027. It also identifies food security, and regional integration as key priorities, and explored macroeconomic developments, growth prospects, and policy options for inclusive, and sustainable development.
The report highlights opportunities in agricultural transformation, regional agri-food value chains, industrialization, improved transport and trade infrastructure, and the strengthening of intra-regional economic cooperation.
