ECOWAS Launches Second Phase Of EU-Funded Free Movement Project To Boost Economic Growth

The Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) has launched the second phase of its EU-funded project “Support to Free Movement of Persons and Migration in West Africa (FMM II),” which aims to boost regional economic growth.

The inauguration, held in Abuja on Thursday, is a significant step towards ensuring the free movement of people and goods across West Africa.

Damtien Tchintchibidja, ECOWAS Vice-President, emphasised the bloc’s commitment to promoting free movement, commerce, and economic development throughout the subregion.

The International Organisation for Migration (IOM) organised the event in collaboration with the International Labour Organisation (ILO), the International Centre for Migration Policy Development (ICMPD), and the ECOWAS Commission to highlight the first phase of the FMM project’s achievements.

Tchintchibidja praised the progress made towards strengthening migration governance, border management, and operational licenses to support the free movement protocol.

She stated that harmonised policies and strengthened border systems facilitated labour mobility and aligned national policies with ECOWAS migration instruments, thereby improving regional security and economic mobility.

However, she emphasised that more work is required to fully realise the benefits of migration, advocating for a structured, coordinated approach at both the national and regional levels.

FMM II, she explained, will focus on enhancing cross-border mobility in a safe and orderly manner, improving the migration governance framework, strengthening coordination mechanisms, encouraging data-driven policymaking, and implementing integrated approaches.

Tchintchibidja emphasised the importance of working together to ensure that migration promotes economic growth, stability, and social cohesion in the ECOWAS region.

Massimo De Luka, the European Union’s Head of Cooperation, emphasised the five-year project’s goal of maximising West Africa’s development potential through free movement and migration.

He emphasised the project’s support for the effective implementation of the ECOWAS Free Movement of Persons Protocol and the ECOWAS Common Approach to Migration, which builds on the existing foundation of cooperation and coordination.

The Commissioner for Economic Affairs and Agriculture, Massandjé Toure-Litse, represented by Albert Siaw-Boateng, praised the first phase’s accomplishments for being consistent with the ECOWAS mission, reaffirming the organisation’s commitment to regional integration, migration governance, and sustainable development.

The launch of FMM II indicates a continued push for a more integrated and economically vibrant West Africa.