Lomé: The members of the Strategic Orientation Committee of the ECOWAS Regional Agency for Agriculture and Food (RAAF) convened in Lomé, Togo, to assess the 2024 activity report and the financial execution for the year 2024. This meeting marked the twelfth session of the Steering Committee since the RAAF's inception in 2013. According to African Press Organization, this governance body serves as a pivotal forum for accountability, experience sharing, and strategic guidance. During the meeting, RAAF, which coordinates the implementation of projects and programs under the Regional Agricultural Policy (ECOWAP), presented two reports for the Committee's appraisal. These included the 2024 activity report and the 2025 budget, as well as the financial report for the 2024 financial year. The major challenges identified for the 2024 financial year centered around the security crisis in the Sahel countries, which hampers access to project areas, and the withdrawal of Burkina Faso, Mali, and Niger from ECOWAS. While a lternatives often involve the participation of these nations in project implementation, more suitable solutions are necessary. Mrs. Massandjé Touré-Litsé, ECOWAS Commissioner for Economic Affairs and Agriculture, emphasized that the regional Community's authorities are actively addressing these issues.
