The Economic Community of West African States have signed grant agreements worth 1.3 million euros with 15 training centres to build capacity on agroecology in member states.
The capacity-building programme is part of the implementation of the ECOWAS Agroecology Programme co-funded by the European Union and the French Development Agency.
The total budget of the grant agreements funded by the European Union was 1,320,784.43 euros, representing about 88,000 euros per centre, and for an average duration of 18 months, aimed at training 12,000 young persons in the region.
According to the statement signed by the president of the commission, Dr Omar Alieu Touray, the purpose of each grant is to establish the framework of collaboration between ECOWAS and the recipient centre for the implementation of the programme activities in West Africa.
This is with the general objective of building the human resource and environmentally friendly system expected to sustain and increase agricultural productivity and create a resilient rural society.
The 15 training centres, which were selected following due consultation and assessment process, represent one per member state. It covers the 15 ECOWAS member states and is scheduled to end in 2024.
Also, in supporting the centres through the agreements, ECOWAS seeks to improve the quality of training and the development of the centres’ capacities.
