A series of five regional technical workshops aimed at strengthening statistical systems in West Africa has begun on the sidelines of a consultation on the future of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) in Abidjan.
The workshops, running from March 2 to 13, 2026, are organised by the Research and Statistics Directorate of ECOWAS’s Department of Economic Affairs and Agriculture.
They form part of the implementation of ECOWAS Vision 2050 and the Project for Harmonisation and Improvement of Statistics in West and Central Africa (PHASAOC), funded by the World Bank.
According to ECOWAS, the initiative seeks to harmonise and modernise statistical systems across member states to improve data quality and policy coordination.
The technical meetings coincide with a broader regional consultation on ECOWAS’s future ahead of a special summit of heads of state dedicated to the bloc’s strategic direction.
ECOWAS said the statistical workshops will address data harmonisation, methodological improvements, and capacity building for national statistical offices in member countries.
The outcomes of the workshops are expected to support the objectives of ECOWAS Vision 2050, which seeks to enhance regional integration and economic development through improved governance and evidence-based decision-making.
