The ECOWAS Centre for Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency (ECREEE) is pleased to announce a landmark 5-day regional workshop on “Energy Efficiency Initiatives and Sustainable Energy Data Col-lection” from July 24 -28, 2024, in Cotonou, Benin.
This pivotal event is organized in collaboration with the Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) and the African Energy Com-mission (AFREC), Specialized Agency of African Union.
This workshop holds special significance as it coincides with the period that ECREEE will be observing its 14th anniversary, a mile-stone marking over a decade of dedicated service and impactful initiatives in promoting sustainable energy across the ECOWAS region, and the 49th anniversary of the ECOWAS Commission.
The workshop will bring together a diverse group of stakeholders, including representatives from ECOWAS member states, the ECOWAS Commission, the WAEMU Commission, the African Energy Commission and various technical and financial partners (GIZ, UNIDO, AfDB, UNDP, kfW).
This convergence of experts and decision-makers underscores the collaborative spirit necessary for advancing energy efficiency and sustainable energy data management in the region.
The workshop aims to achieve several critical outcomes that will enhance energy efficiency and sustainable energy data initiatives within the ECOWAS region, from which we highlight: Enhanced Member State Involvement: Foster greater involvement of ECOWAS member states in implementing energy efficiency programs and projects spearheaded by ECREEE and its partners, improved Monitoring Processes; enhance the processes for monitoring the operationalization of member states’ sustainable energy action plans, capacity building: strengthen the capabilities of national energy data focal points ECREEE and AFREC in the field of energy efficiency data management.
ECREEE has been playing a pivotal role in enhancing data collection for decision-making by developing robust mechanisms to gather and analyze energy data across the West African region.
The Centre implements comprehensive data management systems and conducts extensive research to provide accurate and up-to-date information on energy production, consumption, and efficiency.
This data-driven approach enables policymakers to make informed decisions, optimize energy resources, and design effective policies for sustainable development.
The workshop will serve to ensure a synergy of actions between the Energy Efficiency initiatives implemented by ECREEE and its partners through the full involvement of ECOWAS Member States, to set up an efficient system for collecting data on Energy Efficiency in West Africa and to consolidate the Sustainable Energy data collection system to support ECOWAS Observatory for Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency (ECOWREX) and the preparation of Annual Reports on progress in RE and EE in the region as well as future initiatives.
The Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) was established when the ECO-WAS Treaty was signed by 15 West African Heads of State and Government on the 28th of May 1975 in Lagos, Nigeria. The ECOWAS region spans an area of 5.2 million square kilometres.
The Member States are Benin, Burkina Faso, Cabo Verde, Côte d’Ivoire, The Gambia, Ghana, Guinea, Guinea Bissau, Liberia, Mali, Niger, Nigeria, Sierra Leone, Senegal and Togo.
Considered one of the pillars of the African Economic Community, ECOWAS was set up to promote co-operation and integration, leading to the establishment of an economic union in West Africa to raise the living standards of its peoples, and to maintain and enhance economic stability, foster relations-among Member States and contribute to the progress and development of the African continent.
In 2007, ECOWAS Secretariat was transformed into a Commission. The Commission is headed by the President, assisted by a Vice President, and Five Commissioners, comprising experienced bureaucrats who are providing the leadership in this new orientation.
As part of this renewal process, ECOWAS is implementing critical and strategic programs that will deepen cohesion and progressively eliminate identified barriers to full integration.
In this way, the estimated 300 million citizens of the community can ultimately take ownership for the realization of the new vision of moving from an ECOWAS of States to an “ECOWAS of the People: Peace and Prosperity to All” by 2050.
