Abuja: The Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) has launched a regional social protection framework and operational plan during an advocacy and dissemination workshop in Abuja, Nigeria. The plan is designed to guide member states in enhancing and expanding social protection systems, improving access to essential services, and promoting social inclusion throughout the region.

According to Ethiopian News Agency, government commitments to social protection coverage remain limited in West Africa, with only 16 percent of the population covered by at least one benefit. Public spending on social protection averages less than 1 percent of GDP. The regional plan was launched through ECOWAS’s Department of Human Development and Social Affairs, in collaboration with international partners including the International Labour Organization (ILO) and the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO).

Fatou Sow Sarr, ECOWAS Commissioner for Human Development and Social Affairs, expressed gratitude to member states a
nd partners for their support, emphasizing that ‘social protection is both a human right and an economic necessity.’ Other challenges identified include limited access to social insurance, underdeveloped health programs and systems, and insufficient resilience schemes against climate shocks and humanitarian crises.

Some countries have already initiated measures to tackle these issues. Nigeria has launched a digital cash transfer program benefiting more than 5.5 million households and has established a national social register covering over 19.78 million households. Senegal has made commitments to strengthen social protection by increasing benefits and expanding the number of households included.

With the adoption of this framework, ECOWAS aims to provide momentum for member states to develop and reinforce their social protection systems while improving cross-sector coordination, stated Gouantoueu Robert Guei, FAO Subregional Coordinator for West Africa and the Sahel.