The Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) has commenced a high-level meeting of experts in Dakar, Senegal, to review and validate regional policy frameworks, aimed at strengthening youth development, sports, and volunteerism across the West African sub-region..
The meeting, organised by the ECOWAS Centre for Youth and Sports Development (CDJS), is holding with a Ministerial session involving Ministers responsible for Youth and Sports from ECOWAS member countries.
Participants include representatives of the twelve ECOWAS Member States, regional institutions, technical and financial partners, as well as experts in the fields of youth, sports, and volunteerism.
The meeting is expected to harmonise regional strategies that will drive human capital development and deepen cooperation among Member States.
Top on the agenda is the review and validation of the ECOWAS Youth Policy and its 2026–2035 Strategic Action Plan, which seeks to provide a coordinated framework for youth empowerment, employment, leadership development, and active participation in regional integration.
Delegates are also considering the ECOWAS Sports Policy and the Strategic Policy Document for the ECOWAS Volunteer Programme, alongside their respective 2026–2035 Action Plans.
The frameworks are designed to promote sports as a catalyst for social and economic development while strengthening volunteerism as a tool for community engagement and regional solidarity.
At the end of the technical meeting, the policy documents will be presented to Ministers responsible for Youth and Sports for adoption, paving the way for coordinated implementation across ECOWAS Member States – in line with the regional bloc’s vision for sustainable development and inclusive growth.
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(Editor: Ken Eseni)
