The Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) Commission has approved multimillion-dollar grants to train West African youth in ecological organic agriculture (EOA) as part of efforts to address climate change, food insecurity, and unemployment in the region.

Dr. Gle Koffi Emmanuel, Chairman of the Regional Steering Committee of EOA from the Department of Economic Affairs and Agriculture, ECOWAS Commission, announced this during the inception workshop coordinated by the West African Secretariat of Ecological Organic Agriculture (WASEOA) and the Regional Steering Committee of Ecological Organic Agriculture in West Africa held in Lagos.

According to Emmanuel, the initiative comes at a critical time when West Africa's demographic dynamics present both challenges and opportunities. "With over 60% of the West African population under the age of 30, and the 15-34 age group making up more than a third of the population, the potential of our youth is vast. Yet, the reality remains sobering—unemployment affects over 75% of young people entering the job market," he explained.

Substantial Investment in Youth Training

The ECOWAS Commission has allocated a total of US$2,238,000 as subsidies to train 3,850 youths in agro-sylvo-pastoral and halieutic (ASPH) sectors. This training will be coordinated by the Songhai Centre, CORAF, and WASEOA.

Of this amount, WASEOA has been granted US$594,000 to sub-grant to various organizations and train at least 1,270 youths aged 18-35, with 40% being women. The training will take place across Nigeria, Republic of Benin, Togo, Liberia, Côte d'Ivoire, and Senegal.

"Ecological Organic Agriculture is more than a farming method. It is a movement rooted in respect for nature, local knowledge, and the well-being of people and the planet," Emmanuel stated. "As West Africa faces the twin challenges of climate change and food insecurity, EOA provides a pathway toward solutions that are environmentally sound, economically viable, and socially just."

Strategic Response to Regional Challenges

Jude Obi, President of the Association of Organic Agriculture Practitioners of Nigeria (NOAN), explained that ECOWAS has deployed several policies and strategies to address the major challenge of integrating young people into the job market, especially in the ASPH sector.

The youth employability support strategy includes strengthening initiatives to prepare young people for careers in the ASPH and agri-food sectors, promoting a favorable environment for the integration and empowerment of young entrepreneurs, and supporting the economic and social empowerment of young people in agri-food value chains.

The expected impacts of the strategy include employment of at least 25% of young people entering the job market each year in the ASPH and food chain, reduction of unemployment and underemployment among young people by three quarters, and substantial minimization of uncontrolled emigration among youth.

This initiative represents a significant step in ECOWAS's commitment to addressing the interlinked challenges of youth unemployment, food insecurity, and climate change through sustainable agricultural practices across West Africa.