The food sector, which comprises agriculture, food processing, food marketing and food-away-from-home, is a key pillar of all ECOWAS economies. In 2020, the sector’s value is estimated at USD 259 billion or 35% of regional GDP. The economic giant Nigeria alone accounts for 72% of the sector’s value. By 2030, the ECOWAS food economy is expected to nearly double to reach USD 473 billion or 33% of regional GDP. This unprecedented expansion occurs in a context of rapid urban development. Read on

In West Africa, Sahel and Mano River countries have lower income inequality than their coastal neighbours, indicating growing social and economic disparities between emerging economies (Côte d’Ivoire, Ghana, Nigeria) and less rapidly transforming rural economies. Moreover, many West African countries are faced with a north-south divide. Ghana’s north is much less developed than its rapidly urbanising coastal areas. Read on

The theme of the African Green Revolution Forum (AGRF 2019), which brought together some 2 400 key stakeholders on 3-6 September in Accra, focused on using digital information and tools to support sustainable food systems in Africa. With the facilitation of USAID, the SWAC Secretariat presented the Africapolis database and key findings from its work on urbanisation. Read on

UNESCO, in collaboration with the Italian Agency for Development Co-operation (AICS), launched on 13 July 2019 in Dakar a project on migration issues. Covering eight countries, the 3-million EUR project aims to better inform young people in West and Central Africa about the opportunities and challenges of international migration. The project will focus on capacity-building activities for young journalists and media representatives with a view to producing reliable information and creating a more balanced coverage of migration issues. Read on