UN to facilitate establishment of West African forum for intergovernmental organizations

The United Nations Economic Commission for Africa (UNECA) is organizing a two-day Ad Hoc Expert Group Meeting of West African Intergovernmental Organizations (WAIGOs) to review the implementation of regional integration programmes.

The meeting will be held June 4-5, 2012 in Lomé, Togo.

Experts at the meeting are expected to exchange views on regional integration challenges and collaboration among West African intergovernmental organizations, in the context of the ongoing efforts towards the establishment of the WAIGOs’ Forum.

In a statement, the UNECA said participants will also develop a roadmap to accelerate the finalization of the remaining processes leading to the signing of the Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) so as to enable WAIGOs to efficiently exploit their synergies, and pool their resources and comparative strengths in addressing regional development challenges.

The UN agency says it is expected that the formalisation of the WAIGOs’ Forum upon the signing of the MOU will provide an entry point for the assistance of development partners intending to work with a broad base of intergovernmental organizations to accelerate regional integration in West Africa.

Participants at the meeting are representatives of the West African IGOs, academic and research institutions, the private sector, non-governmental organizations, and other development partners.

By Ekow Quandzie