Support to the ECOWAS Commission on Organisational Development

The European Union (EU) supports the ECOWAS Commission through the Regional Indicative Programme for West Africa under the 10th and 11th European Development Funds (Regional Indicative Programme, RIP, 2014-2020). Funded by both the EU and the German Federal Ministry for Economic Development and Cooperation, the project ‘Support to the ECOWAS Commissions on Organizational Development’ aims to strengthen institutional capacities at the ECOWAS Commission, with a focus on organizational development for increased impact orientation in the areas of strategy, management and organizational culture. More specifically, the EU-funded ISE (Institutional Support to ECOWAS) component will provide strategic support for the implementation of ECOWAS — EU Partnership to support the institutional reform of ECOWAS. Specifically, the Action will strengthen the ECOWAS Commission and EBID in preparing for the EU pillar assessment. For the ECOWAS Commission and EBID to be able to work in indirect management with EU funds, the requirement in nine pillar areas need to be met: the internal control system, the accounting system, an independent external audit as well as rules and procedures for providing financing from EU funds through grants, procurement, financial instruments as well as exclusion from access to funding, publication of information on recipients, and protection of personal data. For indirect management of EU funds, the EU Financial Regulation requires that the beneficiary entity demonstrates a level of financial management and protection of the EU financial interests, equivalent to that of the EU Commission. This is verified by carrying out the said pillar assessment to ensure that all systems, controls, rules and procedures comply with international standards and the criteria set by the European Commission. ECOWAS failed in 2013 its first attempt to go through an EU pillar assessment. As a result of this assessment, the EU Delegation Nigeria, through funding from the 10th EDF, has been supporting the improvement of financial management processes at the ECOWAS Commission. The Programme for Public Finance Management Reforms Result 1 (PFMR1) Phase I implemented by ECORYS has among other things supported the formulation of a revised financial regulation and a tender code which was adopted by the ECOWAS Heads of States and Government in December 2018, draft financial management manuals and accounts management manuals, as well as draft HR Management manuals for recruitment and performance management. Further support in the form of Technical Assistance was provided by the PFMR1 Phase II under the 10th EDF also implemented by ECORYS. These key institutional reforms and capacity building initiatives have significantly contributed to the estimated current level of entity readiness. In light of the substantial progress made and in order to prepare for another attempt at pillar certification, the ECOWAS Commission expressed the desire to conduct a mock pillar audit. This last step before applying for the EU-pillar assessment will allow the institution to gauge their readiness to undergo the final assessment. The elements which will be identified as in need of improvement, will have to be supported in a targeted way in order to prepare the ECOWAS Commission for a pillar certification in the near future. The mock audit has commenced in May and first results regarding areas of improvements are to be received by July 2021, the ISE is working on the conditions to provide broad and swift support as soon as it will be requested by the ECOWAS Commission.