ECOWAS Commissioner Economic Affairs and Agriculture pays a courtesy visit to ECREEE

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Published On - September 25, 2022

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Wednesday, September 21, 2022 / Cabo Verde, Praia: The ECOWAS Commissioner for Economic Affairs and Agriculture, Mrs. Massandjé TOURE-LITSE, paid a courtesy visit to ECREEE Headquarters in Praia.  Commissioner TOURE-LITSE made the visit while attending the 8th Annual Meeting of the ECOWAS Regional Animal Health Networks (RAHN), hosted by Cabo Verde.

The Executive Director of ECREEE, Mr. Francis Sempore welcomed Commissioner TOURE-LITSE and her delegation and made a brief presentation on the programs, projects, and milestones of the Centre since its establishment twelve years ago.

ECREEE Executive Director dilated on the ECOWAS Renewable Energy Facility (EREF), which provides grant co-funding for small and medium sized renewable energy and energy efficiency projects and businesses in rural and peri-urban areas. Commissioner TOURE-LITSE took a keen interest in the EREF project which is designed to support businesses as a cornerstone for economic development of the ECOWAS region.

The Executive Director also shed light on the relatively new project on Promoting Agricultural Competitiveness through Solar Energy (PAC-SOLAR), taking into consideration that agriculture is part of the Commissioner’s portfolio. This project aims to support the region’s agricultural businesses to produce more through affordable and reliable option of harnessing its abundant renewable energy resources towards providing a stable supply of water for irrigation and other agricultural ventures.​ This project has already benefited more than 4,000 rural women farmers gaining access to a steady supply of water for agricultural irrigation and implemented 4 pilot projects in Benin, The Gambia, Niger, and Senegal.

Ms. Monica Maduekwe, Gender Specialist and Resource Mobilization Officer at ECREEE, informed the delegation about gender challenges in implementing energy projects and how ECREEE has been able to tackle this issue at its core and boosted positive change. Learn more about the ECOWAS Programme on Gender Mainstreaming in Energy Access and the ECOWAS Directive on Gender Assessment in Energy Projects.

In her brief statement, commissioner TOURE-LITSE commended ECREEE for the work the staff is rendering the ECOWAS Community.