Germany has pledged €49 million (£82 billion) in new funding to support the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) region in promoting peace, security, economic development and health initiatives across the region.
The commitment followed two days of high-level bilateral negotiations on development cooperation between Germany and ECOWAS, held at the ECOWAS Commission headquarters in Abuja, Nigeria, on 4 and 5 November 2025.
The meeting brought together senior representatives from both sides, including Germany’s ambassador to Nigeria and ECOWAS, Annett Günther, and Christoph Rauh, director for Africa at Germany’s Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ). The ECOWAS delegation was led by Vice President Damtien L. Tchintchibidja, who reaffirmed the regional body’s commitment to deeper integration and stability amid economic and political challenges.
During the session, Vice President Tchintchibidja praised Germany’s long-standing partnership and continued support for West Africa.
“Following the latest negotiations in September 2023 in Berlin and the bilateral consultations held in 2024 in Abuja, we are meeting here today to take stock of the achievements and results of ECOWAS-Germany cooperation and to define clear priorities and perspectives for the next two years,” he said.
He added that the partnership had recorded “significant progress” due to a shared vision and stronger coordination.
“ECOWAS-Germany cooperation has made significant progress in recent years, and this is due to two factors: greater convergence around shared priorities and better coordination between actors,” he said.
“I would like to reiterate our commitment to this bilateral cooperation and express our deep gratitude to the German Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ).”
Ambassador Annett Günther reaffirmed Germany’s commitment to peace and prosperity in the region, saying: “Germany firmly supports ECOWAS as a reliable partner, united by shared values of peace, stability and inclusive growth.
“Our cooperation is not just about financial support and projects, but about empowering institutions, strengthening democracy and improving the lives of people across the region.”
BMZ Director Christoph Rauh noted that cooperation is based on mutual respect and a common vision.
“Our cooperation with ECOWAS reflects mutual respect and a shared vision: to promote peaceful and inclusive societies, create economic opportunities and strengthen regional solidarity,” he said. “Together, we are building bridges between people, economies and institutions for a better future.”
The new commitment includes €32.8 million for financial cooperation and €16.2 million for technical cooperation in key areas such as peace and security, health, regional integration and climate and energy transition.
Germany has been a reliable partner of ECOWAS since 1985 and currently supports bilateral projects worth around €494 million through agencies such as GIZ, KfW and PTB.
These projects have strengthened peacebuilding, governance, climate resilience and pandemic control in West Africa.
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