A delegation from the Sub-Regional Office for West Africa of the United Nations Economic Commission for Africa, led by its Director, Dr Dimitri Sanga, along with two experts, Mr. Foumbi Joseph and Mr. Aboubacry Demba Lom, will be on mission from April 29 to May 2, 2014, at the Head Office of the West African Economic and Monetary Union (WAEMU) located in Ouagadougou.

The main objective of this mission is to re-establish the relationship with this institution after a decline in joint activities during these last few years. Therefore, to provide renewed vigor to their relationship and lend it a special stamp, on May 13, 2013 the ECA and the WAEMU signed a memorandum of understanding that focused on strengthening the cooperation mechanism between the two institutions.

In undertaking this high-level mission, the Sub-Regional Office of the ECA has recognized the fact that since its creation in 1994, the WAEMU has implemented programmes and initiatives that have accelerated the integration process in the sub-region. The Office is also pleased with the closer relationship between these two institutions, as reflected in the establishment of a joint Secretariat, thus facilitating the harmonization of their programmes.

This dynamic facilitated the finalization in June 2013 of a consultation framework for West African Inter-Governmental Organizations (WAIGOs) and the setting up in Dakar in November 2013, of the Sub-Regional Coordination Mechanism (SRCM) of the agencies of the United Nations System operating in the sub-region.

During their mission, the ECA delegation will have several working sessions with the WAEMU Commissioners, the specialized units, the departments and the statistical center before being received by the President of the WAEMU Commission, Cheik Hadjibou Soumaré.

It should be noted that the WAEMU includes eight of the fifteen countries of West Africa.