ECOWAS Office in Cabo Verde Strengthens Strategic Alignment and Consolidates Regional Agenda for 2026

Praia, 9 February 2026 – The ECOWAS Representation in Cabo Verde held its first Annual Retreat from 4 to 6 February 2026 in Ribeirão Chiqueiro. The meeting marked a structuring milestone in consolidating the role of the Representation in the country, highlighting its continued engagement in promoting ECOWAS’s regional agenda with national authorities, institutional partners, and civil society.

Chaired by the Acting Resident Representative, Ms. Kelly Lopes, the retreat brought together all staff of the Office, as well as some staff from CEREEC, who collaborate under a pooling arrangement. Its main objective was to assess the performance of recent activities and to jointly define the strategic and operational priorities for the year 2026. The exercise also contributed to strengthening team cohesion and improving internal coordination mechanisms, including collaboration with ECREEE.

During the proceedings, a review was presented of the activities carried out within the framework of the celebration of the ECOWAS Golden Jubilee, highlighting actions with strong public and institutional impact, such as conferences, media programmes, fairs, school-based awareness activities, and initiatives implemented in partnership with civil society organisations.

The retreat also served to present the budget and the annual activity plan for 2026, structured around four priority pillars: diplomatic coordination, social awareness, institutional celebration, and internal capacity strengthening. Planned initiatives include coordination meetings with diplomats from ECOWAS Member States resident in Cabo Verde, activities aimed at preventing gender-based violence and protecting children’s rights, the celebration of the 51st Anniversary of ECOWAS, and the organisation of regular internal review sessions.

The activity plan envisages strategic partnerships with government institutions, civil society organisations, and community platforms, reinforcing the role of the Office as ECOWAS’s key interlocutor in Cabo Verde. Capacity-building initiatives in the area of human rights, as well as educational campaigns targeting school communities, reflect the Representation’s commitment to a regional agenda that promotes inclusion, social protection, and human development.

In closing the proceedings, the Acting Resident Representative underscored that the Retreat constituted an important milestone in the institutional maturation of the Office, reaffirming ECOWAS’s determination in Cabo Verde to continue playing an active and visible role in promoting the Organisation’s values, policies, and priorities throughout 2026.