From the 5^th to 9^th of May 2025, Commissioner Massandjé TOURE LITSE, Commissioner for Economic Affairs and Agriculture of the ECOWAS Commission, participated in the 20^th Ordinary Session of the United Nations Forum on Forests, held in New York, United States of America.

In her speech, the Commissioner reaffirmed ECOWAS’s commitment to supporting the international community’s efforts to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals. She underlined the determination of the regional organisation, in close collaboration with its Member States, to strengthen the regional integration process in line with ECOWAS Vision 2050.

Addressing the issue of sustainable forest management, Mrs TOURE LITSE highlighted the concrete actions taken by ECOWAS through the adoption of regional policies and strategies. Key initiatives include:

• The Forest Convergence Plan and the Regional Programme to Combat Desertification (2013);

• The Forest Investment Plan (2016);

• The Regional Strategy to Combat Illegal Wildlife Trafficking (2023).

In the margins of the session, the Commissioner held a bilateral meeting with Ms Rosalie Matondo, Minister for the Forest Economy of the Democratic Republic of Congo. The meeting provided an opportunity to share experiences and explore opportunities for closer cooperation in the forestry sector.

The Commissioner was accompanied by:

• Mrs Kinza Jawara-Njai, Permanent Observer of ECOWAS to the United Nations:

• Ms Esther Oyewumi, Political Adviser;

• Mr Bazoumana DIABATE, Executive Assistant to the Commissioner.