Abuja, 22^nd November, 2017. The ECOWAS Volunteers Programme’s Regional Coordination Council (EVP-RCC) has urged a review of the agreement signed between the ECOWAS Commission and the United Nations Volunteers (UNV) in order to give the Programme greater technical autonomy.

The recommendation coming in view of the improved management capacity of the Programme’s implementation over the last 7 years, was made at the end of the 6^th Ordinary Meeting of the Council that ended in Abuja on the 22^nd of November 2017.

Following the presentation of the two documents as well as the EVP regional office’s report on the status of implementation of the Programme,

Delegates at the two-Day meeting which was convened to consider and adopt the 2018 work plan and draft budget of the ECOWAS Volunteers Programme (EVP)’s Regional Office, also recommended among others, the deployment of an additional 30 volunteers to Liberia, Sierra Leone and Guinea Bissau to meet the current needs of these countries.

The Council thereafter commended the UNV and EVP Regional Office for the sound management of the Programme resources.

During the meeting, the National Coordination Council (NCC) of the Programme represented by Liberia and Sierra Leone highlighted the need for a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between the ECOWAS Commission and participating Member States in order to have a clear definition of their roles and responsibilities.

The ECOWAS Commission’s Commissioner for Gender and Social Affairs Dr. Fatimata Dia Sow, who is also the chairperson of the Council paid tributes to volunteers in the EVP for their contributions towards sustainable development and consolidation of peace in the region.

Dr. Sow also commended the NCC, UNV and the ECOWAS Peace Fund for their support towards the success of the Programme.

In his closing remark, the Director, ECOWAS Youth and Sports Development Centre (EYSDC), Mr. Francis Chuks Njoaguani, expressed gratitude to participants for their commitment during the two-day meeting. He stated the desire for “a pool expansion to include other Member States to the Programme”.

Launched by the President of the ECOWAS Commission on 26^th March, 2010 in Monrovia, Liberia, the EVP facilitates youth citizen involvement and participation in Member States’ peace initiative through voluntarism.

The Programme contributes to the regional development and peace by providing technical assistance in support of Member States’ priority development areas. Till date, 133 Volunteers have been deployed to post-conflict Liberia, Guinea and Sierra Leone and at the Regional Office in Burkina Faso.

The Regional Office of the Programme, managed by the EYSDC, reports to the Regional Coordination Council (RCC), composed of representatives of concerned Departments of the ECOWAS Commission and some partners.