To consolidate and scale up the achievements of the regional fruit fly control project, particularly in the mango sector in West Africa, which ran from 2015 to 2019, ECOWAS has been implementing the Innovative Regional Fruit Fly Control System in West Africa (SyRIMAO) since 2020. After five years of field activities with financial support from the European Union and the French Development Agency, ECOWAS brings together stakeholders and partners of the sector in Conakry (Guinea) from 27 to 29 January 2026 to share results, experiences and lessons learned.

To improve the incomes of fruit and vegetable producers, strengthen food security, reduce poverty and create jobs, the SYRIMAO Project has deployed its interventions across several components geared towards specific results. Such actions have made it possible to respond consistently to the objectives set, particularly in terms of research-action and development, support to national public and private bodies, and monitoring, surveillance and early warning.

Supporting research, action and development

The SYRIMAO Project has strengthened the regional control of fruit flies by transforming Burkina Faso’s national Centre of specialization for fruit and vegetables into a regional Centre of excellence, developing and disseminating technologies, and providing extension services to producers. It has also facilitated the identification, testing, validation and dissemination of relevant fruit fly control technologies within communities. Besides, it has contributed to strengthening the operation of national laboratories, training stakeholders and providing producers with access to fruit fly control technologies.

Supporting national coordination bodies

National committees have been set up to facilitate project implementation, in addition to a wide range of national capacity-building training courses on phytosanitary standards and risks, and the consolidation of the mango sector through restructuring of stakeholders, securing funding and developing partnerships.

Supporting surveillance, monitoring and early warning

Both operational data collection system and data collection and analysis mechanism have been made operational in all ECOWAS Member States. Building on the results achieved and the challenges encountered during its implementation, SyRIMAO has provided valuable lessons for the future. The lessons provide a valuable foundation for guiding future regional initiatives, improving the governance of control mechanisms and strengthening the sustainability of actions undertaken for the benefit of producers and value chains.

• Integration of Research–Action–Development: linking research, experimentation and extension has enabled scientific findings to be transformed into practical solutions, strengthening producers’ adoption of fruit fly control technologies.
• Regional and national coordination: the establishment of National Committees and the Regional Centre of Excellence has demonstrated the importance of multi-level governance in ensuring consistency of action.
• Capacity building: large-scale training of stakeholders (technicians, producers, plant health inspectors) has led to improved control of the technologies promoted by the project.
• Restructuring the sector: support to inter-professional organizations and financing mechanisms has shown that sustainability depends on buy-in from economic stakeholders.
• Communication and visibility: media campaigns and extension tools have facilitated the dissemination of knowledge and increased stakeholder awareness.
• Country commitment: the late accession of some countries and institutional delays highlight the need for stronger and early political commitment.

Over the next three days, discussions on the key findings will help stakeholders agree on how to ensure the sustainability of the initiatives, expand their coverage, strengthen governance and funding, and continue to promote innovation and leverage results.