“The study in the four ECOWAS member states (Benin, Burkina Faso, Ghana and Liberia) has provided interesting perspectives. The first is the fact that there is interest in the
ECPF document and its potential to help in the reduction of conflicts and improvement in human security. This provides a good basis for rallying the whole of West Africa around its implementation. The second point is about the level of awareness of ECPF among policy makers.The study shows that workshops and seminars have been the medium through which most respondents had heard of the ECPF. The third interesting revelation that this study brings out is the number of
institutions (especially within civil society) who are working on initiatives that fall under one or more of the 14 components of the ECPF. Identifying most of these institutions and including them in the implementation process will help in achieving the objectives that the ECPF set for itself. Fourth, and related to the point just made is the level of collaboration between institutions in West Africa. The study shows increasing collaboration between institutions working on common issues across West Africa. This offers opportunity for partnership around the ECPF to ensure its successful implementations. Finally, the fact that most respondents in all the four
countries believe that the implementation of the ECPF is a joint responsibility between
ECOWAS, member states, and civil society groups provides the opportunity for mobilizing support for the implementation of the document.”
