ECOWAS Hosts Fourth Regional PPP Forum to Strengthen Legal Frameworks
Published: May 16, 2025
Lagos Event Focuses on Sustainable Public-Private Partnerships
The Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) is hosting its fourth Regional Public-Private Partnerships (PPP) Forum in Lagos, Nigeria, from May 15-16, 2025. Organized by the Project Preparation and Development Unit (PPDU), the event brings together key stakeholders to discuss legal frameworks for sustainable infrastructure development.
Theme and Objectives
Under the theme “Strengthening Legal Frameworks for Sustainable PPPs,” the forum aims to:
- Address challenges in PPP regulatory frameworks across West Africa
- Identify success factors for effective PPP regulations in emerging markets
- Support major regional projects like the Lagos-Abidjan and Praia-Dakar-Abidjan Highway Corridors
Keynote Address Highlights Regional Efforts
During the opening ceremony, Mr. Keba Fye, Acting Director of PPDU, emphasized the forum’s alignment with ECOWAS’s mandate to promote PPP development. He highlighted capacity-building initiatives for member states while acknowledging persistent challenges:
- Fragmented national regulations
- Technical capacity gaps
- Limited investor confidence in regional PPP projects
Participants and Agenda
The forum features representatives from:
- ECOWAS member states’ PPP units
- International organizations including World Bank, AECID, and African Development Bank
- Private sector stakeholders
Key sessions include case studies from Côte d’Ivoire, Ghana, Nigeria, and Senegal, plus demonstrations of new PPP screening tools.
Expected Outcomes
Participants will develop actionable recommendations to:
- Harmonize regional PPP policies
- Enhance inter-agency collaboration
- Improve financing and risk mitigation strategies