West Africa: Launch of REGIS-WA Project with €3 Million Funding

On 29-30 September 2026, the ECOWAS Commission hosted in Abuja, Nigeria, a workshop marking the official launch of the Regional Energy Governance and Information System for West Africa (REGIS-WA). Organized in partnership with the European Union and the Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) GmbH, the event brought together officials from member states’ energy ministries and regional technical agencies.

Under the supervision of the ECOWAS Energy and Mines Directorate, the project focuses on harmonizing sectoral governance, strengthening data infrastructure, and accelerating cross-border integration of clean energy.

EU Funding Through the NDICI Instrument

The REGIS-WA program is funded by the European Union via the Neighborhood, Development and International Cooperation Instrument (NDICI), with a total allocation of €3 million. Operational implementation is entrusted to GIZ through its ProCEM II program, which promotes climate-resilient electricity markets in the regional space.

The financial commitment supports institutional resilience and data reliability. In a virtual address, ECOWAS Commissioner for Infrastructure, Energy, and Digitalization, Amin Amidu Sulemani, underscored the strategic importance of regional collaboration.

Two Technical Components of the Program

The initiative comprises two distinct pillars. The first supports the implementation and monitoring of regional energy policies, including the alignment of member states with ECOWAS directives and the regional energy action plan.

The second pillar targets the ECOWAS energy statistics system. Planned actions focus on enhancing national capacities for data collection and statistical production, reinforcing the ECOWAS Energy Information System (EIS) to guide policy decisions.

The Abuja proceedings allowed national delegations, the West African Power Pool (WAPP), CEREEC, and ARREC to review the operational roadmap of the €3 million project.