In a major step toward enhancing regional cooperation and informed decision-making, the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) has successfully concluded a two-day consultative workshop on the Regional Geospatial Data Infrastructure (SDI) Project in Lomé, Togo.
Organized by the ECOWAS Commission through its Early Warning Directorate, the workshop brought together national geospatial agencies, technical experts, and international partners to validate a unified framework for geospatial data management across Member States.
The event was officially closed by Her Excellency Mrs. Damtien L. Tchintchibidja, Vice President of the ECOWAS Commission. Represented by Dr. Onyinye Nkechi Onwuka, Acting Director of the Early Warning Directorate, the Vice President emphasized the urgent need for harmonized, centralized, and standardized geospatial data to strengthen institutional collaboration, enhance human security, and drive sustainable development across the region.
The SDI Project is poised to transform governance, crisis response, and development planning in West Africa by ensuring Member States have shared access to a reliable geospatial data infrastructure. It is expected to significantly boost evidence-based policymaking and long-term regional growth.
Over the course of the workshop, participants endorsed the SDI framework and reached a consensus on key policy recommendations and data harmonization strategies. Discussions also focused on ensuring the sustainability of the project, reinforcing ECOWAS’s commitment to continued regional collaboration.
In her closing remarks, Vice President Tchintchibidja reaffirmed the Commission’s full backing of the initiative, stating, “Together, let us construct a geospatial infrastructure that enables our region to act with greater impact, coordinate, and anticipate.”
The workshop was held with the support of key partners including AFRIGIST and Sénégal Numérique SA, and was warmly hosted by the Government of Togo. The ECOWAS Commission expressed its deep appreciation for Togo’s ongoing commitment to regional integration.
As ECOWAS advances the SDI Project, the outcomes of the Lomé workshop are expected to serve as a cornerstone for building a resilient, data-driven future for West Africa.
