Directors of ECOWAS institutions and agencies are meeting in Lagos, Nigeria, from September 21 to 30, 2026, for a ten‑day strategic planning retreat.

The retreat’s main purpose is to align the bloc’s Medium‑Term Expenditure Framework (MTEF) for 2027‑2029 with the new strategic management priorities set for the 2026‑2030 term, paving the way for approval of the 2027 programme budget.

ECOWAS Commission Vice‑President H.E. Oluwatosin Anthony Ogunjimi opened the proceedings on September 21, representing Commission President H.E. General Birame Diop.

In his opening remarks, Ogunjimi said the new administration’s strategic focus aims to accelerate progress on key targets while respecting overarching frameworks such as ECOWAS Vision 2050 and the Community Strategic Framework 2023‑2027.

He identified 2026 as a transition year for resetting priorities, with 2027 marking the first full year of implementation under the new plan.

Financial planning directives for the MTEF

Vice‑President Ogunjimi stressed that the MTEF must go beyond a simple list of activities, requiring clear articulation of targeted actions, expected outcomes, funding needs and implementation timelines.

He urged participants to respect statutory and legal obligations while prioritising high‑impact initiatives, and warned that new proposals should be vetted against realistic spending caps, operational capacity and existing commitments.

Anticipated outcomes and timeline

The retreat is expected to conclude with unified strategic priorities, a transparent and properly costed expenditure framework, and a detailed 2027 work plan that includes procurement schedules, performance metrics and monitoring timelines.