𝐎𝐦𝐚𝐫 𝐀. 𝐌𝐚𝐧𝐣𝐚𝐧𝐠 𝐏𝐚𝐫𝐭𝐢𝐜𝐢𝐩𝐚𝐭𝐞𝐬 𝐢𝐧 𝐄𝐂𝐎𝐖𝐀𝐒 𝐀𝐠𝐫𝐢𝐜𝐮𝐥𝐭𝐮𝐫𝐚𝐥 𝐏𝐨𝐥𝐢𝐜𝐲 𝐕𝐚𝐥𝐢𝐝𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐖𝐨𝐫𝐤𝐬𝐡𝐨𝐩 𝐢𝐧 𝐁𝐚𝐧𝐣𝐮𝐥

Omar A. Manjang has joined regional leaders, farmers, innovators, private sector representatives, government officials, civil society organizations, and development partners from across 12 ECOWAS member states in Banjul for a high-level validation workshop aimed at assessing the implementation of the ECOWAP 2025 framework and shaping the future of agricultural development in the region.

Omar A Manjang speaking at the ECOWAS Agricultiral Policy Validation Workshop

The workshop, held from June 15 to 19, 2026, brings together key stakeholders to review lessons learned from the current ECOWAP strategy and develop perspectives for the upcoming ECOWAP 2035 agenda.

Speaking to Gunjur Online about the event, Manjang highlighted the significance of the gathering, noting that it provides a unique opportunity to contribute to a policy document that will guide ECOWAS’ agricultural transformation efforts over the next decade.

“As Co-Lead of the ECOWAS Youth on Agriculture Policy Drafting Team, this workshop offers an important platform to participate in shaping a 10-year policy framework that will determine how the region advances its agricultural transformation agenda,” he said.

The discussions focus on developing a new vision and strategy aimed at strengthening food and nutrition security, enhancing resilience, and promoting sustainable agricultural growth across West Africa.

Manjang emphasized that regional commitments such as the Comprehensive Africa Agriculture Development Programme (CAADP) Kampala Declaration, the Free Movement of Goods and Services Protocol, the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA), the African Union Agenda 2063, ECOWAS Vision 2050, and the ECOWAS Agricultural Investment Strategy 2030 must move beyond policy documents and be effectively implemented at the national level.

He stressed the need for robust monitoring and evaluation systems to track progress and ensure that these initiatives deliver tangible benefits for communities across the region.

The validation workshop is expected to produce recommendations that will inform the ECOWAP 2035 strategy and strengthen regional cooperation in achieving food security, economic growth, and sustainable agricultural development.