The Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) has finalized a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Mauritania to harmonize and strengthen statistical systems across West and Central Africa. The agreement, concluded in Nouakchott on November 14, 2025, aims to standardize methodologies, improve data quality, and facilitate regional coordination under the World Bank–funded Project for the Harmonization and Improvement of Statistics in West and Central Africa (HISWACA).
The MoU positions Mauritania to participate fully in ECOWAS-led statistical initiatives, enabling technical collaboration, knowledge exchange, and capacity-building programs. Technical teams from ECOWAS and Mauritania’s Agence Nationale de la Statistique et de l’Analyse Démographique et Économique (ANSADE) reviewed key areas for cooperation, including aligning Mauritania’s data collection processes with regional standards and integrating the country into HISWACA’s ongoing activities.
Dr. Kalilou Sylla, ECOWAS Commissioner for Economic Affairs and Agriculture, led the delegation to Nouakchott, engaging with senior officials including ANSADE Director General Mohamed El Moctar Ahmed Sidi and Ministry of Economic Affairs and Development representative Yeslem Hamdane. These meetings emphasized the importance of consistent, high-quality statistics in guiding economic policy, investment planning, and development programs across the region.
Development partners also participated in consultations. Dr. Sylla met with FAO Representative Jean Senahoun, EU Ambassador Joaquin Tasso Villalonga, and World Bank Resident Representative Ibou Diouf. These discussions highlighted how harmonized statistics support evidence-based decision-making for agriculture, trade, and climate resilience projects while aligning national systems with international reporting standards.
Accurate, standardized data is crucial for West and Central Africa, where inconsistent statistics have historically limited policy planning and investment. The MoU will enable ECOWAS to track economic performance, monitor agricultural production, and assess demographic trends more effectively, while Mauritania benefits from technical support and access to regional expertise.
By improving statistical coordination, governments can better target development interventions, strengthen cross-border trade under the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA), and design programs that respond to climate and economic risks.
The MoU also outlines a framework for technical cooperation, including workshops, joint training programs, and deployment of regional experts to support Mauritania’s statistical capacity. A formal signing ceremony will be scheduled at a later date. Both parties have committed to developing a roadmap for implementation, with clear deliverables and timelines to ensure practical outcomes from the collaboration.
This initiative underscores the strategic importance of data for sustainable development. By harmonizing statistics, ECOWAS and Mauritania can enhance regional planning, improve transparency, and create a foundation for evidence-based policy interventions. For agriculture-dependent economies, consistent statistics on production, trade, and resource use will strengthen planning, improve market efficiency, and facilitate climate-smart policies.
The agreement marks a tangible step toward greater integration in West and Central Africa. It also reflects a broader commitment to ensuring that national and regional decision-making is informed by reliable data. As Mauritania begins to implement the MoU, other member states are expected to follow suit, contributing to a more cohesive and data-driven framework for economic development and sustainability across the region.
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