West Africa looks back over a great history and is home to a rich diversity of cultures, but it faces at the same time economic problems due to high indebtedness, meagre foreign trade and dependence on oil. Political riots in some countries pose challenges for the region, policy-makers and development partnerships. Regional organisations, such as the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) or the Union Economique et Monétaire de l'Afrique de l'Ouest (UEMOA) have already tackled these tasks. They pursue cross-border security policy goals and advance the economic convergence of the member countries.

Joining forces

Austrian Development Cooperation promotes regional organisations in their efforts to secure peace and prevent conflict. Another Austrian focus in the region is supporting the use of alternative energy sources and setting up the ECOWAS Regional Centre for Renewable Energies and Energy Efficiency in Praia, Cape Verde. Austria is aligning all its development cooperation programmes with the strategies of ECOWAS and its member states. Harmonising its activities with other donors is another priority of Austria. Within West Africa Burkina Faso is a priority country of the Austrian Development Cooperation. The bilateral agreement defines the substantive priorities of cooperation for 2008-2013: support for craftspeople, micro and small enterprises, vocational and technical education and training and sustainable rural development.