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Efforts to expand access to electricity and accelerate renewable energy adoption across West Africa will take center stage as the ECOWAS Parliament convenes a five-day delocalized joint committee meeting in Dakar, Senegal.
Scheduled to hold from June 15 to 19, the meeting will bring together lawmakers, government representatives, development partners, energy experts, private sector operators and civil society organizations to discuss strategies for advancing rural electrification and strengthening energy access in the region.
The gathering, themed “Harnessing Renewable Energy for Rural Electrification and Empowerment of Rural Economies in the ECOWAS Region: The Role of the ECOWAS Parliament,” will be jointly hosted by the Parliament’s Committees on Energy and Mines; Agriculture, Environment and Natural Resources; and Infrastructure.
The discussions come amid growing concerns over the electricity deficit affecting millions of people in rural communities across West Africa. Limited access to reliable power continues to hinder agricultural productivity, healthcare delivery, education, digital connectivity and economic growth in many parts of the region.
Participants are expected to explore the role of decentralized renewable energy solutions, including solar mini-grids, hybrid energy systems and standalone solar technologies, in closing the energy access gap. The meeting will also assess opportunities for harnessing the region’s abundant renewable energy resources and attracting investments needed to scale up deployment.
A key focus will be the review of regional energy frameworks such as the ECOWAS Renewable Energy Policy, Energy Efficiency Policy, the updated ECOWAS Energy Policy and the Regional Electricity Market initiative. Delegates will also examine the contributions of major regional institutions, including the ECOWAS Centre for Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency, the West African Power Pool and the ECOWAS Regional Electricity Regulatory Authority, to the region’s energy transition agenda.
As part of the programme, parliamentarians will undertake a field visit to a renewable energy project in Senegal, where they will interact with local communities and businesses benefiting from improved electricity access. The visit is expected to provide practical insights into the impact of renewable energy on livelihoods, entrepreneurship and rural development.
At the end of the deliberations, the lawmakers are expected to adopt recommendations aimed at boosting investment in renewable energy infrastructure, strengthening rural electrification initiatives and enhancing parliamentary oversight of regional energy policies and programmes.
The meeting aligns with ECOWAS' broader objective of achieving universal access to affordable, reliable and sustainable energy by 2030, a target regarded as critical to driving inclusive development and economic transformation across West Africa.