The Sub-Regional Office for West Africa of the United Nations Economic Commission for Africa (ECA) , in partnership with the Government of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, today launched virtually the work of a meeting of West African Think Tanks and Experts on the theme: "The Generational Economy and Structural Transformation in the Age of COVID-19 in West Africa".

The choice of this theme is a way for the Sub-regional Office for West Africa of the ECA to highlight the particularly acute demographic challenges in West Africa and to highlight the close link between demographic dynamics and the sustainable development goals that countries are pursuing, with the risk that the Covid-19 pandemic will divert efforts from population policies.

Given the many challenges associated with demographic dynamics in West Africa, aggravated by the adverse effects of the Covid-19 crisis, the achievement of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and the 2063 Agenda for Africa's future aspirations will require a better understanding of the region's demographic transformations and the policies that are critical to realizing the demographic dividend, such as access to affordable and quality health and social protection services, quality education and employment opportunities for young people.

This virtual meeting therefore aims to explore the link between population dynamics and sustainable development and to identify ways to align demographic changes in West Africa with the Sustainable Development Goals. The focus will be on the Covid-19 pandemic and its likely negative impact on population dynamics and drivers of the demographic dividend.

According to the PI Director and Head of the Demographic Dynamics for Development (DDD) Section of the ECA's Sub-Regional Office for West Africa, Bakary Dosso, "The choice of the theme "The generational economy and structural transformation in the era of COVID-19 in West Africa" allows the Sub-Regional Office for West Africa to highlight the particularly acute demographic challenges in West Africa and to highlight the close link between population dynamics and the Sustainable Development Goals that countries are pursuing, with the risk that the COVID 19 pandemic could divert efforts from population policies”.

Population growth in West Africa, continues Bakary Dosso, “is estimated at 2.6% in 2020, more than double the world average of 1.04%. Although there has been a steady decline in population growth in West Africa, partly explained by reduced fertility rates, progress is still slow compared to other regions and sub-regions of the world ".

“Given the many challenges related to demographic dynamics in West Africa, aggravated by the negative effects of the Covid-19 crisis, the achievement of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and the 2063 Agenda for Africa's aspirations for the future will require a better understanding of the region's demographic transformations and the policies that are key to realizing the demographic dividend, such as access to health care and social protection of quality and affordable, quality education and job opportunities for young people. ", he said.

For his part, the Regional Director for West and Central Africa of the World Food Program (WFP), Mr. Chris Nikoi stressed the need to share experiences and good practices in response to the crisis. social and economic impact caused by COVID-19 and the lessons learned from the various response policies adopted by countries.

“Faced with a COVID-19 crisis that is both global and regional, it is not only important to have a coalition of partners to measure the long-term macroeconomic impacts but also the essential social protection provisions in the short term, in particular respond to the resulting humanitarian crisis in order to provide basic social services in the areas of health, water and sanitation, and education,” said Mr. Chris Nikoi.

In his opening speech, the Director of Macroeconomic Studies at the Ministry of Budget and Planning of Nigeria, Mr. ADEOSUN David expressed his thanks to the ECA "for the efforts of coordinating a united and urgent response of our countries to the COVID-19 pandemic, in particular the various consultations of Finance Ministers for a common position on access to concessional loans from the World Bank Group like those of other private financial institutions.

Representatives of Regional Economic Communities and Intergovernmental Organizations of West Africa, representatives of the United Nations System, as well as academics are taking part in this meeting.

For more information, please contact: Tahirou Gouro, Communications Officer, CEA-BSR/AO,