Over the years, UNOWA has developed a close cooperation with the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) and the African Union in a common objective to address the daunting challenge of establishing peace and security in the sub region. Through that close collaboration our three institutions have developed common and coherent positions and strategies to address some of the region’s most pressing problems, in particular unconstitutional changes of Government and other political crises such as in Guinea, Mauritania, Togo and Niger.

A joint programme of work has been developed by UNOWA and the ECOWAS Commission to address selected areas related to conflict prevention and Peacebuilding. It includes support to the ECOWAS Commission in implementing its comprehensive Strategic Conflict Prevention Framework as well as the ECOWAS Protocol related to the Mechanism for Conflict Prevention, Management, Resolution, Peacekeeping and Security. UNOWA is currently assisting ECOWAS with the revision of its Protocol on democracy and good governance. UNOWA participates in various meetings and forums, such as ECOWAS summits and Committee of Chiefs of Defence Staff.

In an effort to strengthen its cooperation with the Mano River Union (MRU), UNOWA and MRU have started developing a joint framework for cooperation in areas such as the promotion of violence-free elections, security sector reform, drug trafficking and organized crime, as well as implementation of Security Council resolution 1325 (2000) related to women peace and security.