TOGO HOSTS THE 8TH ANNUAL FORUM OF NATIONAL VOLUNTEER AGENCIES IN THE ECOWAS REGION
"From 2 to 4 June 2026, Lomé will host the 8th Annual Forum of National Volunteer Agencies in the ECOWAS region. Organised under the theme ‘From knowledge to action: practical tools and reliable data to strengthen the role of volunteering in the ECOWAS region’, this forum brings together stakeholders in the volunteering sector from our […]"
From 2 to 4 June 2026, Lomé will host the 8th Annual Forum of National Volunteer Agencies in the ECOWAS region.
Organised under the theme “From knowledge to action: practical tools and reliable data to strengthen the role of volunteering in the ECOWAS region”, this forum brings together stakeholders in the volunteering sector from member states, as well as technical and institutional partners.
This high-level meeting will feature plenary sessions and working groups aimed at developing a reference document on the collection and management of data relating to volunteering.
The national volunteering agencies and institutions represented will share their experiences and best practices in order to contribute to the harmonisation of data collection mechanisms across the community space.
Through its Volunteer Programme, implemented by the Youth and Sports Development Centre, ECOWAS is firmly committed to making volunteering a driving force for regional integration, the promotion of peace and the acceleration of sustainable development in the region.
The Lomé Forum therefore provides a unique opportunity to harmonize approaches, strengthen cooperation between stakeholders in the voluntary sector and share experiences, with a view to consolidating the contribution of volunteering to development within the ECOWAS region.
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Key Impact
- The forum in Lomé from 2-4 June 2026 will produce a reference document to standardise how volunteering data is collected across all ECOWAS countries, including Ghana.
- Ghana's National Volunteer Agency (like the Ghana Volunteer Network) will gain new tools to better coordinate volunteer activities, directly supporting agricultural extension and community projects.
- Improved data-sharing among ECOWAS members will allow Ghana to benchmark its volunteer programmes against regional peers, highlighting gaps in rural agricultural support.
- The focus on reliable data will help Ghana track volunteer impact on food security projects in regions like Northern, Upper East, and Upper West.
Background
- The 8th Annual Forum of National Volunteer Agencies is organised by ECOWAS through its Youth and Sports Development Centre, which also runs the ECOWAS Volunteer Programme.
- The theme 'From knowledge to action: practical tools and reliable data to strengthen the role of volunteering in the ECOWAS region' targets the current lack of harmonised data on volunteer contributions across member states.
- Volunteering is recognised by ECOWAS as a driving force for regional integration, peace promotion, and sustainable development, including food security in West Africa.
- Ghana has a vibrant volunteering culture in agriculture, with farmers and youth often working through groups like the Ghana Extension to share climate-smart practices.
Benefits
- Harmonised data collection will enable Ghana's Ministry of Food and Agriculture to quantify volunteer efforts in disseminating drought-resistant seeds and fertiliser use.
- Ghanaian volunteer agencies will be able to tap into regional best practices from countries like Togo and Nigeria to boost volunteer retention in rural farming communities.
- The reference document will help Ghana's District Assemblies integrate volunteer data into local development plans, improving resource allocation for agricultural extension agents.
- Stronger regional cooperation means more cross-border volunteer exchanges, allowing Ghanaian volunteers to learn innovative farming techniques in other ECOWAS states.
Risks & Warnings
- If Ghana's volunteer agencies do not actively participate and share their own data, the new regional standards may not reflect local realities, such as the seasonal migration of farming volunteers.
- The emphasis on harmonisation could impose uniform data systems that are too expensive or technologically complex for Ghana's smaller volunteer groups in rural areas.
- Political instability or weak institutional memory in some ECOWAS countries could delay the adoption of data tools, leaving Ghana's programmes out of sync with regional benchmarks.
- Without proper data privacy safeguards, the collection of personal data on volunteers (e.g., farmer demographics in Bono East) may discourage participation.
Who Is Affected
- Ghana's National Volunteer Agency and local volunteer networks that support agricultural extension will directly benefit from standardised data tools and regional cooperation.
- Smallholder farmers in Ghana's regions like Ashanti, Volta, and Savannah who rely on volunteer-led training in sustainable farming practices will see improved programme effectiveness.
- ECOWAS institutions, including the Youth and Sports Development Centre, will use the forum outputs to strengthen the regional volunteer programme, which already deploys volunteers to support food security projects.
- Development partners in Ghana (e.g., FAO, IFAD, and local NGOs) will gain better data to align their volunteering initiatives with national and regional agricultural goals.
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