Transport, infrastructure

The 1,028-km six-lane homogeneous Highway from Abidjan to Lagos is a major Transport Infrastructure Project for Western Africa. The ECOWAS Commission ensures the implementation of the technical studies and related activities. These large-scale engineering studies, coupled with the development of a construction strategy and motorway operating procedures through PPP, are complex services to handle by contracting authorities and involve significant budgets. Furthermore, three Design and Engineering (D&E) firms are contracted to carry out the technical studies, dividing the corridor into three lots and requiring strong supervision to ensure effective coordination of the studies. Therefore, the aim of the Technical Assistance (TA) Services is to: (i) support the PIU with the diverse nature of studies being pursued under the Programme, (ii) serve as an interface with all stakeholders, (iii) support ECOWAS in anticipating urgent actions, and (iv) take the necessary decisions regarding technical, legal and financial expertise to allow ECOWAS and the authorised agencies of Member States to effectively manage all phases of each service component provided for in the study.

- Strategic framework for the development of regional and continental infrastructure in four sectors (Energy, Transport, Information and Communication Technologies (ICT), and Transboundary Water Resources), based on a development vision for Africa, strategic objectives and sector policies.
- Infrastructure development programme covering the period up to 2030.
- Implementation strategy and priority action plan.

The purposes of this project are as follows:
- To undertake activities that will help the operationalisation of a new civil aviation training centre in Istanbul by developing an effective training policy, programme, curriculum, and other necessary policies and documents focused on safety and security aspects based on the EU acquis and relevant international legislation in the air transport sector.
- To ensure the visibility of the training centre by developing a communication campaign targeting stakeholders and the general public in Turkey and abroad.

Technical and economic study of the railway connection between the capitals of two enclosed ECOWAS countries (Ouagadougou, Niamey) and their sea trading ports (Abidjan, Cotonou).
Simplified and detailed technical studies of the Cotonou-Parakou connection and preparation of bidding documents for the rehabilitation works. Support in structuring the funding dossier, based on the economic and financial analysis of the rehabilitation of the railway sections.