In accordance with the mechanism for the coordination and monitoring of the Regional Indicative Programme (RIP), about fifty participants made up of technical advisers,
directors, and experts from ECOWAS, UEMOA and the EU Delegation in Burkina
Faso, met Wednesday, June 12, 2013, at Ouagadougou to discuss the status of
implementation of the RIP in West Africa.
The discussions on the status of implementation of the RIP 9th EDF revealed that as at 30th April, 2013, the execution rate stood at 73.The performance of sector n°1, “Regional
Integration” has been the highest (79%), followed by sector n°2 “Facilitation of Transport” (76.4%). The projects in the portfolio of non-focal sector stood for only 66.4%.
At the end of discussions and following a deep analysis of the implementation process of the 9th EDF RIP, the Ouagadougou meeting made several observations, including the necessary synchronization between the implementation of projects and the programming exercise (timing and duration of regional cycles and their impact on the programming of EU assistance).
The Steering Committee stressed the need to clearly define the role of regional organizations for the projects delegated to executive agencies. It also stressed the need for regional organizations to take ownership of the planning and implementation of programs
and projects as well as the establishment of support cells for the regional organizations.
Regarding the RIP 10th EDF, the approved projects will be submitted to the EDF on September 2013. The signing of the financing agreements is expected in December 2013 at the latest. The participants asked the Regional Authorizing Officers to fully play the role
assigned to them by Article 35 of Annex IV of the Cotonou Agreement.
Note that the Ouagadougou meeting was attended by Mr. Richard HANDS, First Secretary and Chief of the Regional Integration Unit, Mr. Jonas Hemou, ECOWAS Director of External Relations and Mr. Raymond Assoukou KRIKPEU, UEMOA Director of Cooperation.