ECOWAS Lawmakers Converge in Dakar to Drive Rural Energy Revolution Across West Africa

By Jane Salihu

DAKAR, Senegal – The ECOWAS Parliament is set to commence a five-day Delocalized Joint Committee Meeting in Dakar, Senegal, aimed at advancing renewable energy deployment and accelerating rural electrification across West Africa.

According to a press release issued by the ECOWAS Parliament, the meeting, scheduled for June 15 to 19, 2026, will bring together parliamentarians, government officials, representatives of ECOWAS institutions, development partners, private sector stakeholders, civil society organisations and energy experts to explore practical solutions for expanding electricity access in rural communities.

The gathering is themed “Harnessing Renewable Energy for Rural Electrification and Empowerment of Rural Economies in the ECOWAS Region: The Role of the ECOWAS Parliament.” It is being organised jointly by the Parliament’s Committees on Energy and Mines; Agriculture, Environment and Natural Resources; and Infrastructure under the Sixth Legislature.

The Parliament noted that despite recent gains in electrification across the region, millions of rural residents still lack reliable access to electricity, limiting opportunities in agriculture, education, healthcare, digital connectivity and economic development.

Participants are expected to examine how decentralised renewable energy technologies, including solar mini-grids, hybrid power systems and stand-alone solar installations, can help bridge the energy gap in underserved communities. Discussions will also focus on strategies for unlocking investment in the region’s vast renewable energy resources, particularly solar and hydropower.

The meeting will review major regional energy frameworks, including the ECOWAS Renewable Energy Policy (EREP), the ECOWAS Energy Efficiency Policy (EEEP), the updated ECOWAS Energy Policy and the Regional Electricity Market (REM). Delegates will also assess the contributions of specialised regional institutions such as the ECOWAS Centre for Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency (ECREEE), the West African Power Pool (WAPP) and the ECOWAS Regional Electricity Regulatory Authority (ERERA).

As part of the programme, Members of Parliament will undertake a field visit to a renewable energy project in Senegal, where they will interact with local entrepreneurs, women and youth groups, as well as beneficiary communities, to gain firsthand knowledge of the impact of rural electrification on livelihoods and economic activities.

The ECOWAS Parliament said the meeting is expected to culminate in the adoption of recommendations aimed at strengthening rural electrification initiatives, attracting greater investment in renewable energy infrastructure and enhancing parliamentary oversight of regional energy policies and programmes.

The regional bloc has set a target of achieving universal access to sustainable and affordable energy by 2030, with lawmakers increasingly playing a central role in driving the agenda forward.