The West Africa Competitiveness Programme (WACOMP), funded by the European Union, aims to support several selected value chains at the national and regional level so as to promote structural transformation and better access to regional and international markets while taking into account social and environmental concerns. The Programme was adopted under the 11th European Union Development Fund (EDF) Regional Indicative Programme for a total amount of €120m.

The major objectives of the programme are to strengthen the competitiveness of West African countries and also enhance their integration into the regional and international trading system. To reach this overarching goal, the programme will work to:

• improve performance, growth and contribution to the industry,
• regional trade and exports of selected value chains,
• and improve the business climate at national and regional levels.

The programme, which is aligned to support the implementation of the West African regional policies and programmes, including the West Africa Common Industrial Policy (WACIP), West Africa Quality System Programme (WAQSP) and ECOWAS Private Sector Development Strategy, will be instrumental in creating the foundations and promoting access of West African countries to the EU External Investment Plan (EIP).

The Programme has 16 National components and 1 regional component. Each country is individually responsible for the implementation of its component and the ECOWAS Commission, with the support of West Africa Economic and Monetary Union (WAEMU/ UEMOA) Commission, is responsible for the implementation of the regional components and for the coordination of the programme through a programme overall steering committee to be convened once every year. A number of Technical partners will support implementation at the country and regional levels.