Evidence-Informed Agricultural Policymaking at Regional Level within the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS)

This case study examines the role of evidence in the agricultural policymaking processes within the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), focusing on its regional agricultural policy, ECOWAP. It investigates how evidence flows between national and regional levels, the key actors involved, and the institutional mechanisms supporting evidence integration into policy formulation, implementation and evaluation. The study highlights that while ECOWAS has proactively used evidence in agricultural policymaking since the early 2000s, significant challenges remain. External actors, particularly consultancy firms and international organizations, dominate the evidence landscape, with limited contributions from universities and national research centers. Formalized mechanisms for transferring data between national and regional levels are lacking, compounded by insufficient regional analytical capacities. Furthermore, the flow of research evidence and expert knowledge, notably from non-state actors, remains fragmented and informal. Reliance on external funding often results in donor-driven agendas misaligned with regional priorities. While evidence-informed approaches are strong during policy formulation, they weaken significantly during implementation. Additionally, the multiplicity of actors involved creates fragmentation, reducing coherence and coordination within ECOWAS’s agricultural policy ecosystem. To address these issues, the study recommends institutionalizing evidence transfer mechanisms, strengthening regional data analysis capabilities, establishing structured engagement processes with universities and research centers, formalizing the role of non-state actors, reducing dependence on external funding by aligning research agendas with regional needs, and embedding a robust evidence culture throughout all policy stages, especially implementation.