Niame, Niger, 03 October 2025 (ECA) – The United Nations Economic Commission for Africa (ECA), through its Subregional Office for West Africa will hold the twenty-eighth session of the Intergovernmental Committee of Senior Officials and Experts (ICSOE) for West Africa fully online on 5 and 6 November 2025 under the theme “Leveraging digital technology to enhance domestic resource mobilization in West Africa”.
This annual meeting will bring together delegates and experts from 15 West African countries to discuss major sustainable development issues, share good practices, and devise action-oriented solutions to the challenges faced by the subregion, which will then be shared with national and local governments, members of ECA, and other development actors. The outcome of the session, along with the orientations emerging from policy dialogues held in the subregion, will be presented during the 2026 session of the Economic Commission for Africa to the Conference of African Ministers of Finance, Planning, and Economic Development for review and decision.
A critical time to focus on domestic resource mobilization
In a context of rising debt pressures, fiscal constraints, and unpredictable external assistance, domestic resource mobilization is more critical than ever for West African countries striving to meet the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Despite progress, the subregion continues to face challenges in mobilizing domestic resources efficiently.
Harnessing digital technology to drive and sustain development financing
The 2025 ICSOE session will explore how digital technologies enhance resource mobilization through, among other things, increased compliance, a widened tax base, improved tax administration through greater efficiency, transparency, and financial inclusion, and reduced corruption. The meeting will also be an opportunity to highlight successful national experiences and regional harmonization efforts in tax policy and systems across ECOWAS/UEMOA.
Promoting knowledge sharing and South-South cooperation
The session provides a platform for senior government officials to engage in actionable solutions for enhancing domestic resource mobilisation in West Africa. By sharing lessons learned and exploring new approaches, the meeting will contribute to strengthening sustainable development financing and accelerate economic growth across the subregion.
The meeting is open to senior officials from ministries and institutions responsible for planning, finance, economic development, and digital technology; representatives of ECOWAS, UEMOA, other regional and international institutions; UN agencies; private sector actors; civil society; universities; research institutions; and subject-matter experts.
Issued by:
Communications Section
Economic Commission for Africa
PO Box 3001
Addis Ababa
Ethiopia
Tel: +251 11 551 5826
E-mail: eca-info@un.org