This support programme focused on the development of different specific training modules to promote the understanding of the EPA by parliamentarians and the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) experts, and to ensure the proper implementation of all trade agreements involving ECOWAS member countries and enable the organization to develop regional expertise on dispute settlements resolution that can support States in the defense of their commercial interests.

Two-fold purposes: To create a better understanding of the EPA and its ownership by all the stakeholders (parliamentarians, ECOWAS / WAEMU experts, private sector and the civil society); and to establish a regional legal framework in dispute settlement for resolving trade disputes and to ensure that agreements are enforced and settled.

Three-fold project outputs: The Support Programme contributed to:

1. The support programme contributed to strengthen the capacity of the ECOWAS / WAEMU experts to raise awareness to the community citizens and monitor the effective implementation of the West Africa - EU EPA;
2. Strengthened the capacity of the ECOWAS parliamentarians to improve the ownership of the EPA in order to fast-track the ratification process; and
3. Established a regional legal framework for settling trade disputes.

Intervention areas:

• Development of EPA training modules to be used by the ECOWAS/ WAEMU experts to sensitize the community citizens on the agreement;
• capacity building of ECOWAS/WAEMU experts, the civil society and the parliamentarians;
• Development of a manual of procedures governing the settlement of disputes in West Africa;
• Establishment of a legal framework for a proper implementation of trade agreements in the region;
• Capacity building of legal officials of the ECOWAS commission, jurists and lawyers in order to create a pool of expertise in dispute settlement in the region.  

Purpose 1 – Development of educational tools for training and disclosure of the ECOWAS/EU EPA

• Training Materials for ECOWAS and WAEMU experts on the effective implementation of the EPA prepared and delivered;
• Report of the training "Mechanisms and provisions of the ECOWAS-EU EPA” for ECOWAS and WAEMU experts prepared;
• Modules for the training "Mechanisms and provisions of the ECOWAS-EU EPA” prepared in English, French and Portuguese:
• Conventions from Lomé to the EPA in West Africa;
• ECOWAS customs union: ECOWAS-EU EPA base;
• Content and provisions of the ECOWAS-EU EPA;
• Opportunities, risks and accompanying measures of the ECOWAS-EU EPA;
• Cooperation for the implementation of the development dimension and the achievement of the objectives of the EPA;
• Trade Policy and Trade Issues;
• Working Group’s Report of the Regional Meeting for Parliamentarians prepared and shared;
• Guide for trainers for the seminar of the Parliamentarians of the member states of ECOWAS and Mauritania prepared and shared to the key stakeholders;
• The questionnaire on the Seminar of the Parliamentarians of the member states of ECOWAS and Mauritania evaluated and recommendations shared

Purpose 2 – Establishment of a regional legal assistance framework for West African states in the area of commercial litigation

• Regional Legal Assistance Framework for West African States in the Prevention and Resolution of Trade Disputes in the Implementation of the ECOWAS / EU EPA drafted;
• Legal assistance framework document for West African states in the field of trade litigation drafted;
• The different dispute settlement procedures in ECOWAS Member States audited;
• The WTO dispute settlement system and its implications for West African countries reviewed and findings shared;
• Report on the functioning of the ECOWAS Court of Justice and its trade competences, in the light of the Common External Tariff (CET) prepared;
• Report: Prospective reading of Chapter IV of the Economic Partnership Agreement (EPA) West Africa / EU on the settlement of disputes and the institutional follow-up necessary for its operationalisation prepared and shared;
• Dispute prevention mechanisms such as consultations and mediation elaborated;
• Document of Diagnostic and Analysis Arbitration Procedures in West Africa prepared;
• Guidelines on the Appointment of Arbitrators on the Prevention and Settlement of Disputes in the Implementation of the Economic Partnership Agreement (EPA) prepared;
• Rules of Arbitration Procedure on the Prevention and Settlement of Disputes in the Implementation of the Economic Partnership Agreement (EPA) reviewed;
• Framework for Legal Assistance and Cooperation in the Implementation of the Economic Partnership Agreement (EPA) reviewed;
• Framework for Legal Cooperation in Trade Disputes prepared;
• Workshop Report prepared.