The Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) and its member states have initiated a collaborative effort in Dakar to develop a harmonized regional code and manual for road design.
This project aims to standardize the diverse and often disparate road infrastructure norms currently in use across West Africa.
Engineers and road infrastructure experts from ECOWAS member states convened from October 28 to 30 for a technical meeting focused on reviewing provisional recommendations for the new standards.
Currently, West African countries apply a mix of standards—often inspired by French, British, American, or Chinese models—leading to inconsistencies in infrastructure quality and interoperability. Experts state that the future regional manual will integrate international best practices while also accounting for local realities such as material availability, climate, topography, and road safety concerns.
The core work focused on nine provisional volumes covering crucial aspects, including geometric design, signage, drainage, road safety, and environmental impact assessment.
Representatives from the member states reaffirmed their commitment to finalizing the comprehensive technical document by early 2026. This common framework is expected to significantly enhance the quality, safety, and operational consistency of road networks throughout the ECOWAS region.
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