The Early Warning Directorate of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) organised a working session on November 29, 2024 in Abuja, Nigeria, to review and approve its Human Security Index (HSI).
The session was aimed at refining the HIS indicators to ensure that the realities of the West African region are fully reflected,
According to the statement released on Tuesday by the ECOWAS Commission, the HSI is designed to monitor human security vulnerability and resilience in five thematic areas: crime and criminality, health, environment, security and governance.
Its objectives include measuring levels of human security, supporting policy development, strengthening government accountability and attracting investment and partnerships.
“The ECOWAS Human Security Index that we are developing is not just a tool, but a strategic framework to address the multidimensional challenges facing our region. It is a cornerstone for action, which combines data-driven insights with tangible and effective interventions,” the Acting Director of Early Warning at the ECOWAS Commission, Dr. Onyinge Nkechi Onwuka, said.
Ms. Onwuka noted that by leveraging the ISHC, the community-based organisation aims to deepen understanding of the key drivers of human insecurity, improve its capacity to assess vulnerabilities and resilience mechanisms. Similarly, it seeks to support quantitative forecasting and predictive analytics to drive effective and well-formed response planning.
The statement added that the discussions during the working session focused on refining the dimensions and sub-dimensions of the index to ensure that it adequately captures the challenges facing ECOWAS Member States.
The participants, according to the statement, also reviewed the existing framework to better serve policymakers, civil society and other stakeholders.
The session brought together key representatives from various ECOWAS directorates, including peacekeeping and regional security, political affairs, strategic planning, monitoring and evaluation, human development and social affairs, as well as some partners.
ARD/te/fss/gik/APA