Following the decision taken by the Conference of Heads of State and Government of ECOWAS in June 2025 regarding the relocation of the Water Resources Management Centre (CGRE) to Conakry, an official mission was conducted to the Republic of Guinea to monitor the progress of the development works at the new headquarters.
A High-Level Meeting to Review Progress
During the visit, the delegation was received by the Prime Minister of the Republic of Guinea. The meeting provided an opportunity to assess the overall progress of the relocation process and to review the measures required to accelerate the effective transfer of the Centre to Conakry.
Discussions also focused on the projected timeline for the effective transfer of activities and on the practical arrangements to be finalized in order to ensure a smooth installation within the agreed timeframe.
The Guinean authorities reaffirmed their commitment to actively support ECOWAS in ensuring the operationalization of the CGRE within the stipulated deadlines.
A Multidisciplinary Institutional Mission
The mission comprised:
-
The ECOWAS Resident Representative in Guinea;
-
The Director of Administration and General Services of ECOWAS, Head of Mission;
-
The Acting Director of Information Technology;
-
The Director of CGRE;
-
Technical teams from Administration and General Services.
This multidisciplinary mission reflects the strategic importance of the relocation process at both organizational and technological levels.
Towards Operationalization by the End of Q1 2026
At the conclusion of the mission, a detailed report will be submitted to the Guinean authorities highlighting priority actions requiring urgent attention to ensure the full operationalization of the new CGRE headquarters in Conakry before the end of the first quarter of 2026.
The relocation of CGRE represents a significant milestone in strengthening regional water governance in West Africa, in line with the strategic orientations defined by the ECOWAS Heads of State and Government.