The Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) is a regional group of fifteen countries and was founded in 1975. Its mission is to promote economic integration in all fields of economic activity, particularly industry, transport, telecommunications, energy, agriculture, natural resources, commerce, monetary and financial questions, social and cultural matters.

The Institutions of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) are as follows:

• The Commission
• The Community Parliament
• The Community Court OF Justice
• ECOWAS Bank for Investment and Development (EBID)

Specialized Agencies

The ECOWAS Commission and the ECOWAS Bank for Investment and Development, more often called The Fund are its two main institutions designed to implement policies, pursue a number of programmes and carry out development projects in Member States. Such projects include intra-community road construction and telecommunications; and agricultural, energy and water resources development. The following are more of ECOWAS's institutions:

• ECOWAS Bank for Investment and Development (EBID)
• ECOWAS Regional Development Fund (ERDF)
• West African Monetary Agency (WAMA)
• West African Monetary Institute (WAMI)
• Specialized Technical Commissions
• ECOWAS Youth Sport and Development Center
• ECOWAS Gender Development Center
• Water Resources Coordination Unit
• Western African Power Pool

Activities

• Agriculture
• Child
• Civil Society
• Culture
• Customs
• Drug
• Economic and Monetary Affairs
• Education and Training
• Youth
• Health and Social Affairs
• Energy
• Environment
• Political Affairs
• Private Sector
• Industry
• External Trade
• Food Security
• Defense and Security
• GIABA
• Gender Issues
• Humanitarian
• ICT / Information Society
• Infrastructure
• Rural Development
• Telecommunications
• Trade
• Transport
• Water