«One of the key expected results of the WAQSP, one of the leading programmes supporting the implementation of ECOQUAL, is the promotion of an ECOWAS product certification Mark>>

The Commission is stepping up efforts to promote a “quality” culture in the region. In this context, the WAQSP will support the establishment of an ECOWAS Quality Award.Indeed, the programme will support seven ECOWAS countries and Mauritania, which have no Awards, towards the organization of a first edition as soon as possible; similarly, necessary synergies will be implemented to capitalize on the experience of the UEMOA countries that already organize their Awards within the UEMOA Quality Award.ECOWAS indeed supports States to establish or strengthen national product certification schemes. To date, at least 6 countries in the region can take advantage of a product certification system that is more or less operational. The challenge is now to support the upscaling of these systems to international standards. One of the key expected results of the WAQSP, one of the leading programmes supporting the implementation of ECOQUAL, is the promotion of an ECOWAS product certification scheme that will be backed by the national product certification systems. WAQSP activities in this field have been initiated, including in Benin and Senegal

April 2016