On 17 September 2025, the EELA Programme will host its first regional event in West Africa as part of the ECOWAS Sustainable Energy Forum (ESEF) 2025. The session, titled “ECOWAS Member States Energy Efficiency Compliance Frameworks, Laboratory Readiness, and Support Needs” will take place from 09:00 to 11:00 GMT at the Sir Dawda Kairaba Jawara International Conference Center, Banjul, Gambia, in a hybrid format (in person and online).

Energy-efficient appliances and equipment are central to reducing energy demand, cutting greenhouse gas emissions, and improving access to affordable energy. Yet, effective adoption across the ECOWAS region requires more than regional Minimum Energy Performance Standards (MEPS); it depends on credible Monitoring, Verification, and Enforcement (MVE) systems and adequate technical infrastructure.

Despite the existence of regional MEPS and labelling frameworks for products such as lighting and cooling appliances in the ECOWAS region, enforcement remains limited due to gaps in laboratory infrastructure, institutional coordination, human and financial capacity, and awareness among importers and retailers.

The event will address these challenges by presenting institutional, procedural, and technical mechanisms for MEPS enforcement, including the establishment of regional reference laboratories for conformity assessments and product testing. Examples from Ghana and Côte d’Ivoire, where integrated compliance regimes, mandatory labelling, and customs collaboration have improved enforcement, will inform the discussions.

Participants will:

• Align national focal points on the operationalization of the regional compliance framework.
• Review and validate specifications for procuring testing equipment for designated laboratories.
• Reinforce the role of MVE systems in ensuring product compliance.
• Exchange technical experiences with counterparts from ECOWAS, EAC, and SADC, fostering South–South cooperation.

Simultaneous interpretation will be provided in English, French, and Portuguese to ensure inclusive participation.

Join the event through the following link:  https://ecreee-org.zoom.us/j/84342547459?pwd=bpLcRYGqKL1MwkivBhffhqi6saeHL1.1