The ECOWAS Observatory for Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency (ECOWREX) is a web-based platform, aimed at mitigating the poor quality of data and information in the sphere of sustainable energy in the ECOWAS region. It was developed by ECREEE in collaboration with UNIDO under the GEF Project “Promoting Coordination, Coherence and Knowledge Management under Energy Component of the Strategic Program for West Africa (SPWA)” with support from the Austrian Development Cooperation (ADC) and the Spanish Agency for International Development Cooperation (AECID). ECOWREX was adopted by the ECOWAS Energy Ministers on October 31st, 2012, at its 11th meeting, in Accra, Ghana, to support decision making, providing tailored information and planning tool. It is available at www.ecowrex.org. 

The objectives of ECOWREX are to: 

• Provide tailored and timely information on Renewable Energy Resources in the ECOWAS region, to support policymakers, investors and other stakeholders in the energy sector;  
• Build up a network of key players both local and international, to share the best practices and technical know-how. 

Completed

• Designed and developed the platform through the GEF Project “Promoting Coordination, Coherence and Knowledge Management under the Energy Component of the Strategic Program for West Africa (SPWA).
• Developed a Spatial Data Infrastructure (SDI) through the ACP-EU Science and Technology Programme II “Promoting Sustainable Energy Access through the use of Geospatial Technology in West Africa”

Ongoing

• Revamping of the ECOWREX platform, providing improved user experience and updating of information on renewable energy and energy efficiency, through the project “Support for rural electrification via renewable energy systems in the Liptako-Gourma region – pilot phase.”
• Under PreparationConduct in-depth studies through data collection to define baseline values for energy efficiency indicators in ECOWAS countries within the ECREEE-USAID Collaboration: “Accelerating a Carbon Free Energy Future in West Africa: 2024 – 2029”.

• Improved access to timely and targeted data/information on current indicators that defines the energy sector;
• Improve energy planning through evidence-based decision making and use of geospatial tools;
• Facilitate collaboration and information sharing within member states and the international community.