In West Africa, IFRC Disaster Law works with the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS). The ECOWAS Plan of Action of the Humanitarian Policy (2018-2022) includes, as a strategic objective, 'ensuring appropriate legal and policy frameworks for preventing and responding to emergencies'. This objective is closely aligned with IFRC Disaster Law's work.
IFRC Disaster Law supported the development of the ECOWAS draft Disaster Management Handbook, which guides member states to revise their disaster risk management frameworks. Once this tool is adopted, IFRC Disaster Law will work with National Societies in the region to raise awareness of the Handbook and to support ECOWAS member states to make use of the Handbook to review their national legal frameworks.
At the country level, IFRC Disaster Law has conducted research and activities in several West African countries including Liberia, Nigeria, Sierra Leone and Togo.
