ECREEE and IEC Explore Opportunities for Cooperation

October 12, 2026 – The ECOWAS Centre for Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency (ECREEE) welcomed Mr. François Yapo Ahoti, Director of the International Electrotechnical Commission Regional Centre for Africa (IEC-AFRC), to explore cooperation in renewable energy, energy efficiency, standardization, and certification.
The meeting introduced IEC’s conformity assessment and certification systems, which help ensure the quality, safety, and compliance of products and equipment with international standards.
Discussions focused on potential collaboration in training, technical capacity development, knowledge sharing, and certification. ECREEE also highlighted the importance of accessing IEC and ISO standards to strengthen its programmes, particularly its regional professional certification programme aligned with ISO/IEC 17024.
The possibility of a Regional Adoption Agreement to facilitate access to and adoption of IEC standards across ECOWAS Member States was also discussed. In addition, IEC presented a proposed Statement of Cooperation with five African regional energy centres to identify priorities and develop joint initiatives.
As a next step, a regional meeting scheduled for 4 December 2026 in Accra, Ghana, will provide an opportunity to deepen discussions and identify concrete areas for collaboration.
The visit reinforces ECREEE’s commitment to building strategic partnerships, strengthening regional technical capacities, and supporting Africa’s sustainable energy transition.