MIDWA is the highest level of discussion on migration in West Africa, in addition to the yearly ECOWAS Head of Immigration meeting.

Originally launched in December 2000, MIDWA’s purpose is to serve as a regional non-binding consultative framework for dialogue, and for generating political engagement and capacity building on migration.

MIDWA was designed as a platform to encourage the ECOWAS Member States to discuss in a regional context common migration issues and concerns for which immediate solutions may not be forthcoming on a national level. It hence provides a forum for the Member States to engage in dialogue, adoption of common positions and the search for effective solutions in the different areas of migration management