SCOPE Africa: Securing Corridors, Ports and Exchanges in West and Central Africa

With the intensification of maritime trade, there is a need to strengthen the interface between sea and land, both because of its economic importance and the resulting security and safety imperatives

Indeed, this dynamic is accompanied by major risks, which can have a considerable impact on human security and local and regional economies in the event of disruption to port activities. These risks include both industrial accidents – such as the Beirut Port disaster on 4 August 2020 – and terrorist threats exacerbated by regional geopolitical instability. In addition, as strategic entry and exit points, ports are exploited by criminal organisations for the trafficking of illicit and dangerous goods.

In view of these challenges, it is essential tostrengthen port governance. Through rigorous and coordinated management, it is possible to establish organisational mechanisms to ensure the safety and security of commercial operations in a sustainable and effective manner. This infrastructure constitutes a strategic hub linking maritime routes to hinterlands, making its security and operational performance essential to regional stability.

In this respect, the European Union plays a key role in providing technical, diplomatic and logistical support to initiatives aimed at improving the security, safety and efficiency of ports in the region. Through its Global Gateway - Strategic Corridors strategy, it plans to invest in strengthening strategic transport corridors, with the aim of facilitating trade and promoting regional integration.

The Securing Corridors, Ports and Exchanges in Western and Central Africa (SCOPE Africa) project, financed by the European Union under the Neighbourhood, Development and International Cooperation Instrument, is implemented by a consortium led by Expertise France, in partnership with the Belgian cooperation agency Enabel.

Under this initiative, SCOPE Africa has three main objectives:

1. Strengthen compliance with international norms and standards in the field of port security and safety, with the objective of optimising the flow of trade and transport, while supporting environmental resilience in the target ports.
2. Strengthen the capacity of the target ports to prevent and respond to security and safety incidents, with the objective of facilitating trade and transport operations.
3. Strengthen regional structures and dialogue on port security and safety,with the objective of contributing to the development of strategic corridors.

The project aims to strengthen intra-Africa connectivity by supporting the safety and security of strategic ports in West and Central Africa. This will facilitate trade and transport and contribute to the sustainable economic development of the region. It is based on five lines of action:

1. Compliance with international standards.
2. Improvement of risk management.
3. Training and inclusion of port operators.
4. Enhanced regional cooperation.
5. Support for regional platforms such as the Port Management Association of West and Central Africa (PMAWCA).

Ten ports have been identified for the deployment of the activities implemented under the project:  Praia (Cape Verde), Dakar (Senegal), Monrovia (Liberia), Abidjan (Côte d'Ivoire), Lomé (Togo), Lagos (Nigeria), Douala (Cameroon), Kribi (Cameroon), Libreville (Gabon), Pointe-Noire (Republic of the Congo).

The SCOPE Africa project complements the ongoing initiatives (SEACOP, GoGIN, SAFE SEAS, EnMAR). It aims to build a culture of sustainable port security, in support of growth, sovereignty and African integration.