Regional organizations are also key partners for UNOWAS to fulfill its mandate.

The office is established to enhance sub regional capacities for conflict prevention, conflict management, mediation, and good offices, including providing support to existing sub regional mechanisms, in particular the Conflict Prevention Framework, of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) and the Community’s Mechanism for Conflict Prevention, Management, Resolution, Peacekeeping and Security, as well as supporting the implementation of the United Nations Integrated Strategy for the Sahel (UNISS)

UNOWAS has developed a close cooperation with ECOWAS, the G5 Sahel and the African Union in a common objective to address the daunting challenge of establishing peace and security in the sub region. Through that close coordination, the regional organizations have developed common and coherent positions and strategies to address some of the region’s most pressing problems, in particular unconstitutional changes of Government and other political crises such as in Guinea, Mauritania, Togo and Niger.  

Joint programs have been developed by UNOWAS and the regional organization, such as with ECOWAS Commission to address selected areas related to conflict prevention and Peacebuilding. It includes support to the ECOWAS Commission in implementing its comprehensive Strategic Conflict Prevention Framework as well as the ECOWAS Protocol related to the Mechanism for Conflict Prevention, Management, Resolution, Peacekeeping and Security. UNOWAS is currently assisting ECOWAS with the revision of its Protocol on democracy and good governance. UNOWAS participates in various meetings and forums, such as ECOWAS summits and Committee of Chiefs of Defense Staff.

UNOWAS has facilitated the exchange of information and the sharing of best practices among national Governments, regional organizations, civil society and other entities.