Tackling Transnational Organized Crime in the ECOWAS Region

In a unique integrated approach and to confront the complex challenge of Transnational Organized Crime (TOC), the "Support to the Mitigation of Destabilizing Effects of Transnational Organised Crime (M-TOC)" project will be launched soon. Funded by the German Federal Foreign Office and implemented by Deutsche Gesellschaft für International Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) GmbH, M-TOC combines traditional security responses with community-driven resilience measures, informed by cutting-edge research on the intersection of illicit economies and instability.

Set against the backdrop of the tri-border region encompassing the ECOWAS Member States Ghana, Côte d’Ivoire, and Burkina Faso, as well as broader regional interventions, the M-TOC project will mark a new chapter in the fight against organized crime with an overall budget of 4.5 million EUR.

Partnering closely with law enforcement agencies (LEAs), the project aims to enhance the investigation and prosecution of transnational criminal networks while strengthening cross-border cooperation in key illicit economy hubs. In a bid to mitigate potential negative impacts on affected communities, M-TOC adopts a conflict-sensitive and human-rights-based approach in its collaboration with the security sector.

Going beyond conventional law enforcement strategies, M-TOC will actively involve local civil societies in community-based resilience interventions aimed at disrupting the harmful connections between organized crime networks, armed groups, and vulnerable communities. By providing alternative livelihood opportunities and raising awareness about the risks associated with criminal involvement, the project seeks to break the cycle of dependency on illicit economies and armed groups.

Moreover, the proactive engagement with law enforcement agencies in addressing security-related grievances and promoting mediation efforts in border communities is designed to erode the incentives for communities to turn to organized crime networks and armed groups for security and essential services. Through a strategic partnership with the Global Initiative Against Transnational Crime (G-ITOC), the project is committed to fostering knowledge exchange among key state and non-state actors, strengthening regional research institutions, and empowering investigative journalists to drive accountability and catalyze positive change in the ECOWAS Region.