The Migration Dialogue for West Africa or MIDWA was designed as a platform to encourage the Member States of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) to discuss, in a regional context, such common migration issues and concerns for which immediate solutions may not be forthcoming at a national level. Its objective is to promote and ensure high quality cooperation among ECOWAS Member States, third countries and other international consultative forums on Free Movement and migration by:

• institutionalizing permanent national platforms and secretariats for cooperation on migration and mobility;
• implementing projects in the area of ​​border management, migration data, labor migration, return and reintegration as well as people on the move;
• awareness raising of migration issues in the Member States;
• sharing experiences and challenges with other consultative processes on migration to foster solidarity, partnership and shared responsibility
• participating in national, regional and international migration forums; and
• maintaining a robust website on migration issues.

MIDWA provides an example of how Regional Consultative Processes (RCPs) can become linked to regional integration regimes. With the support of IOM, the ECOWAS uses the MIDWA as a tool for information-sharing and capacity building of its member states on all aspects of migration while promoting a modernization of its free movement protocol and developing a common approach on migration management in the region.