The Abdoulaye Fadiga Prize, which has been organized every two (2) years since 2008, aims to promote economic research among young researchers by rewarding those whose work sheds new light on issues of relevance to WAEMU Member States.

For each edition of the Prize, the Central Bank issues a call for applications which stipulates the themes on which the studies should be focused, in addition to other useful information. The competition is open to all researchers in economics who are nationals of one of the eight (8) WAEMU Member States and who will be no more than forty-five (45) years of age on December 31 of the year in which the Prize is awarded. The articles submitted are evaluated anonymously by a Reading Committee made up of professors from universities in WAEMU countries as well as other African countries, France, the United States and Canada. The 2022 edition of the Abdoulaye Fadiga Prize was launched in 2021 and the deadline for submission of applications is August 31, 2022.

The Revue Economique et Monétaire (REM - Economic and Monetary Journal) was founded in 2007, with the aim of promoting economic research and providing researchers and academics with a benchmark journal for the publication of their research work in economics. This semi-annual publication is issued in June and December of each year.

All articles submitted are reviewed anonymously by the REM Scientific Committee, comprising ten (10) professors of various geographical origins.

The REM is recognized by the African and Malagasy Council for Higher Education (CAMES) for the awarding of teacher-researcher degrees. Since its inception, nearly thirty issues of the REM have been published.

Consult the list of REM issues

These conferences are open to researchers from universities and research centers and professionals from international and regional institutions. The purpose of these experts’ meetings is to reflect on subjects important for the BCEAO and formulate recommendations on economic, monetary and financial policy.

The conference topics generally focus on current issues, as illustrated by the examples below:

• Financial stability and macroeconomic management in WAEMU (2005),
• Monetary policy and price stability in WAEMU: Constraints and challenges (2008),
• What banking sector to finance WAEMU economies? (May 2010).

The BCEAO has set up a program to support and strengthen the capacities of young researchers who are WAEMU Union nationals, specifically focusing on the drafting and publication of scientific articles in specialized journals. To this purpose, COFEB organized theoretical and practical workshops in 2021 on the fundamentals of research methodology in economics and the drafting of research proposals. Approximately two hundred and fifty (250) WAEMU researchers, including teacher-researchers and doctoral students, have taken part in the program. In 2022, the theoretical phase organized in April 2022 was attended by approximately 100 WAEMU researchers.

The purpose of the workshop program is to discuss recent econometric developments and new analytical methodologies. These workshops are facilitated by BCEAO officers and external partners, including the Institut Bancaire et Financier International (Banque de France), the Centre for Central Bank Studies (CCBS), Université Laval (Canada), the Fondation pour les Etudes et Recherches en Développement International (FERDI), Princeton University (USA), and others. The latest technical workshop, focused on "Modeling using MATLAB software, intermediate level", took place from March 15 to 18, 2022, at COFEB. It was moderated by Professor Abdoul Karim Nchare Fogam, visiting Professor at Princeton University and Professor of Econometrics at the African School of Economics (ASE).

Symposiums are organized at key moments in the life of the BCEAO, such as on its 50th anniversary in 2012. They are days dedicated to dialogue and reflection on the experiences and challenges of the institution.

Seminars are organized on a regular basis in conjunction with various universities, research centers and central banks to discuss current issues and recent developments in macroeconomic modeling.

Research has become an important tool for the conduct of economic policies. In this regard, the BCEAO works closely with the research community to promote the production of quality scientific work and find appropriate responses to the economic issues facing WAEMU countries. The ultimate goal is to enable member countries to implement consistent economic policies to promote economic development and growth.