The Community Computer Centre (CCC) of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) was established following Decision C/DEC.2/6/86 of the ECOWAS Council of Ministers in June 1986.

Information and Communication Technologies play a central role in the communication strategies of any Institution. The computer and databases nowadays constitute powerful knowledge acquisition tools indispensable in strengthening ECOWAS and its image. They are moreover necessary for the ownership of integration and its requirements by the people of the Community. Hence the importance of the ECOWAS Community Computer Center (CCC) which began in June 1996 in application of a Decision of the Council of Ministers.

 The Community Computer Center had the mission of being a knowledge tool at the service of all users of the Community Member States and to pursue the community policy on Information and Communication Technologies (ICTs).

 Attached to the Cabinet of the Vice President which supervises it, the CCC, placed under the authority of a Director, saw its role redefined by the Revised Treaty of 1993 which assigned it a cross-cutting dimension to serve as a catalyst in all sectors of integration. It has the special duty of:

• promoting  and strengthening relations and enhancing information flow within the rural  populations, women, youth organizations, socio-professional organizations including in particular  associations of press men and women, businessmen and women, workers and trade unions;

• promoting a permanent exchange of information and documentation, establishing community data networks and databanks,; building the scientific and technological   capacities  with a view to reaching   socioeconomic transformations indispensable for the improvement of the quality of life of the populations;

• ensuring a sound application of science and technology with a view to the development of agriculture, transport, communication, industry, health and hygiene, energy, education and labor in a bid to preserve the environment;

• reducing dependency on foreign technology through the promotion of an individual and collective technological independence; cooperating towards the development of the acquisition and dissemination of appropriate technologies and strengthening existing scientific research institutions, etc.

 The CCC has helped in achieving the following:

•  It has built the capacity of Member States and ECOWAS Institutions for the effective use of the recently purchased and installed ICT equipment (training courses on Microsoft Office software, ECOWAS mail, ECOSUITE, (ECOWAS Intranet).

•  It has improved the access of National Units and community Institutions to Internet.

•  It has strengthened Information Systems on the trade and markets opportunities available at national and regional levels ECObiz.