The West African Economic and Monetary Union (UEMOA), which includes eight countries, is working to create a regional value chain for phosphate and fertilizer production. This initiative, detailed in the Phosphates-Fertilizers White Book, is part of the larger IMPACT 2030 strategic plan. The goal is to move beyond relying solely on countries that currently produce phosphate by integrating the transformation, formulation, and distribution of fertilizers across all member states. Lénaboua Coulibaly, head of the Division of Mines and Hydrocarbons, explained that the plan aims to include all eight countries, even those that do not currently produce significant amounts of phosphate, in the fertilizer industry. According to data from the West African Central Bank (BCEAO), UEMOA countries imported an average of 543.5 billion CFA francs (about 929.4 million USD) worth of fertilizers each year between 2020 and 2024. The region is estimated to have 100 million tons of certified phosphate reserves, along with 5 billion tons of non-certified potential resources. The program aims to identify and characterize at least 250 million tons of these resources by 2030. Four key industrial hubs have been identified to support the development of this value chain: Bargny-Ndayane in Senegal, San Pedro in Côte d'Ivoire, Lomé-Adétikopé in Togo, and Kotchari in Burkina Faso. These hubs will be supported by mixing units that produce fertilizers tailored to the region’s diverse soils and crops. Countries without phosphate resources can still participate by hosting these mixing units, using soil mapping data, and potentially becoming shareholders in production industries. Coulibaly noted that non-producing countries could benefit from locally made fertilizers at lower costs and avoid the risks of importing from abroad. International events have made this initiative more urgent. The World Bank predicted a 31% increase in global fertilizer prices in 2026, partly due to disruptions in the Middle East. A 2025 report from the World Bank suggested that West Africa’s mineral and hydrocarbon reserves could help support local production and reduce dependence on expensive imports. Togo, a traditional phosphate producer, has 30 million tons of certified phosphate and about 2 billion tons of potential phosphate carbonate resources. However, its industry has mainly focused on exporting raw phosphate rock. Including Togo in the fertilizer production hubs is expected to shift value creation from raw exports to local transformation. The regional program for 2026–2030 is estimated to cost 1,452.5 billion CFA francs, with 1,190.9 billion expected to come from the private sector and 239.5 billion from member states. The Commission plans to form a community committee to help national governments create their own plans and secure funding. It remains to be seen how non-producing countries can effectively invest and integrate into the full value chain, from mining to agricultural use.