WARDA's formal mandate, which has remained unchanged since the Association's original constitution of 1970, states:
The Association shall assist the governments of member states to achieve operational cooperation in the pursuit of the following aims within the countries of West Africa:
(a) the promotion of rice production;(b) the increase of the quantity of rice produced;
(c) the improvement of the quality of rice produced;
(d) the encouragement of production and the use of varieties suited to the conditions of these countries and to existing and prospective demand;
(e) the exploration, introduction and extension of rational production methods adapted to the conditions prevailing in these countries;
(f) the promotion and implementation of measures for effective phytosanitary controls in relation to rice;
(g) the improvement of systems of storage and processing as well as of marketing of rice, both within these countries and with respect to the external trade in rice.
In pursuit of these aims the Association is to undertake or promote the following activities:
(a) encouraging, coordinating and undertaking as necessary basic and applied research programmes in the scientific, technical, economic and sociological fields;(b) collecting, analyzing and disseminating information on methods applied, experience gained and results obtained, both within and outside West Africa;
(c) organizing and arranging for conferences, seminars and training facilities, securing fellowships and establishing or assisting in the establishment of advisory services and training and extension facilities;
(d) elaborating requests for special financial and technical assistance and receiving and administering separately such financial and technical assistance (including movable and immovable property, services, grants and loans) as may be made available under the appropriate programmes of the United Nations, the specialized agencies, and other organizations or governments desirous to support the aims of the Association;
(e) providing, as appropriate, regional rice research and development facilities;
(f) carrying out or promoting any other measures or activities at the regional as well as the national levels for the purpose of developing rice production and marketing in West Africa.
