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On 28–29 April 2026, the West Africa Network for Peacebuilding (WANEP) welcomed a new cohort of mentees into its Youth Transformational and Mentorship (Y-TEaM) Programme. A total of 30 young graduates—12 men and 18 women—from 14 countries across West Africa have been selected to undertake the nine-month programme.
Y-TEaM combines capacity building, structured mentoring, and practical internship placements to equip mentees with the skills, knowledge, and networks required to become effective agents of change in their respective countries. The initiative aims to groom a new generation of youth leaders and peacebuilders capable of driving transformational change and sustainable peace in their communities and countries.
The hybrid launch brought together 90 participants (including 80 online), comprising members of the new cohort, Y-TEaM alumni, representatives from WANEP’s Youth Programme and Youth4Peace platforms, mentors, and partners, including the ECOWAS Commission and the Embassy of Denmark in Nigeria. Staff from WANEP’s Regional Secretariat and National Network Offices were also in attendance.
In her remarks, Mrs Levinia Addae-Mensah, WANEP’s Executive Director, underscored that the initiative seeks to address limited opportunities and persistent skills gaps affecting young people in the region. She emphasised WANEP’s commitment to strengthening youth inclusion in peace and security processes and called on development partners to invest further in initiatives that build young people’s capacities for sustainable peace and development. She also highlighted the need for innovative financing models to better support youth-led engagement.
Mr Constant Gnacadja, Head of the Division for Mediation and Coordinator of Regional Political Affairs at the ECOWAS Commission, reaffirmed ECOWAS’ continued support for Y-TEaM. He commended WANEP’s efforts, noting the programme’s strong complementarity with ECOWAS’ priorities on youth empowerment, capacity building, and leadership in peace and governance.
Highlighting the vision underpinning the programme, WANEP’s Regional Coordinator for Research and Capacity Building, Dr Festus Kofi Aubyn, stated: “Y-TEaM reflects WANEP’s commitment to ensuring that the next generation of peacebuilders are not waiting in the wings, but are already on the stage.”
Speaking on behalf of the Danish Government, Ms Julie Hannibal, of the Embassy of Denmark in Nigeria, reaffirmed that peace and security remain central to Denmark’s engagement in West Africa. She emphasised the immense potential of young people to drive peace, resilience, and sustainable development, noting that youth remain a key priority for Denmark and are the future of West Africa, particularly in advancing reintegration and long-term stability.
During the launch, several young alumni of the programme shared their experiences and advice with the new cohort, encouraging them to embrace self-discipline, make meaningful sacrifices and fully take advantage of the opportunities offered.
On 29 April, the new mentees participated in their first online training session on “Internship Experience and Career Pathways in Peacebuilding”, co-facilitated by the Y-TEaM Programme Coordinator, Mrs Noviekou Da-do, and Ms Elsie Anato, a Y-TEaM 2024 alumna. The session equipped mentees with practical insights on how to maximise their internship experiences and provided guidance on building a career pathways within the peacebuilding sector.
In addition to WANEP’s core funding partners, the Swedish International Development Cooperation Agency (SIDA) and the Austrian Development Agency (ADA), the 2026 Y-TEaM cohort is financially supported by the Embassy of Denmark in Abuja, Nigeria. The ECOWAS Commission continues to serve as a key technical partner in the implementation of the programme.
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