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On 12 August 2025, the West Africa Network for Peacebuilding (WANEP), in collaboration with the Coalition of Civil Society Organisations for Peace and Conflict Prevention in Central Africa (COPAC), undertook a high-level advocacy mission to Libreville, Gabon. The delegation engaged with the Economic Community of Central African States (ECCAS), the United Nations Office for Central Africa (UNOCA), and other partners to advance strategies for addressing persistent human security challenges in West and Central Africa.
At the heart of the mission was the presentation of COPAC’s 2024–2025 Security Report, which outlines pressing risks such as community conflicts, gender-based violence, youth unemployment, crime, and the effects of climate change. WANEP provided technical expertise to strengthen civil society contributions to early warning and response mechanisms, reinforcing the value of cross-regional collaboration between West and Central Africa.
Speaking during the engagement, Ms. Edwige Mensah, WANEP Liaison Officer to ECOWAS, underscored WANEP’s best practices in institutionalising early warning and response systems across its 15 National Secretariats. She also highlighted WANEP’s longstanding partnerships with ECOWAS and the African Union, grounded in formal cooperation agreements.
Similarly, Ms. Da-do Nora Noviekou, WANEP-COPAC Focal Point, reiterated WANEP’s continuous technical support to COPAC since 2019, including mentoring, knowledge-sharing, and organisational development. She reaffirmed WANEP’s commitment to deepening collaboration between civil society organisations in West and Central Africa to promote inclusive and sustainable peace.
The advocacy mission formed part of the Wellspring Philanthropic Fund (US)-funded project titled “Strengthening Early Warning and Gender-Sensitive Response Mechanisms for West and Central Africa.” By contributing expertise and mentorship, WANEP continues to support regional initiatives that bridge civil society, governments, and intergovernmental organisations in a collective effort to build lasting peace.
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