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WANEP played a key role in a regional workshop organised by the West African Economic and Monetary Union (UEMOA) from 7 to 11 July 2025 in Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso. The week-long event aimed to harmonise understanding and ensure the consistent application of the newly developed Manual on Technical and Operational Procedures of the UEMOA Monitoring and Early Warning Mechanism (MeVAP) across member states to support effective alert and crisis response.
The workshop convened key stakeholders and MeVAP focal points from across West Africa to build collective capacity in the use of the operational manual. A representative of the Minister of Security of Burkina Faso opened the event, underscoring the urgency of a coordinated early warning system in response to evolving regional threats.
The event brought attention to the need for enhanced technical understanding of MeVAP processes, stronger coordination among early warning actors, and opportunities for peer exchange and collaboration. Discussions addressed multi-level cooperation, civil society engagement, data analysis, and timely alert dissemination. Outcomes of the workshop included improved comprehension and application of the MeVAP manual, increased synergy among national and regional actors, and renewed recognition of the essential role played by civil society organisations in connecting communities to institutional mechanisms.
As part of its contribution, WANEP provided technical expertise throughout the week. Edward Jombla, WANEP Regional Coordinator for Early Warning, delivered a presentation on the WANEP Alert and Response Mechanism (WARM) and its linkages with the ECOWAS Early Warning and Response Network (ECOWARN), the AU Continental Early Warning System (CEWS) and other regional mechanisms. His presentation emphasised the critical role of civil society in bridging the gap between grassroots realities and policy responses, promoting accountability and ensuring conflict-sensitive, grassroots-informed responses.
WANEP’s Regional Analyst for Democracy and Good Governance, Ansoumane Souaré, facilitated practical sessions aimed at strengthening participants’ capacity in data collection, alert management, and coordinated crisis response. These engagements reflected WANEP’s long-standing commitment to strengthening conflict prevention infrastructure and advancing community-based early warning mechanisms across the region.
To conclude the week’s engagements, WANEP paid a courtesy visit on 12 July 2025 to Brigadier General Aimé Barthélemy Simporé, Director General of the National Centre for Strategic Studies (CNES) under the Presidency of Burkina Faso. WANEP Regional Office representatives were joined by National Coordinators from WANEP Burkina Faso, Mali, and Niger. This high-level meeting provided a strategic platform for dialogue on peace and security in the Sahel, with a focus on strengthening institutional partnerships, enhancing early warning systems, and promoting collaborative approaches to security governance.
WANEP appreciates the warm reception and constructive exchange with Brigadier General Simporé, which further reinforced the spirit of regional cooperation underpinning the week’s activities.
WANEP delegation at CNES
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