On 9 March, technical experts from FriEnt (Working Group on Peace and Development) and the West Africa Network for Peacebuilding (WANEP) convened for an initial exchange to explore opportunities for closer collaboration in advancing peace and security.
The meeting marks the starting point of a closer partnership between the two organisations. Initial discussions have already identified concrete entry points for joint work, including engagement on “Beyond 2030,” a potential joint session at the FriEnt Peacebuilding Forum 2026, and exchanges on Youth, Peace and Security (YPS) and Women, Peace and Security (WPS).
“Having worked with WANEP, and in particular with the Executive Director, Levinia Addae-Mensah, for many years in West Africa, I’m delighted that we are now exploring closer collaboration. Strong alliances are essential to address global challenges and to advance peacebuilding together”, said Nana Odoi, Managing Director of FriEnt.
On her part, Levinia Addae-Mensah noted that “the kick-off meeting provides an opportunity for FriEnt and WANEP to co-create ideas, share experiences, and learn from each other, to innovate and collectively exercise our agency as civil society actors in addressing the peace and security challenges confronting us today”.
The exchange followed WANEP’s engagement during the Berlin Peace Dialogue.
Based in Accra, Ghana, and with national offices across West Africa, WANEP brings extensive regional expertise in peacebuilding and shares key priority areas with FriEnt, creating strong potential for collaboration and mutual learning.
FriEnt and WANEP look forward to advancing joint initiatives in the months ahead.
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