The Learning, Design, and Development (LDD) workshop on supporting the Accra Initiative (AI), held at the Kofi Annan International Peacekeeping Training Centre on August 20-21, 2024, marked a significant milestone in enhancing regional security across West Africa and the Sahel.
The workshop convened experts to design a comprehensive training course aimed at building the capacity of national and sub-national actors to prevent and counter violent extremism and terrorism (VET). It underscored the importance of adopting a multi-faceted approach, combining both kinetic and non-kinetic strategies to address complex security challenges. Presentations highlighted the pressing security issues facing countries such as Côte d’Ivoire, Mali, Nigeria, Togo, and Ghana, emphasizing the need for community resilience, robust early warning systems, and enhanced collaboration between state and non-state actors. Insights were drawn from extensive consultative visits and field research, providing valuable context for the discussions.
Key training needs identified during the workshop included intelligence gathering, countering terrorist financing, and fostering community resilience. Participants stressed the vital role of women, youth, and civil society organizations in these efforts.
A major outcome of the workshop was the development of a seven-module training course tailored to equip mid-career security personnel and civil society actors with the tools needed to effectively implement the goals of the Accra Initiative. This initiative represents a pivotal step in fostering a coordinated response to violent extremism and terrorism in the region.