The Kofi Annan International Peacekeeping Training Centre (KAIPTC) hosted a dynamic validation workshop from 12–15 November 2024 to address one of West Africa’s most pressing issues: the impact of rapid demographic changes on regional security.
Commissioned by ECOWAS and funded by EPSAO, this workshop presented key findings from a year-long study exploring how West Africa’s growing, youthful population and regional mobility are influencing security and stability. The study, conducted by top regional institutions—including KAIPTC, NDC, and EMPABB—provided a fresh look at the interplay between demography, governance, migration, and ecological stressors in all 15 ECOWAS member states.
The workshop brought together regional stakeholders, policy researchers, and experts to review and validate findings, sparking vital discussions on the way forward. With an unprecedented youth bulge driving economic strain, the sessions highlighted the urgent need for policy interventions that foster resilience and address demographic challenges collectively.
Experts explored targeted recommendations to strengthen community resilience and proposed innovative institutional and policy responses that could shape a more secure, sustainable future for the region. The workshop’s outcomes will be compiled in a comprehensive report to inform policymakers across ECOWAS, paving the way for impactful regional actions.
