The Evolution

Presentation Outline  Idea Conception 1990 – 1997  Formative Years  Historic Partnerships 2004  Growth and Development 2005 – 2010  Consolidation 2010 – 2012  Sustainability

Conception As a result of the civil wars in the region, especially the Liberia and Sierra Leone wars Youth bulge Inter-communal violence that threatened Ghana’s fragile democracy Sierra Leone CSO movement against military rule which saw the ousting of the Armed Forces Revolutionary Council Small arms proliferation and collapse of states

WANEP’s First Problem Tree Analysis Lack of Access to means of sustainable livelihood Identity Crisis State Collapse Small Arms Proliferation Bad Governance Lack of clearly defined political ideology Ineffective and incoherent state institutions Clash of western/traditio nal governance structure Extractive Private Sector Lack of principled responsible leadership Governance by Proxy Marginalization of groups Ethno-Politics / hegemony Distorted or inequitable means of distribution Human / Collective Security Declining resources Ethnic proclivity History / socialisation Intolerance Threat (perceived/real) Politicizing ethnic difference Politicising ethnic difference Political pluralism (multipartism) Resistance to transition Refugees Movement Porous Borders Booming market in WA Proliferation of militias and rebels movement Growing insecurity (individual/Coll ective) State Collapse / Failing State Bad Governance WANEP PROBLEM TREE – COLLABORATIVE PEACEBUILDING IN WEST AFRICA

Achievements & Challenges of the Era Achievements: The understanding of the strength and satisfaction in African solution to African problems and by African people The awakening of local capacities First ever regional in character CSO Able to raise funding support Concept included on the agenda of the Reconciliation conference in Caux, Switzerland Feasibility study conducted across West Africa Challenges: Starting and building an African org to respond to African problems Development of programs to respond to identified issues Concept of peacebuilding network - new resulting in conflicting expectations from individuals and organizations Travel difficulty in region Poor communication infrastructure in region Transiting from Activism to Constructive Engagement of the State

Formative Years WANEP officially launched in Accra, Ghana on September 10, Countries (Ghana, Cameroon, Sierra Leone, Benin, Togo, Nigeria, and Liberia) in attendance (The initial study to establish WANEP with Winston Foundation Grant $60,000 was in these countries) Joint proposal developed with Institute for Justice and Peacebuilding of the Eastern Mennonite Varsity, Nairobi Peace Initiative and group of West Africans 1 st Funding of $200,000 secured from Winston Foundation for World Peace

Achievements & Challenges of the Era Achievements WANEP Launch 6-year Core Funding from CORDAID Professional and Technically endowed Regional Secretariat Establishment of first phase of National Networks (7) 1st thematic program developed: Non-Violence & Peace Education (NAPE) Decentralized Administration Challenges: Overwhelming human security issues in region Inadequate Financial support Managing Donors’ interests e.g., CORDAID Weak National Networks Abuse of decentralization by National Networks Managing national networks with their diverse interests

Historic Partnerships Institutionalization of WARN in 2000 In 2002, WANEP entered into a historic partnership with ECOWAS WANEP and ECOWAS signed MOU in 2004, renewed for another 5 years in Project-based partnerships with;  USAID  Government of Finland

Achievements & Challenges of the Era Achievements: Attracted Support from multiple international donors including EU, Oxfam USA/GB, AWDF, Warchild Canada, CORDAID etc. WANEP in collaboration with CRS won the competitive USAID RFA to support ECOWAS Capacity in Peacebuilding and Conflict Prevention (CBP 1 and 2) West Africa Peacebuilding Institute (WAPI) launched in 2002 Growth of national networks from 7 to 11 ( Benin, Burkina Faso, Cote d’ Ivoire, The Gambia, Ghana, Guinea, Liberia, Nigeria, Senegal, Sierra Leone, Togo) Challenges: Ad-hoc initiatives Increased demand for Early Warning in the region due to high security threats Huge peacebuilding demands from Liberia and the whole of Mano River region Fragile West African states without conflict management structures Limited core funding Expectations from Stakeholders including CRS, ECOWAS, USAID, Network members

Growth and Development 22 full-time regional staff in place National Networks established in all 15 ECOWAS member states Commencement of Project alignment to a 5-year strategic plan Growth and development of professional peacebuilding staff (professional trainings and other capacity building programs instituted) Supporting peacebuilding infrastructure

Achievements & Challenges of the Era Achievements: 15 National Networks in place International Recognition and acceptance Supported and resourced National Infrastructures for Peace including establishment of National Peace Council in Ghana Partnership with Strategic State Institutions Facilitated dialogue and mediation in many countries in the region Supported the conduct and management of election processes in many countries in the region Challenges: Pressure from Donor to Restructure regional office Ineffective representative boards Inadequate organizational systems Dormant National Networks Adherence to policies and procedures New peace and security challenges Working with state bureaucracies Perception of CSOs intention by state agencies

2013 to 2015 Problem Tree Analysis

Consolidation of Regional Office: - Office restructured; - regional team established to include Zonal Coordinators and ECOWAS Liaison to support National Networks and partners National Networks re-invigorated with established systems such as: Network Accountability, Learning & Planning System (Nalps), WANEP Sustainability Index (WSI), etc. Establishment of professional Boards Expansion of partnership base through Joint Financing Agreements (JFA) Consolidation

Achievements & Challenges of the Era Achievements: 15 National Networks in place Improved systems and team Providing support to ECOWAS, AU, GPPAC and other national, international and intergovernmental organizations and CSOs Satisfactory funding base Commencement of strategy base programming Record low staff-turnover; - Only 2 Executive Directors (EDs) since Out of 4 Programme Directors (PDs), 2 still in organization - At least 10 staff have spent 14 years in WANEP - Staff have returned - Staff who left have gone to higher positions or are still in peace work e.g. Lemah Gbowee, Takwa Suifon, Levinia Addae-Mensah, Ecoma Alaga etc. Challenges: Increasing Pressure to support other organizations in region Abuse (and confusion) of decentralization by National Networks Transparency/accountability issues Resistance in establishing professional boards by some Networks Project based plans Emerging complexities of managing a Network

Sustainability Change from 3 year project planning to 5- year Strategic planning Establishment of Reliable/sustained core funding (JFA) Institutionalization of bi-annual General Assembly Leadership and influencing role in human security in West Africa Establishment and institutionalization of Succession Plan

Achievements & Challenges of the Era Achievements: Produced over 500 professional peacebuilding practitioners in WA and beyond Key player in major global peacebuilding efforts; -regional secretariat and chair of GPPAC -member of AU’s ECOSOCC -special consultative status with UN (ECOSOC) -chair of JAES -Member of International Curriculum Development Group Over 550 member organizations across West Africa Published key resources for Peace Education, Election Management, Policy Briefs, etc. Challenges: Poor Human Security standards in many countries in Region Emerging human security threats in region Weak National boards Weak governance structure in some National Networks Poor transparency & accountability Increasing international demand for technical support

2015 From Sustainability to Vision 2020 Ensuring Early Response to Early Warning HOW DO WE POSITION OURSELVES AS STAFF IN THE EMERGING ERA? How do we actively involve all Member Organizations for a Reinvigorated WANEP?