From 10 -11 July 2025, the Foundation for Security and Development in Africa (FOSDA), represented by Ms. Dorothy Barnes, participated in the International Dialogue on Peacebuilding and Statebuilding (IDPS) Coastal West Africa Dialogue in Abidjan, Côte d’Ivoire. The forum, hosted by UNDP, brought together stakeholders including g7+ countries, civil society, and international networks to tackle fragility and promote resilience across the sub-region.
Key themes included nationally led prevention strategies, the nexus of peace, security and development, and the importance of gender equality, youth empowerment, and climate adaptation.
Representing Ghana, Ms. Barnes shared impactful national practices such as:
- National Security Council Secretariat’s (NSCS) Regional Engagements: Ghana’s NSCS and partners including FOSDA conducting nationwide regional outreach to raise awareness on preventing and countering violent extremism and terrorism (PCVET), while gathering local recommendations to improve the national PCVET framework.
- FOSDA’s Independent Monitoring: Undertaking independent monitoring of GHANAP 2 implementation, providing evidence-based advocacy to advance the Women, Peace, and Security agenda within Ghana.
She also proposed two major recommendations to IDPS:
- Creation of a platform for exchanging best practices that enables countries more advanced in implementing Youth, Peace and Security (YPS), Women, Peace and Security (WPS), and Climate Security policies to support those less advanced or struggling with implementation.
- Stakeholder Mapping to identify organizations capable of supporting evidence-based and normative approaches to gender equity and social inclusion policies across the region, highlighting institutions such as FOSDA and the Kofi Annan International Peacekeeping Training Centre (KAIPTC) from Ghana.
FOSDA’s participation reaffirms its dedication to driving inclusive peace and security efforts in West Africa. By contributing practical insights and forward-looking recommendations, FOSDA continues to help shape a future where dialogue translates into durable, community-led action.