LocationsPeace, Security & Governance | West Africa & the Sahel
Support to Strengthen Capacities for Promoting Efficiency in the Implementation of the Accra Initiative
Building the knowledge, collaboration, and institutional capacity needed to prevent the spillover of terrorism and violent extremism from the Sahel into West Africa's coastal states.
The security situation in the Sahel continues to deteriorate at an alarming rate. According to the 2023 Global Terrorism Index, the Sahel has become the epicentre of global terrorism, accounting for nearly half of all terror-related deaths worldwide. The threat of spillover into coastal West African states — particularly those bordering Mali and Burkina Faso — is real and growing, with border communities already experiencing the consequences of transnational organised crime and violent extremism. The Accra Initiative, adopted during Ghana's Chairmanship of ECOWAS in 2017, was established precisely to address these threats through coordinated regional action. However, the scale and complexity of the challenge demands sustained financial and technical support. This UNDP project — informed by Japan's extensive experience in multistakeholder security initiatives — strengthens the capacity of Accra Initiative member states and civil society to implement the framework effectively and build community resilience against radicalisation and insecurity.
Strengthening Regional Security Through the Accra Initiative
Through research, policy dialogue, and targeted capacity-building interventions, this project is equipping security personnel, policymakers, and civil society actors across eight countries with the knowledge and tools to prevent and counter terrorism and violent extremism. Engaging 85 personnel from state and non-state actors, the project deepens awareness of the Accra Initiative, fosters cross-border collaboration, and strengthens community-level security initiatives — building a more coherent and resilient regional security architecture from the ground up.
