Accra, Ghana – July 6, 2026 – The Kofi Annan International Peacekeeping Training Centre (KAIPTC), in partnership with the Austrian Centre for Peace (ACP) and CARE International, officially opened the Preparedness for Humanitarian Assistance and Peacebuilding in West Africa (HAWA) Core Course 2026 on Monday, 6 July 2026. The two-week course brought together 32 participants from West Africa to strengthen capacities in humanitarian assistance, crisis response and peacebuilding. Delivering the welcome remarks, the Deputy Commandant of KAIPTC, Brigadier General Zibrim Ayorrogo, described HAWA as a key regional capacity development initiative that fosters collaboration among humanitarian, security and development actors. He noted that West Africa continues to face interconnected challenges, including violent extremism, displacement, climate change, food insecurity and governance deficits, which require coordinated, cross-border and inclusive responses.
He said, ‘HAWA V places strong emphasis on the role of women and young professionals in crisis response and peacebuilding processes. This reflects our collective commitment to advancing both the Women, Peace and Security Agenda and the Youth, Peace and Security Agenda. Sustainable peace and effective humanitarian action can only be achieved when all voices are meaningfully included in decision-making and implementation processes’.
In her remarks, the HAWA Programme Manager at the Austrian Centre for Peace (ACP), Ms. Sophia Stanger, described HAWA as a long-term regional programme that extends beyond classroom training through specialised courses, research, community engagement and an active alumni network. She observed that recent flooding in Ghana and extreme heatwaves in Europe underscore the growing impact of climate change and the need to integrate climate and environmental considerations into humanitarian action. She urged participants to share their experiences, learn from one another and translate the knowledge acquired into practical solutions that strengthen resilience and peacebuilding across West Africa.
The HAWA Core Course forms part of the partners’ continued commitment to strengthening regional cooperation and advancing the humanitarian-development-peace nexus to enhance preparedness, resilience and sustainable peace in West Africa.