The Kofi Annan International Peacekeeping Training Centre (KAIPTC), in partnership with GIZ, convened a Joint Operational Planning Workshop on May 15, 2025, to strengthen collaboration among ECOWAS and its Training Centres of Excellence (TCEs). The workshop, held in Accra, marked an important step towards aligning institutional capacities with regional peace and security priorities.
The discussions were framed under the ECOWAS Peace, Security, and Governance (EPSG) Project, funded by the German Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ). Building on an earlier Capacity Needs Assessment (CNA), participants explored practical ways to address institutional gaps, maximize synergies, and advance the role of TCEs as drivers of knowledge, training, and innovation in the region’s peace and security architecture.
Opening the workshop, KAIPTC’s Deputy Commandant, Brigadier General Zibrim Ayorrogo, described the meeting as more than a technical exercise, but rather a chance to define a shared vision for the future.
“Today’s workshop is more than just the start of a new phase. It represents a critical moment for reflection, collaboration, and shared vision. It is here, together, that we will define our collective path forward. Let us co-create a strategy that is not only practical and effective but grounded in the realities of our region and the needs of our institutions,” he said.
He further commended the German Government and GIZ for their continued support to peace and security in West Africa, noting that sustained investment in digital transformation, inclusive governance, and adaptive training will be critical for long-term impact.
By bringing together staff from KAIPTC, ECOWAS, and GIZ, the workshop reinforced the importance of operational coordination in responding to emerging security challenges. It also highlighted the potential of collaborative planning to ensure that regional institutions remain agile and responsive to the evolving dynamics of conflict prevention, peacekeeping, and peacebuilding in West Africa.
The outcomes of the meeting are expected to feed into a broader roadmap for strengthening ECOWAS Training Centres of Excellence, ensuring that they remain pivotal actors in shaping a peaceful, stable, and secure region.