Amid regional instability, monitoring electoral processes and democratic progress has become imperative in West Africa. Beyond strengthening democracy individually in these countries, these efforts serve as a safeguard against a potential domino effect that could impact the entire region.

In response to this critical context and within the framework of the AHEAD Africa project, young professionals from the West Africa Election Observers Network (WAEON) member organisations were invited to participate in an intensive election observation training programme from August 28 to 30, led by WAEON’s secretariat – the Center for Democratic Development Ghana (CDD-Ghana). This capacity-building ‘programme’ equipped participants with a robust foundation in monitoring electoral cycles, from pre-election activities to election day operations and post-election analysis. Through practical exercises and expert-led sessions, these young professionals gained the skills needed to uphold transparency and credibility in the electoral processes across the ECOWAS region, thereby contributing to its democratic resilience and stability.