Regional Meeting on Early Warning and Civic Space Advocacy

Organized by CIVICUS, RFLD is hosting a Regional Meeting on Early Warning and Civic Space Advocacy from 6 – 8 May in Benin.

Funded by Norad, the regional training meeting titled “From the Local to the Regional Community: Forging and Strengthening a Regional Early Warning Network for an Effective Civic Space Advocacy” will gather 25+ Countries in recognition of the critical role that civil society plays in bridging early warning analysis and timely advocacy action across West Africa.

Despite significant investments in early warning systems (EWS) across the region, a persistent gap remains between the generation of early warning data and the triggering of decisive, impactful advocacy responses. This meeting directly addresses that “warning-response gap” by equipping practitioners with integrated skills in governance, human rights, and conflict-sensitive analysis — enabling them to translate data into compelling policy recommendations.

The meeting will bring together representatives from Civil Society Organisations (CSOs), NGOs, community-based movements, journalists, the ECOWAS Warning and Response Network (ECOWARN), the African Union’s Department of Political Affairs, Peace and Security (Continental Early Warning System), and the African Commission on Human and Peoples’ Rights (ACHPR).

Participants will have the opportunity to deepen their understanding of existing early warning mechanisms, develop evidence-based advocacy strategies, strengthen regional networks, and contribute to concrete advocacy products targeting real-world scenarios. The meeting will foster solidarity, mutual learning, and sustained collaboration among practitioners across the continent.

RFLD as an African organization is registered in Senegal, Benin, Ghana, and The Gambia.