Thematic Areas

Agriculture
Advancing Agriculture in West Africa with Innovative Solutions
Agriculture is vital for rural West Africa, driving productivity, job creation, and income growth. Our program focuses on modernizing farming with sustainable practices and enhancing market access across the region.
Key initiatives include:
- Training: Educating farmers on modern, eco-friendly techniques.
- Market Access: Connecting farmers to fair markets.
- Value Chain Development: Strengthening collaboration among agricultural businesses.
Through partnerships with local communities, we aim to build a robust agricultural economy that fosters social and economic progress in West Africa.


Health and Nutrition
Prioritizing Health and Nutrition as a Driver for a Sustainable Future
Access to quality healthcare is a significant challenge in many West African regions, especially in rural and remote areas with limited medical facilities and professionals.
We tackle this issue by training community health volunteers to provide essential healthcare locally. Volunteers receive training in key medical skills, including midwifery and first aid, to deliver immediate care and address common health issues. They are also equipped to identify when more complex problems need hospital treatment.
Our training uses modern and effective methods to ensure volunteers are well-prepared to improve healthcare access and quality in their communities. We remain dedicated to bringing vital medical services closer to those in need.
Education and Livelihood
Advancing Education and Livelihoods for Sustainable Development in West Africa
In West and Central Africa, many children lack access to education and face limited economic opportunities. With the region having the highest number of out-of-school children globally, the need for change is urgent.
We address these challenges by establishing community learning centers and utilizing digital tools to deliver quality education. Our program also provides life skills training for at-risk youth and supports economic development to help families build sustainable livelihoods.
By combining education with economic empowerment, we aim to create brighter futures for youth and communities across West Africa.
Key Programs
- Peer2Peer Educators’ Network: This initiative trains young people in West Africa to become leaders and educators. By teaching skills like conflict resolution and life management, we build a supportive network within communities.
- Parental Training and Support: We equip parents with resources on child development and effective parenting. Our program offers tools to address challenges, promote positive behavior, and build resilience, ensuring a nurturing environment for children.


Business Entrepreneurship
Promoting Economic Development Through Business Entrepreneurship
In West Africa, entrepreneurs often struggle with limited resources and skills, holding back economic growth and job creation. The West Africa Volunteer Development Initiative tackles these issues through the:
Dream-Launch Accelerator program: The DreamLaunch Accelerator program provides aspiring entrepreneurs with essential training and startup funds to kickstart their business ideas. We equip them with the skills they need and the financial support to make their ventures thrive. By empowering these entrepreneurs, we aim to spark local economies and build a vibrant, successful business community across the region.
Humanitarian Assistance
Giving Help Where It’s Needed and When It’s Needed Across the Region
West Africa often faces urgent humanitarian needs due to natural disasters, food shortages, and health crises, with the situation worsened by poor infrastructure and limited services.
The West Africa Volunteer Development Initiative steps in to provide targeted help. Our volunteers deliver emergency aid, distribute essential supplies, and support disaster recovery. We focus on providing clean water, food, and healthcare to those in greatest need.

Our key programs include:

CareConnect Project
Enhances healthcare access by providing essential medical services, health education, and support to underserved communities, ensuring everyone gets the care they need.

Clothes4Change
Provides essential clothing to those in need, helping individuals and families stay warm and comfortable.

The PureWater Project
Delivers clean and safe drinking water through well and pump construction, purification efforts, and sustainable water management practices. By mobilizing volunteers and focusing on these critical areas, we aim to make a real difference, helping communities recover and build resilience for a better future.
Gender and Sexual Rights
Advocating Policies That Protect the Rights of All People Regardless of Their Gender or Sexual Orientations
The West Africa Volunteer Development Initiative is dedicated to advancing gender equality and sexual rights. We work to eliminate discrimination and promote respect for all individuals, regardless of gender or sexual orientation. Our efforts include community education, advocacy training, entrepreneurships and support for legal reforms. We aim to raise awareness and ensure that everyone’s rights are upheld. Our goal is to foster a West Africa where gender and sexual rights are respected, contributing to a fairer and more inclusive society.

Programs
She Leads Academy: Empowering Women for a Brighter Tomorrow
In West Africa, many women face barriers that prevent them from reaching their full potential. Challenges like limited education, few leadership opportunities, and lack of support for starting businesses make it hard for women to achieve their goals and make a difference in their communities.
She Leads Academy is here to change that. Our program is designed to empower women by providing them with essential life skills, leadership training, and entrepreneurial knowledge.
What We Offer
Interactive Workshops
Participate in hands-on sessions that teach personal development, leadership, and entrepreneurship. Gain practical skills you can use right away.
Leadership Training
Learn how to lead effectively. Develop skills to inspire teams, make decisions, and drive positive change.
Entrepreneurial Skills
Get the know-how to start and run a successful business. From planning and management to marketing and finance, we cover it all.
Supportive Community
Connect with other women who share your goals. Collaborate, share experiences, and build a network that supports your growth.
Practical Resources
Access tools and guidance tailored to your needs. Benefit from mentorship and real-world projects to help you achieve your goals.
She Leads Academy is more than just a program; it’s a movement to turn obstacles into opportunities. We aim to inspire women to lead, start ventures, and make a positive impact. Join us and be part of creating a brighter future for West Africa where every woman has the chance to succeed.

Governance And Rule Of Law
Advancing Policies For Good Governance And Rule Of Law Practices In The Region
Good governance and the rule of law are vital for a region’s development and stability. However, West Africa faces major challenges, including political instability, corruption, and weak legal systems, which prevent progress and erode trust. The West Africa Volunteer Development Initiative tackles these problems with a hands-on approach. We engage local communities through training and advocacy to strengthen governance and improve legal systems. Our goal is to promote transparency, accountability, and effective rule of law, creating a fairer and more stable environment. By involving communities in these efforts, we aim to build a region where good governance supports lasting development and stability.
Child Protection
Protecting Children's Rights: Programs Tailored to Their Needs
The West Africa Volunteer Development Initiative is dedicated to safeguarding children from abuse, exploitation, and neglect. We work closely with communities to raise awareness and educate on child protection.
We train caregivers, educators, and community leaders to identify and respond to abuse. Our advocacy promotes stronger legal protections for children’s rights and offers support services to vulnerable children, ensuring they receive the care they need. Our aim is a West Africa where every child is safe, valued, and able to thrive.
Key Programs
- Peer2Peer Educators’ Network: This initiative trains young people in West Africa to become leaders and educators. By teaching adolescents skills like conflict resolution and life management, we create a supportive network within their communities.
- Parental Training and Support: We provide parents with resources on child development and effective parenting. Our program equips parents with tools to overcome challenges, promote positive behavior, and build their children’s resilience, fostering a nurturing environment for growth.


Climate Change And Environmental Sustainability
Advancing Climate Change Initiatives for a Sustainable Future
Climate change poses serious challenges in West Africa, including extreme weather, desertification, and reduced agricultural productivity. These issues strain natural resources and affect local communities’ well-being.
At WAVDI, we are committed to tackling these challenges through sustainable approaches focused on:
- Protecting Wildlife and Conserving the Environment: We collaborate with organizations on reforestation, wildlife conservation, and environmental education to safeguard biodiversity and natural habitats.
- Promoting Sustainable Practices: We advocate for climate-smart farming, water conservation, and sustainable resource management to reduce environmental impact and build resilience to climate change.
- Collaborating with Communities: We work with local communities to implement effective climate adaptation and mitigation strategies, ensuring solutions are tailored to their needs.
- Advancing Climate Research: We support research to understand climate change impacts and develop innovative solutions, guiding policy advocacy and practical interventions.
Research
Advancing Research For Sustainability In The West African Region
Research is critical to addressing the complex challenges faced by communities in West Africa. The West Africa Volunteer Development Initiative is committed to advancing research to develop solutions that are both effective and sustainable. Our research program focuses on identifying barriers to development and testing innovative approaches to overcome them. By collaborating with academic institutions, local experts, and international partners, we ensure that our programs are informed by the latest evidence and best practices. Through research, we aim to generate insights that drive progress and support the scaling of successful interventions, ultimately contributing to the long-term development and prosperity of the West African region.


Crime and Drugs Prevention Education
The crisis of drug trafficking in West Africa is gaining attention…Alarm bells are ringing about the volume of cocaine transiting the region (roughly 50 tons a year). West Africa has become a hub for cocaine trafficking worth almost $2 billion a year. This is more than a drugs problem. It is a serious security threat (UNODC 2008: 1). Organized transnational criminal groups pose threats to West Africa’s fragile states and to democratic governance processes and institutions. The established link between drug trafficking in West Africa and Europe highlights the need for the European Union (EU) to engage its West African counterparts in fighting the negative impacts of organized crime in West Africa, including its corrosive effects on democratic institutions – parliaments, the judiciary, political parties and the executive arm of government.
No one wants to be a victim of crime or have their family hurt or community endangered. But fewer people understand how preventing crime, drugs, human trafficking or violence in the first place avoids the physical pain, the mental anguish, the financial cost, and the social deterioration.
Many research indicates users of illicit substances at initial ages could lead to several risk factors that may increase the probability of continued and awkward use in future, WAVDI aims is to empower young people to become more proactive in their schools, communities in the prevention of crime and drugs prevention education.
Prevention must be addressed at three levels: individual, group, and the bigger institution. We can prevent crime by working with the potential victim, the potential offender, and changing the potential situation in which a crime could be committed. We can only achieve our goals by collaborating with educators, community leaders, families, Government Agencies, donors and partners and relevant Law enforcement institutions.
Conflict Prevention and Peacebuilding
According to the MDG-F’s work addressed conflict both as a cause and symptom of poverty and hunger in the world. Our approach is to work on solutions to overcome conflicts by promoting access to justice, providing peaceful dispute resolution and legal mechanisms, forging intercultural dialogue and building a culture of peace.
Conflict, violence, insecurity and limited access to justice remain a major threat to sustainable development and have a destructive impact on a country’s development, with citizens bearing the burden of insecurity and injustice. Sustainable development goals cannot be achieved without peace, security and social justice.
WAVDI intend to provide support to young women, girls and youth to promote and protect their rights in Peace, Security and Justice, using the UN Security Council Resolutions (UNSCR) on Women, Peace and Security as well as UNSCR 2250 and 2419 on Youth, Peace and Security as policy framework.
Our Conflict Prevention and Peace-building Program works in cohesion with young women, girls and youth of local displaced communities, refugees and disadvantaged communities to raise their local voices in demanding better security, justice, sustainable peace and governance outcomes from local governments.
Our goal is promote justice, peaceful and inclusive societies by working together with peace, security and justice sector, civil society, human rights defenders to provide legal aid, local and international partners and donors for an effective and efficient service delivery.
Conflict Prevention and Peace-building work and activities focuses on the following thematic area:
- Promoting non-violent conflict resolution mechanism
- Advocacy for Women’s rights in Peace and Security
- Conflict Resolution Skills Training
- Strengthening Girls and Women’s access to justice
- Provision of Early Warning and Response System
- Legal assistance and access to justice
- Sexual and Gender Based Violence (SGBV)
- Provision of Early Warning and Response System
- Promoting non-violent conflict resolution mechanism
- Strengthening Girls and Women’s access to justice
- Reintegration of Displaced Persons
- Peace education, training and dialogue mediation


Human Rights and Trafficking
Human trafficking represents a severe violation of people’s fundamental rights and personal freedom. In West Africa, an effective strategy is needed to combat trafficking and national/ sub-national institutions must prioritize safeguarding all survivors’ rights and honoring their autonomy. Central to this effort is a steadfast commitment to upholding the rights of everyone, which forms the cornerstone for restoring their dignity and offering them the opportunity to pursue a brighter future.
In West Africa, the challenges posed by human trafficking are complex and demand comprehensive approaches that recognize and protect the universal human rights of victims, regardless of gender, age, race, ethnicity, origin, nationality, migratory status, or any other distinction. West Africa Volunteer Development Initiatives (WAVDI) as a sub-regional organization underscores the importance of respecting and promoting human rights, and dignity in the fight against trafficking, ensuring that everyone affected has access to justice, support, and the chance to rebuild their lives with dignity.
WAVDI Human Rights and Trafficking Program will work to resolve some of the many issues, especially the following:
Child Labor
According to the International Labor Organization (ILO), over 20 million children are engaged in child labor in Sub-Saharan Africa, especially in agriculture, mining, and domestic work. West Africa has one of the highest rates of child labor and this issue is impaling and needs to be addressed. In these regions, access to education and services is limited, and poverty rates in West Africa remain alarmingly high, with over 50% of the population living below the poverty line in some countries.
In response to these challenges, WAVDI will work with school-going children, and parents across West Africa to provide training support on positive parenting skills and child protection training. The team will also advocate for African governments to increase national budget allocations to key social interventions such as education, social protection, and policies aimed at preventing child labor. WAVDI will also campaign for the introduction of universal child benefits, urging every government to prioritize this measure in national budgets.
Gender-Based Violence (GBV)
In West Africa especially Liberia, women face significant challenges in addressing gender-based violence. One in three women in the region has experienced physical or sexual violence. The prevalence of harmful traditional practices, such as female genital mutilation (FGM), is widespread in countries like Liberia, Mali, Sierra Leone, and Guinea.
To address these challenges, WAVDI will collaborate with national government institutions, and other civil society organizations responsible for women’s issues, advocating for and championing policies aimed at ending violence against women and young girls. WAVDI’s focus will include pushing for legislative reform, strengthening enforcement mechanisms, and raising awareness to dismantle harmful cultural practices.
Sex Trafficking including child trafficking
Women and girls are trafficked primarily for sexual exploitation. Nigeria has been identified as a major source country for women trafficked to Europe for prostitution. The International Organization for Migration (IOM) estimates that 80% of Nigerian women who arrive in Italy are potential victims of trafficking.
Efforts to combat sex trafficking, including child trafficking, require engaging, stronger legal frameworks, victim protection services, and comprehensive awareness campaigns aimed at reducing vulnerabilities and holding traffickers accountable. WAVDI will work closely with global partners to disrupt trafficking networks and support survivors in rebuilding their lives.
Freedom of Expression
Freedom of speech and press remains restricted in several West African countries. For example, journalists, and activists in countries like Liberia, Nigeria, and Burkina Faso face intimidation, harassment, and sometimes imprisonment for criticizing the government.
Addressing these challenges requires key efforts from civil society, governments, and international bodies to protect journalists, safeguard press freedom, and promote transparency and accountability across West Africa. WAVDI will provide human rights and other basic training support to Journalists and Activists on their rights and provide protection services.