USAID/West Africa's Peace and Security objective strives to resolve or mitigate these issues in order to pave the way for further political, economic and social progress in West Africa. Through partnerships with both regional and sub-regional organizations, and joint-programming with U.S. embassies and other USAID missions in the region, the program seeks to realize the following goals:

• Reinforce African conflict mitigation and management capacity
• Enhance protection of individuals from physical violence
• Advance inclusive governance reform
• Further strategic U.S. Government peacebuilding priorities

To achieve these goals, USAID/West Africa coordinates closely with the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) - West Africa's chief regional intergovernmental organization. Together with civil society partners, USAID West Africa and ECOWAS established the ECOWAS Early Warning and Response Network (ECOWARN). ECOWARN is an online database designed to identify potential hotspots and monitor ongoing conflict situations throughout the region. This Network consists of four Observation and Monitoring Centers located in Benin, Burkina Faso, Liberia and The Gambia and a Coordinating Office at ECOWAS headquarters in Nigeria. Information and reports produced by the ECOWARN network serve to inform regional policy and response decisions.

Another key component of the USAID/WA Peace & Security objective is the Trans-Sahara Counter-Terrorism Partnership (TSCTP). Created in 2005, TSCTP is a State Department-led interagency initiative to assist traditionally moderate Muslim populations in Northwestern Africa counter the spread of extremist ideology. TSCTP includes the State Department, Department of Defense (DoD), and USAID. TSCTP programs seek to diminish the underlying conditions that leave at-risk populations vulnerable to extremism and include: youth development, former combatant reintegration, education, rural radio and media programs, peacebuilding/conflict management, and small-scale infrastructure projects like drilling wells and constructing schools. USAID/WA currently manages TSCTP programs in Chad, Niger and Mauritania. Other activities implemented under the Peace and Security objective include:

Civil Society Strengthening for Peace building

USAID/WA works closely with civil society organizations to promote peace and stability in the region. The West African Network for Peacebuilding (WANEP) and Computer Frontiers, Inc. are two of USAID/WA's key partners in this area. WANEP plays a crucial role in the operation of the ECOWAS Early Warning And Response Network. Funding for WANEP provides technical assistance and training to strengthen the network and its partner civil society organizations, allowing them to effectively monitor the region for signs of potential conflict. USAID/WA contributions also support WANEP's community-level conflict prevention programs.

USAID/WA is also collaborating with Computer Frontiers, Inc. to develop internet connectivity in the cross-border area covering Sierra Leone, Liberia and Guinea. Internet connectivity will serve to strengthen local CSO efforts to promote regional peace and security by enabling intra-and inter-regional information sharing and ensuring a constant flow of information to the web-based ECOWARN system.

Trafficking in Persons

USAID/WA tackles this issue on two levels. In Niger, where extreme poverty has led to a high prevalence of trafficking of children, USAID West Africa works with Population Media Center (PMC) to raise awareness on this issue. A serial radio drama discussing the dangers of child trafficking is broadcast to targeted communities throughout the country, helping to sensitize those at-risk and form community solidarity against this crime. At the regional level, USAID/WA works with ECOWAS and the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) to aid West African governments in updating and strengthening their programs to stop Trafficking in Persons.