WestAfricaYoungParliamentariansNetwork
is uniting West Africa's next generation of leaders to shape
policy, governance, and the future of the region.
Objective
WAYPA advances youth-centered policy advocacy, meaningful
participation in decision-making, and cross-border collaboration
among young parliamentarians in West Africa. Through strategic
partnerships, structured mentorship, and leadership development,
it equips emerging leaders to influence governance, strengthen
institutions, and drive legislative impact.
At the same time, it promotes peacebuilding and social cohesion
by empowering young leaders to bridge divides and support
inclusive, stable societies across the region.
Our Vision
/01
Sub-Regional Scope
A coordinated network across ECOWAS member states, giving young
parliamentarians a regional platform for shared priorities,
peer learning, and collective advocacy.
/02
Legislative Power in Motion
Members are not only advocates. They are lawmakers and elected
officials who can draft, debate, sponsor, and pass policies
that affect young people directly.
/03
A Youth Voice That Travels
WAYPA turns national policy lessons into regional momentum, so
progress in one country can inform action across the sub-region
and continental forums.
Our Programs
The Next Leaders
WAYPA's premier leadership development and mentorship program.
Cohorts of aspiring leaders from across West Africa are matched
with senior mentors, given rigorous governance training, and
supported toward elected office or senior public service.
Youth Health & SRHR Campaign
A coordinated sub-regional campaign for sexual and reproductive
health rights, pandemic preparedness financing, and the
elimination of harmful traditional practices through law,
oversight, and community engagement.
Youth Democracy Watch
A parliamentary monitoring and accountability initiative where
WAYPA members track youth-related commitments, publish
transparency reports, and raise parliamentary questions that
hold governments to promised reforms.
Future Generations
The long view for West Africa's parliaments
West Africa is young and growing fast. The children in school
today will live with the oil, gas and mineral deals, the
borrowing, and the choices on Sahel drought and Gulf of Guinea
coastal erosion that parliaments make this decade. Most of them
cannot vote yet.
WAYPA, part of the Centre for Youth Policy's family of young
parliamentarian networks, works with its members to build lasting
parliamentary institutions for future generations.
A growing movement
Closer to home
Ghana · 2011The Petroleum Revenue Management Act set up the Ghana Heritage Fund, which saves part of oil revenue as an endowment for future generations.
Nigeria · 2011The Nigeria Sovereign Investment Authority holds a Future Generations Fund, long-term savings for Nigerians still to come.
ECOWAS · 2021Heads of state adopted ECOWAS Vision 2050, a long-term plan for an integrated, peaceful and prosperous region.
Further afield
Wales · 2015The Well-being of Future Generations Act, with an independent Future Generations Commissioner.
Finland · 1993Parliament's Committee for the Future, a standing committee on long-term questions.
Malta · 2012A Guardian of Future Generations under the Sustainable Development Act.
European Union · 2024A Commissioner whose portfolio includes intergenerational fairness.
United Nations · 2024A Declaration on Future Generations, adopted at the Summit of the Future.
There is no single model yet. Young legislators should help shape
what comes next.
What we will do in West Africa
/01
Future generations caucuses
We help members set up cross-party groups for future generations in their parliaments, with guidance that fits anglophone, francophone and lusophone systems.
/02
Model motions and laws
We work with members on motions that recognise duties to future generations, intergenerational impact assessments and long-term well-being bills. Regionally, we will seek a resolution on intergenerational fairness at the ECOWAS Parliament.
/03
A future check on bills and budgets
We support members to test real bills, budgets and borrowing plans for their long-term effect, starting with oil, gas and mining revenue laws, and to publish what they find.
/04
West Africa long-term indicators
We are developing a regular report with members on how the region's future is faring: learning, coastal erosion, debt service and youth employment.
/05
Learning from those who do it
We connect members with institutions and parliamentarians already doing this work, in the region and beyond, so what works in one country can travel to the next.
Are you a young parliamentarian in West Africa who wants to
champion future generations in your parliament? The Secretariat
would like to hear from you.
WAYPA was established in 2023 following the 6th Annual Youth
Education and Leadership Conference in Buchanan City, Liberia,
where young parliamentarians and emerging leaders from across
West Africa came together to address the persistent
underrepresentation of youth in governance.
West Africa is one of the youngest regions in the world, yet
young people remain severely underrepresented in the
parliaments, cabinets, and policy chambers that shape their
futures. WAYPA exists to close that representation gap with
organization, legislative coordination, and accountable public
leadership.
WAYPA operates through a representative governance structure:
a General Assembly, an Executive Committee, a Secretariat
hosted at the Centre for Youth Policy, and country chapters
across ECOWAS member states. These bodies coordinate
programs, partnerships, policy positions, and regional
engagement.
Young parliamentarians, civil society organizations,
academic institutions, development partners, donors, and
emerging political leaders can connect with the Secretariat
about membership, partnerships, research, programs, or support.
Leadership
Meet the parliamentarians and strategic leaders driving WAYPA's
mission forward across the ECOWAS region.
H.E. Abdoulie Njai
Chairperson - The Gambia
Hon. Alice Kornya Sandy, MP
Vice Chairperson - Sierra Leone
Hon. Mohammed T. Fofanah
Deputy Secretary for Policy and Planning
Hon. Promise Nwadigos
Deputy Secretary for International Relations and Global Affairs
Hon. Matarr Syla
Deputy Secretary for Sahel Affairs
Hon. Dr. Amadou Maiga
Mali
Hon. Oussoumane Camara
Guinea Bissau
Hon. Mac Ndalama
Malawi
Hon. Tagnonnanon Edmonde Fonton
Benin
Hon. L. Brinkman
Southern Africa Coordinator
Amb. Leo E. Tiah
Secretary General - Liberia
Updates & field notes.
Follow what WAYPA members are doing across the region — meetings, country visits, policy briefs, and the small wins that don't always make the news.
FeaturedMonrovia, Liberia
WAYPA delegation at the Republic of Liberia.
Members of the WAYPA Secretariat stand with national stakeholders during a working visit in Monrovia — coordinating priorities for the year ahead and reaffirming Liberia's role as a regional anchor for the network.
Strategic engagement with UNFPA on youth health and SRHR.
The Secretariat meets with UNFPA leadership to align WAYPA's regional SRHR campaign with UN partners — focused on adolescent health financing, harmful-practice elimination, and youth-led policy advocacy.
Working session with the Governance Commission of Liberia.
A formal engagement with the Governance Commission to anchor the Secretariat's policy work in Liberia's institutional governance frameworks and advance the network's accountability mandate.
Cross-border collaboration with international partners.
Members of the network meet with international counterparts to discuss policy harmonization, shared youth priorities, and how WAYPA can bring West African voices into wider continental and global forums.
The Gambia chapter convenes a working session on youth representation in the National Assembly — sharing notes with peers across the network and lining up the next round of legislative briefings.
Secretariat planning at the Centre for Youth Policy.
The Centre for Youth Policy, serving as WAYPA's secretariat and fiscal sponsor, hosts a planning session to coordinate operations across country chapters and align program delivery for the year.
Have questions about WAYPA? Interested in partnering, joining the
network, supporting programs, or engaging the Secretariat for media
or research? Reach out and the team will connect you to the right
country chapter or program lead.
