The West Africa Network (formerly PAO)
It concerns regional cooperation between the participating states and the civil society of the under-region countries. The Network – formerly called “West Africa Programme” (PAO) – is based on a participative approach involving children, families, NGOs, countries, childhood professionals, etc. By the end of 2012, it will be composed of the 15 countries of ECOWAS.
This programme is an innovation due to the concrete implication of the different actors at all levels, national and transnational, as well as by the specific individualised follow-up of the child beyond borders.
Theme: Protection and voluntary social and professional reintegration of minors on the move who find themselves in vulnerable situations, victims of slavery, traffic or other means of exploitation.AimWorking together to prevent risky displacement of minors, to identify and protect them, and to reintegrate them in a family environment supported by an educational or professional project.
Beneficiaries: 2’000 children and young people since the end of 2005.
Countries of intervention:
- Benin, Burkina Faso, Gambia, Ghana, Guinea, Guinea Bissau, Ivory Coast, Mali, Niger, Nigeria, Senegal, Togo
- Cape Verde, Liberia, Sierra Leone (end of 2012)
Beginning of the programme: 2005
Launching: The Swiss Foundation of the International Social Service in cooperation with the International Institute of Children’s Rights
Financing: Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation (SDC), European Commission, ECOWAS, various private sponsors and institutions