CIVIC Coastal West Africa combines community-based protection, technical capacity building for defense and security forces, and evidence-based advocacy to institutionalize and improve civilian protection policies across the region.

To bridge the gap between the realities experienced by communities and defense and security strategies, CIVIC launched its Benin–Togo program in March 2025. The program places communities at the center of its work by supporting their advocacy efforts with local authorities and facilitating dialogue with defense and security forces in order to promote civilian-centered approaches to protection and strengthen trust between populations and the key actors responsible for their protection.

Our strategic operations are built around three core pillars: 

Community-Based Protection

CIVIC treats communities as active agents in their own protection. We establish and revitalize inclusive local Protection and Resilience Groups (such as the Community Protection Group in Matéri, Benin) and train civilians to identify risks, conduct threat analyses, and formulate self-protection plans.

Capacity Building and Technical Support to Security and Defense Forces (SDF)

CIVIC successfully advocated with the High Command of the Beninese Armed Forces for the integration of Protection of Civilians (PoC) and Civilian Harm Mitigation (CHM) awareness sessions into the pre-deployment training of military personnel deployed under Counter-Terrorism Operation Mirador in conflict-affected areas of northern Benin. This advocacy effort resulted in the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between CIVIC and the General Staff of the Beninese Armed Forces in February 2026, providing a formal framework for CIVIC’s participation in pre-deployment training activities. Through this partnership, CIVIC facilitates CHM awareness sessions within the framework of Operation Mirador, helping strengthen decision-making processes, reinforce civilian protection reflexes among soldiers and command structures, and promote greater community engagement.

Evidence-Based Humanitarian Diplomacy

CIVIC conducts rigorous research and rapid field assessments on primary safety threats, community vulnerabilities, and state-level military doctrines. The resulting data-driven analyses are disseminated to local, national, and international stakeholders to shape coordinated regional policies and advance the broader PoC agenda across West African coastal states. 

Future Outlook

As the conflict shifts, CIVIC aims to expand its operations progressively across Benin’s four northern departments and institutionalize collaborative security frameworks throughout northern Togo. Looking ahead, CIVIC envisions expanding its protective footprint into northern Ghana along the Burkina Faso border to ensure that community-centered, non-kinetic responses remain at the heart of regional security strategies. 

CIVIC’S IMPACT IN COASTAL WEST AFRICA

For a deeper, more personal look at communities in action, explore the dedicated page highlighting CIVIC’s work through firsthand stories, visuals and field perspectives.