The Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), in collaboration with the ECOWAS Network of Electoral Commissions (ECONEC), has launched a five-day training workshop from October 17 to 21, 2025, in Abidjan, Côte d’Ivoire, aimed at preparing young observers for participation in election observation missions. The initiative, under the pilot project Mainstreaming Youth into the ECOWAS Election Observation Mission (EEOM), marks a significant step towards promoting youth inclusion in democratic governance across the region.
The training program has brought together 22 young observers from 11 ECOWAS Member States, who will be deployed on Election Day, October 25, 2025, to observe the electoral process. The project seeks to enhance youth participation in electoral processes across West Africa, foster inclusive democratic governance, and strengthen electoral integrity. This marks the first time that young observers will be formally integrated into an ECOWAS Election Observation Mission.