West Africa Civil Society Institute - WACSI

The West Africa Civil Society Institute (WACSI) was established by the Open Society Initiative for West Africa (OSIWA) in 2005 to reinforce the capacities of civil society in the sub-region. The Institute became operational in July 2007.

WACSI’s mission: WACSI is a not-for-profit organisation that seeks to strengthen the institutional and operational capacities of civil society organisations through capacity strengthening programmes for increased and effective policy engagement, and the promotion of development, good governance and democratic values in West Africa.

WACSI's Vision: WACSI envisions a West Africa of efficient, effective, and influential civil society functioning as strategic partners for democracy, good governance and sustainable national development.

Our Theory of Change: We enhance the capacity of civil society to adequately and effectively partner government and the private sector to achieve sustainable development in West Africa.

Read more about our strategic approach to capacity development and its benefit to you here.

The role of WACSI is to serve as a resource centre for training, research, experience sharing and dialogue for CSOs in West Africa

Regional focus: Having understood the challenges that development practitioners face in the West African sub region, our creative and custom-made interventions continue to respond to operational and institutional challenges of national and regional civil society institutions in Liberia, Nigeria, Togo, Benin, Ghana, Sierra Leone, Guinea, Cote d’Ivoire and Senegal. In the near future, the Institute will also focus on invigorating, the capacities of development practitioners in Mali, Burkina Faso, Niger, Gambia, Cape Verde and Guinea Bissau.

WACSI is the co-implementing partner of the Young African Leaders Initiative (YALI) programme.

 Our Core Values

WACSI’s core values are the driving force of its operational and institutional standards. These values characterize the Institute’s unique approach towards the capacity development of civil society organizations in West Africa. WACSI’s core values are:

LEADERSHIP
WACSI practices what it preaches. We work to empower CSOs with exemplary standards of organizational management and governance, and we uphold these standards in all that we do.

DIVERSITY
WACSI is positioning itself to be the hub for a robust, professional, responsive and visionary civil society community in West Africa; one that is respectful and collegial and reflects the rich socio-cultural diversity of West Africa.

EXCELLENCE
WACSI maintains the highest ethical standards that foster transparency, accountability, mutual respect, and integrity in its operations and relationships with its partners. The Institute strives for excellence in its activities. WACSI believes and upholds “excellence as the minimum standard”

COLLABORATION
WACSI’s wide regional reach and universal partnership model is one of its greatest assets. WACSI continually strives to create an atmosphere of congeniality and cooperation with and for all its stakeholders.

RELATIONSHIP
WACSI recognizes that its greatest assets are its staff, interns, volunteers, resource persons, trainees, donors. The Institute values and fosters partnerships, networks and strategic mutual relationships with all stakeholders.

NON-DISCRIMINATION
WACSI believes in, and respects the principles of equity, inclusion and non-discrimination. The Institute recognizes the rich socio-cultural heritage of its stakeholders and works with all persons without discrimination to promote open, democratic and developed societies in West Africa through the capacity strengthening of civil society.