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Investing in Africa’s Future Leaders: WACSI Welcomes the Second Cohort of its 2026 Next Generation Interns 

August 5, 2026 In Newsroom By

Investing in Africa’s Future Leaders: WACSI Welcomes the Second Cohort of its 2026 Next Generation Interns 

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[Accra, Ghana — 20 July 2026] —  The West Africa Civil Society Institute (WACSI) has officially welcomed the second cohort of its 2026 Next Generation Internship Programme (NGIP), following the interns’ onboarding on 13 July 2026.  

The milestone reflects the Institute’s continued commitment to developing a new generation of skilled, values-driven professionals equipped to strengthen civil society and advance sustainable development across Africa. 

As one of WACSI’s flagship leadership development initiatives, the six-month internship programme provides young professionals with practical experience, regional exposure, and professional mentorship to prepare them for impactful careers in the civil society and development sectors.  

Kodjovi Kokou Michel, Salamatou Hassane Seyni, Moussa Camara

Through placements across the institute’s programme and operational units, interns contribute to ongoing initiatives while developing competencies in capacity development, policy influencing and advocacy, knowledge management, communications, organisational learning, and institutional operations. 

Building on the successful completion of the programme’s first cohort earlier this year, the second cohort comprises four young professionals from Togo, Niger, Nigeria, and Guinea (Conakry). Their selection reflects WACSI’s commitment to promoting regional diversity, peer learning, and cross-country collaboration while nurturing leaders who understand Africa’s development realities and are prepared to drive positive change within their communities and beyond. 

The four interns bring diverse academic backgrounds, professional aspirations, and a shared passion for strengthening civil society across the continent. 

Kodjovi Kokou Michel from Togo joins the programme with a Bachelor’s degree in Public Law from the University of Lomé. Passionate about governance and civic engagement, he sees the internship as an opportunity to deepen his understanding of the civil society landscape in West Africa while strengthening his leadership and professional skills. 

“My expectations from this internship at WACSI are to gain a deeper understanding of the work of civil society organisations in West Africa, develop my professional skills, and strengthen my capacities in leadership, communication, governance, and civic engagement. I also hope to learn from WACSI’s experienced team, contribute to its initiatives, and better prepare myself to create a positive impact within my community,” he said. 

Salamatou Hassane Seyni from Niger holds a Bachelor’s degree in International Humanitarian Law and joins the programme with a strong interest in civil society development, advocacy, and humanitarian action. She hopes to expand her knowledge of regional civil society practice while building the skills needed for a successful career in the humanitarian sector. 

“I expect to gain new skills, deepen my understanding of advocacy and policy influencing, and better understand how regional civil society organisations operate. I also hope to learn innovative approaches and best practices from different contexts. This experience will prepare me for a successful career as a humanitarian professional,” she said. 

From Nigeria, Afolabi Anjolaoluwa brings an academic background in Political Science and International Relations, alongside a keen interest in governance, public policy, and sustainable development across Africa. He is eager to broaden his understanding of development practice while contributing to initiatives that create lasting social impact. 

“I hope to gain valuable exposure to the work of civil society organisations, broaden my understanding of development work, enhance my research skills, and contribute meaningfully to initiatives that drive positive social change,” he said. 

Representing Guinea (Conakry), Moussa Camara, a sociologist, joins WACSI’s Knowledge Management Unit with a passion for research, learning, and knowledge sharing. He looks forward to supporting the generation and dissemination of knowledge that informs stronger civil society action across the region. 

“I look forward to contributing to the capture, organisation, and sharing of knowledge that drives learning, informs decision-making, and strengthens the impact of civil society work across West Africa,” he said. 

The onboarding of the second cohort follows the successful completion of the programme’s first cohort, which brought together four interns from Guinea-Bissau, Côte d’Ivoire, Sierra Leone, and Nigeria. During their six-month placement, the interns worked across WACSI’s programme and operational units, contributing to initiatives in capacity development, policy influencing and advocacy, knowledge management, communications, and organisational support while strengthening their technical, leadership, and professional competencies. 

Since its establishment in 2005, WACSI’s Next Generation Internship Programme has grown into one of the Institute’s flagship initiatives for nurturing emerging African leaders. With the graduation of the first cohort and the onboarding of the second, the programme has now supported 93 young professionals, comprising 51 women and 42 men, from 18 African countries. 

Ghana has produced the highest number of programme alumni with 15 participants, followed by Nigeria (14), Benin (10), Cameroon (8), Guinea (6), Côte d’Ivoire (5), and Togo (5). Burkina Faso and Guinea-Bissau have each contributed four participants, while Senegal, Mali, Sierra Leone, and Liberia have each produced three. Niger now joins The Gambia with two participants each, while Guinea (Conakry), Zimbabwe, and Chad have each recorded one participant. 

Over the past two decades, the programme has served as a launchpad for young professionals pursuing careers in civil society, governance, philanthropy, public policy, and international development. By investing in practical learning, regional collaboration, and professional mentorship, WACSI continues to cultivate a pipeline of ethical, innovative, and capable leaders who are committed to strengthening civil society, advancing inclusive governance, and contributing to Africa’s sustainable development. 

 

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FIIFI BOATENG

Fiifi is a Ghanaian and currently serves as Communications and Information Officer at the West Africa Civil Society Institute. He joined the Institute in December 2020.

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NANCY KANKAM KUSI

Nancy is a Ghanaian and currently serves as Programme Officer in the Knowledge Management unit at the West Africa Civil Society Institute. She joined the Institute in January 2021.

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AGNES ADWOA ANIMA

Agnes is a Ghanaian and currently serves as Head of the Administration unit in the West Africa Civil Society Institute (WACSI). She joined the Institute in October 2021.

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DORIS ODEI

Doris holds a Bachelor of Arts in Social sciences (Economics and Sociology) from the University of Cape Coast. She is passionate about impacting young lives hence co-founded Impart Foundation. A non-profit organization which seeks to empower young lives through education, technology and entrepreneurship.

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PRINCE AKOWUAH

Prince Akowuah is a Ghanaian and currently the Programme Assistant in the Translation Unit at the West Africa Civil Society Institute (WACSI). She joined the Institute in 2020.

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MAXWELL APENTENG

Maxwell Apenteng is a Ghanaian and joined WACSI in September 2010. He provides gardening and janitorial services at the Institute.

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GEORGE ADU-MINTAH

George Adu-Mintah is a Ghanaian and currently the Protocol Assistant/Driver at the West Africa Civil Society (WACSI). He joined the Institute in October 2006.

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IBRAHIM KWAKU GBADAGO

Ibrahim Kwaku Gbadago is a Ghanaian. He joined the Institute in 2008 and provides janitorial services and assisting the institute's errands. Before joining the Institute, he worked at the Palestinian embassy in Accra, Ghana.

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RUTH YAKANA

Ruth Yakana is from Cameroon and currently the Receptionist at the West Africa Civil Society Institute (WACSI). She joined the Institute in 2020.

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BETHEL KWAME BOATENG

Bethel is a Ghanaian. He provides technical and IT related support to the Institute. He joined the Institute in October 2006.

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WHITNAY SEGNONNA

Whitnay Segnonna holds a Bachelor’s Degree in International Management from the University of Benin. With 2 years of experience, she has a strong knowledge of organizational and project management. Combined with her bilingualism, she is very passionate about her work. She joined WACSI as Project Assistant on Critical Ecosystem Partnership Fund (CEPF) for the Capacity Development Unit.

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STELLA YAWA WOWOUI

Stella Yawa Wowoui holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Translation Studies. She has a perfect grasp of both French and English, as well as an intermediate level in Spanish. She is currently working as a Project Assistant on the Techsoup Project.

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KWAME ASANTE

Kwame is an experienced IT Consultant/Software Developer. He is skilled in Web Applications Development, Digital Security, Database Management, Digital Marketing and Brand Management. He holds a Bachelor's Degree in Information Technology and is a Microsoft Programme Alumni. He is currently serving as a Marketing and IT Officer on the Techsoup Project.

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GRACE AKPENE ZIGGAH

Grace Akpene Ziggah is a Togolese and currently the Logistics Officer and also assists in administration duties at the West Africa Civil Society Institute (WACSI). She joined the Institute in June 2009.

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LILLIAN DAFEAMEKPOR

Lilian Dafeamekpor is a Ghanaian and currently the Assistant to the Executive Director at the West Africa Civil Society Institute (WACSI). She joined the Institute in 2020.

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JOHN P. FRINJUAH

John P. Frinjuah has expertise and interests in civil society, international development, democracy and governance, conflict, crisis, and security. He has extensive experience working with civil society and international development organizations where he supported and managed research, programmes, and provided technical assistance on a variety of themes around public policy, governance, and development. He is an alumnus of the University of Ghana and the Fletcher School of Law and Diplomacy - Tufts University in the United States, with a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science and Master of Arts in Law and Diplomacy from two institutions respectively. John speaks English, French and several Ghanaian and regional West Africa languages.

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GERVIN CHANASE

Gervin has extensive international development experience, including 5 years of policy advocacy and capacity building of grass root organisations. He has implemented over the years a combination of agriculture value chain, livelihood, food security and governance and rights programmes.
Prior to joining WACSI, Gervin worked on two USAID projects focusing on agriculture value chain development and governance in northern Ghana
Gervin holds a master’s degree in development & Governance from the University of Duisburg-Essen, Germany as well as a Masters in Global Studies from the Universities of Vienna (Austria), Leipzig (Germany) and California (Santa Barbara), USA. He is passionate social justice and inclusion.

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LEANDRE BANON

Leandre Banon, Beninese, joined WACSI in September 2014 as Capacity Development Programme Assistant. Since then, he has worked in various units within the Institute to support operational and institutional capacity strengthening programmes for civil society in the region. Currently serving as Capacity Development Programme Officer at WACSI, his main responsibilities involve designing, planning, implementing and monitoring capacity development programmes for civil society constituents and grouping across the West Africa. Leandre is a certified Change the Game Academy Programme Trainer. His background lies in the areas of economics and development planning.

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SAMUEL APPIAH

Samuel Appiah is a Ghanaian and currently the Programme Officer in the Finance and Administrative Unit at the West Africa Civil Society Institute (WACSI). He joined the Institute in May, 2016.

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JIMM CHICK FOMUNJONG

Jimm Chick Fomunjong, Cameroonian, joined WACSI in May 2018 as the Head of the Knowledge Management and Communication Units of the Institute. He has over ten years’ experience as a journalist and a development communications expert. He has a vast experience in supporting African organisations to strengthen their internal and external communications, building and sustaining relationships with the media and, leveraging on the power of social media to promote their mission. He is also excellent at supporting organisations to set up and operationalise functional communications and knowledge management systems. He has a deep passion and expertise in supporting Africans and African civil society organisations to document their praxis, share and learn from experiences documented from the African civil society sector.

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FRANCK A. SOMBO

Franck Sombo is a development practitioner with the drive to lead self and others to influence productivity and efficiency. His work involves supporting organisations to develop strategic plans, design monitoring and evaluation systems, develop and use relevant performance measurement tools to track progress, assess organizational growth and institutionalise learning. Franck has eight years of experience working with WACSI where he currently serves as the Head, Monitoring, Evaluation and Learning. His academic qualifications include Masters in Organisations’ and Projects’ Management, and in Business Sciences and a High National Diploma in Finance and Accounting.

Franck is a Fellow of the International Program for Development Evaluation Training (IPDET) and a graduate of the Graduate Training Institute (GTI) - Ghana with specialization in Strategic Management and Corporate Leadership. He has a rich experience in Project Management, Capacity Development, Strategic planning, Data Analytics, Monitoring and Evaluation, Training and Facilitation, Mentoring and Coaching among others.

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OMOLARA T. BALOGUN

Omolara is a development practitioner and advocacy strategist with over 15 years of progressive experience in development programming targeted at strengthening civil society in West Africa.

She joined WACSI in November 2009 as a Regional Advocacy Consultant and later became the first Policy Advocacy Officer of the Institute in 2010.

She was promoted to Head of the Policy Influencing and Advocacy (PIA) Unit in 2015. As the Head of the PIA unit, Omolara offers strategic direction to the Institutes’ ambitions to connect and convene groups of organised and organic civil society actors; and influence regional and global discourses on crosscutting policy issues including—civil society regulations, sustainable development goals, civic space and enabling environment, aid effectiveness, gender equality, and civil society accountability.

Previously, Omolara served as a Programmes Associate with the Women in Peace and Security Network-Africa (WIPSEN-Africa), where she worked with her team to design and implement pan-African programmes on—multidimensional peace support operations and gender mainstreaming in security sector reform in Ghana, Sierra Leone, and Liberia.

She also served as a Service Development Marshal at TVQ Consulting Group, a customer service firm focused on designing strategic customer relationship and business growth plans for private and public financial institutions in Nigeria.

Omolara is a social justice advocate, a network weaver, and a convener. She has a postgraduate degree in Peace and Conflict Studies; a degree in International Relations and History, from the University of Ibadan and Obafemi Awolowo University in Nigeria respectively.

She also holds executive certificates in Behavioral Science in Public Policy from Harvard University Executive Education in Cambridge and in Citizen Advocacy from the Coady International Institute, St Francis Xavier University in Canada.

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KWABENA KRODUAH

Kwabena Kroduah is a Ghanaian and currently heads the Finance Unit at the West Africa Civil Society Institute (WACSI). He joined the Institute in January 2008.

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CHARLES KOJO VANDYCK

Charles currently serves as the Head of the Capacity Development Unit at the West Africa Civil Society Institute (WACSI). Charles has over 10 years of experience working in international development and social justice issues in Africa. Charles has expertise in strengthening civil society and public agencies including the design and implementation of governance and leadership programmes, development of knowledge pieces and policy advice. Charles was the founding Board Chair of Innovation for Change (i4C)-Hub Afrique, as well as the founding member of the International Consortium on Closing Civic Space (iCon), an initiative of the Centre for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS) in Washington DC. Charles currently serves as the Member of the Governing Board (Coordination Collective) of Africans Rising. He is a Member of the Development Studies Association, United Kingdom. Charles is a 2017 Stanford University Fellow for Nonprofit Leaders and a certified Change the Game Resource Mobilisation Trainer.

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NANA ASANTEWA AFADZINU

Nana Afadzinu is a Ghanaian and currently serves as the Executive Director of the West Africa Civil Society Institute (WACSI). She joined the Institute in October 2010.

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