Society and Culture

Amnesty International: West Africa: Time to abolish the death penalty - Document summarizes each of the 16 ECOWAS countries' legislation on the death penalty, provides information on the most recent executions and convictions and notes the view currently taken by the governments concerned.
http://web.amnesty.org/library/Index/ENGAFR050032003?open

Follow the Red Dirt Road - "The Story of our Life in West Africa from 1947 to 1958" - an online book by Joan Beech.
http://dpicg.com/beech/

AfricaRail Program - Railroad program to open up the landlocked countries of Benin, Niger, Burkina-Faso and Togo, to allow for the transport of passengers and merchandise. Page includes list of benefiting nations, objectives and participating institutions.
http://www.africarail.org/

Open Society Initiative for West Africa (OSIWA) - OSIWA supports the creation of open societies in West Africa marked by functioning democracy, good governance, the rule of law, basic freedoms and widespread civic participation. Includes news, programs and grant information.
http://www.osiwa.org/

West African NGO Network - Provides intellectual and ICT resources to NGOs, media, educational and cultural institutions, private sector clients.
http://www.wangonet.org/

Integrated Regional Information Network (IRIN) Reports on West Africa - Regular reports from the UN humanitarian information unit.
http://www.irinnews.org/frontpage.asp?SelectRegion=West_Africa

West Africa Network for Peacebuilding - A regional group founded to enable peace building initiatives in West Africa.
http://www.wanep.org/

Guardian Unlimited - Special Report: Conflict in West Africa - Continuing coverage includes latest news and archives, commentary and analysis, backgrounders, interviews, Ch4 video clips, audio clips, photo gallery, interactives and web resources.
http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/liberia

USAID - West Africa Regional Program (WARP) - Provides information about all programs, factsheets, employment and procurement opportunities, documents and partners of the US Agency for International Development.
http://www.usaid.gov/locations/sub-saharan_africa/countries/warp/

H-West-Africa Discussion Network - A discussion network dedicated to enhancing research, service, and teaching in the field on the region of West Africa.
http://www.h-net.org/~wafrica/

Participatory Development Communication: A West African Agenda - Suggests that better communication and local participation in the region would help to support social, political, economic, women's health, and adult learning.
http://www.idrc.ca/pan/ev-9302-201-1-DO_TOPIC.html

West Africa Study Circle - An international specialist society formed in 1950 to study of stamps, postal stationery and postal history of the West Africa.
http://www.wasc.org.uk

Urbanisation and Cultural Assimilation in British and French West Africa 1900-1960 - Essay by Donald Stark.
http://www.donaldstark.co.uk/baguette.html

West Africa Rice Development Association - An autonomous intergovernmental research association working to increase the sustainable productivity of rice-based cropping systems for sub-saharan Africa.
http://www.warda.cgiar.org/

The Kingdom of Biffeche - History, current events, visiting information, people and cultures, FAQ, map and pictures of the historic kingdom on the border of Senegal and Mauritania.
http://www.kingdomofbiffeche.net/

Centre Edmond Fortier - Gallery of photos taken 1900-1910 by Edmond Fortier --people, culture and landscapes in West Africa.
http://home.planet.nl/~kreke003/