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TRAINING Geopolitical Monitoring in West Africa From the issue to the deliverable decision-making · 12-14 hours · 4 weeks · online Start of the training - 1st cohort: Saturday, September 12, 2026 |
This training in geopolitical monitoring applied to West Africa will allow you to understand the geopolitical environment of the region, to collect, monitor, and verify information; to maintain a monitoring system and produce notes intended for a decision-maker (State, company, investor, NGO, Diplomacy, Cooperation Agency or editorial office).
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DURATION 12 hours 4 × 3h online / weekend |
FORMAT Cohort 25 participants |
AUDIENCE Professionals & students Analysts, executives, journalists, decision-makers, consultants |
DELIVERABLE ESPA Certificate Note, bulletin; monitoring system; issue sheet. Certificate |
Target audiences
Young consultants, risk analysts, journalists, international relations students, corporate executives exposed to West Africa, NGO / donor mission officers. No technical prerequisites: an issue and a connection are sufficient.
Why this training
In a regional environment marked by accelerated political transitions, persistent security tensions, and deep reconfigurations of alliances, the ability to anticipate is no longer reserved for states. Geopolitical risk is no longer conjunctural. It has become structural. Business leaders, logistics managers, project managers, consultants, and operational executives need a structured reading of their geopolitical environment to decide with clarity.
This four-week training, designed and delivered by ESPA, transforms curious professionals into operational analysts capable of collecting, processing, prioritizing, and communicating useful geopolitical intelligence. It is designed for West Africa, in all its complexity: Sahel, Gulf of Guinea, ECOWAS, AES, energy issues, economic sovereignty, regulatory reforms, and trade corridors.
Learning objectives
▸ Define geopolitical monitoring and distinguish it from news tracking.
▸ Formulate a precise, observable, and useful problem statement for a recipient.
▸ Research, verify, and triangulate open-source information (OSINT) on the sub-region.
▸ Build a system: axes, indicators, alerts, monitoring dashboard.
▸ Evaluate a risk (probability × impact) and write dissemination formats: flash, monitoring note, strategic note, and bulletin.
Program — 4 weeks
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Week |
Title |
Content |
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S1 · 3 h |
Understand monitoring |
Geopolitics, risk, monitoring. Info / intelligence / intelligence. West African actors and issues (ECOWAS–AES, security contagion, alliances, sovereignty). Monitoring issues. OSINT: contributions and limitations. |
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S2 · 3 h |
Methods & tools OSINT |
Advanced search and Google Dorking. Mapping of sources (official, local agencies, think tanks). Press and networks. 5 verification questions. Reverse imaging (Lens, Yandex, Grok). Triangulation and levels of trust. |
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S3 · 3 h |
Build your system |
Monitoring cycle and recipient. Axes and indicators. Daily / weekly / monthly rhythms. Alerts (Google Alerts, Feedly, Grok Autonomizations). Actors, weak signals. Monitoring table with 7 columns. |
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S4 · 3 h |
Strategic analysis |
5W, immediate / deep causes. Probability × impact matrix and breakdown table / report / note. Opportunities. Pivot variables, inflection points, cone with 3 scenarios. 4 dissemination formats. Final practical case. |
Teaching method
Each session alternates short inputs, demonstrations on the sub-region and exercises. Participants work from S1 on their own issues. The common thread is a personal system: sources (S2), table (S3), note (S4). The final evaluation will be based on a practical case on which the participant will write an analytical note.
Deliverables provided to participants
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During the training Detailed plan of the training Tool sheets: dorking, sources, image verification Monitoring table model 3×3 Matrix and templates flash / note / report Example notes (including the Niamey case, August 2026) |
At the end of training Personal monitoring issue Base of 10 sources classified Monitoring table started (minimum 10 lines) Analysis note (case study graded / 20) Training certificate in monitoring geopolitics – ESPA Advisory |
Evaluation
Attendance at the 4 sessions, intermediate work (issue, sources, table, summary) and final case study graded out of 20: 5W and root causes; strategic analysis capability; scenarios and pivot variables; clarity. The certificate is issued to participants who have completed the course and submitted the final grade.
Indicative rates
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Formula |
Audience |
Price excluding tax / person |
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Student / recent graduate |
Upon proof |
100 € |
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Individual professional |
Analyst, journalist, executive |
200 € |
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Company / institution |
In-house or dedicated places |
Upon quote |
Rates can be adjusted according to the session language (FR / EN), the number of places, and an in-house module. An in-house session retains the same foundation and personalizes the cases (country, corridor, sector).
Practical organization
▸ Video · 4 sessions of 3 hours, one per week.
▸ Groups of 25 to ensure exercises and presentations.
▸ Estimated personal work: 1 to 2 hours between each session.
▸ Required tools: browser, email account spreadsheet (Google Sheets or Excel), access to Google and X.
Why ESPA Advisory
The training is designed by a consulting firm in economic soft power and geopolitical intelligence, focused on West Africa. The tools taught (distribution formats, recipient matrices, WACRI – firm index) are those used for clients. The cases are contemporary: ECOWAS / AES, insecurity in the Sahel, corridors, economic sovereignty/nationalism, disinformation, intra-regime shocks.
The training is led by the CEO of ESPA Advisory: Dr. Alioune Aboutalib LÔ, PhD in international relations.
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Contact and registrations ESPA Advisory — Economic Soft Power Advisory Email: [contact@espadvisory.org] · Note: ESPA training - Monitoring. Whatsapp: +905538397173 |
