Regional training in Benin strengthens chemical risk management capacities in the African Atlantic Façade Region

The African Atlantic Façade Regional Secretariat of the EU CBRN Risk Mitigation Centres of Excellence Initiative successfully organised a sub-regional training focused on operational chemical risk management. Held in Cotonou, Benin, from 23 to 27 February 2026, the training brought together a number of first responders from Benin, Cameroon, Gabon, and Sierra Leone.

To ensure the sustainability of the activity, the training was structured in two complementary phases. 

Participants first completed a distance learning module featuring self-paced e-learning sessions, including both interim and final evaluations, designed to provide a solid theoretical foundation and a shared understanding of chemical risk management principles.

This was followed by a technical, hands-on training session in Cotonou, delivered in close collaboration with the Agence Béninoise de Protection Civile (ABPC). The practical phase focused on operational skills related to prevention, detection, response, and decision-making during chemical incidents, with exercises and real-time scenarios involving hazardous substances.

The skills gained during the training represent an important contribution to strengthening public safety and institutional resilience across the region.

The training forms part of the AAF Regional Secretariat’s broader strategy to support partner countries in enhancing their capacities in chemical risk management.

Originally launched in 2020, the activity aimed to involve all ten partner countries in a regional training. However, due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the programme had to be scaled down to four countries: Morocco (which led the training), Côte d’Ivoire, Mauritania, and Senegal. The Regional Secretariat is therefore proud to have extended this activity to Benin, Cameroon, Gabon, and Sierra Leone, further strengthening regional cooperation and promoting the harmonisation of operational tools and practices for chemical risk management.

The programme also reflects the region’s growing focus on chemical risk management. 

This is illustrated by the ten partner countries’ request for support from the EU CBRN CoE Initiative to implement five consecutive regional projects - P41, P69, P70, P71, and P95 - dedicated specifically to chemical risks. 

Together, these projects formed a ten-year cycle of regional capacity-building (2015–2025), strengthening the region’s ability to address and manage chemical and broader CBRN challenges. 

Beyond its technical dimension, this joint effort also contributed to expanding the strong regional network of CBRN professionals that has been developing for the past 15 years across the African Atlantic Façade region.

The success of this activity was largely due to the commitment and support of the On-Site Assistance Technical Expert, Mr. Jaouad Anter Rahmoun, the National CBRN Focal Point of Benin, Mr. Constant Dazan, and the Contrôleur Général de Police, Director General of the Beninese Agency for Civil Protection. Their dedication was instrumental in ensuring the successful delivery of the training.

The completion of this training marks an important milestone in strengthening the capacities of the AAF Partner Countries and reaffirms collective responsibility to protect communities against CBRN threats and risks.

The African Atlantic Façade CBRN Regional Secretariat congratulates all participants for their engagement and reiterates its commitment to promoting initiatives that contribute to security and sustainable development across the region.

More about the AAF Regional Secretariat

The Regional Office plays a major role in helping to achieve the objectives of the EU CBRN Risk Mitigation Centres of Excellence Initiative by ensuring close cooperation and coordination with the ten Partner Countries in the region. The Regional Office also provides support by engaging regional and international technical partners, potential donors and other stakeholders in the field of CBRN risk mitigation. It contributes to local ownership and, thus, to greater sustainability of the EU CBRN Risk Mitigation Centres of Excellence network.

Visit the AAF Regional Secretariat page