West Africa Think Tank (WATHI)

What West Africa Think Tank (WATHI) does

West Africa Think Tank (WATHI) is an independent, non-profit citizen think tank founded in 2014 and headquartered in Dakar, Senegal. The organization functions as a permanent framework for knowledge production and exchange focused on West Africa, covering the 15 ECOWAS member states plus Mauritania, Cameroon, and Chad. Its stated mission is to consolidate West African states, institutions, and societies through collective thinking on governance, security, education, health, culture, economy, environment, and digital transformation. The name "waati" derives from the Bamanakan language of Mali, meaning "time."

WATHI operates a WordPress-based digital platform (www.wathi.org) that hosts a portfolio of structured content products: quarterly themed debates ("Le Débat"), research notes ("Wathinotes"), opinion pieces ("Tribune"), cross-continental perspectives ("Grand Large"), intergenerational interviews ("Passerelle"), curated external analysis ("Le choix de WATHI"), election-monitoring initiatives, the "Les Voix de WATHI" podcast, and a webinar series. Content is distributed in French across the website, YouTube, Facebook, Twitter/X, LinkedIn, and Instagram, and is offered free of charge. The publication archive spans 75+ pages, reflecting a decade of accumulated output.

The organization is structured as an association governed by members and supported by permanent staff and associated research fellows. It sustains operations through public donations ("Faire un don") and does not sell products or services. Its audience is broadly segmented across citizens, policy makers, researchers, media professionals, and international development practitioners across West Africa and the diaspora.

Name

West Africa Think Tank (WATHI)

Legal name

WATHI

Website

https://wathi.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

2014

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

WATHI is a Senegal-based, non-profit citizen think tank founded in 2014 that produces and disseminates free research on governance, security, education, and regional integration across West Africa through articles, podcasts, webinars, and election monitoring initiatives.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Think Tank Services

NAICS

Research and Development in the Social Sciences and Humanities (54172), Research and Development in the Social Sciences and Humanities (541720), Human Rights Organizations (813311), Web Search Portals, Libraries, Archives, and Other Information Services (5192)

SIC

International Affairs (9721)

akta.pro primary industry

Monitoring, Evaluation, Research & Learning (MERL) for Global Health (BPADAIAO)

Keywords

• Policy research
• Think tank services
• West African affairs
• Democratic governance
• Civic engagement

Headquarters

HQ city

Dakar, Dakar

HQ country

Senegal

HQ region

Africa

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels10 records

Core offering

WATHI is an independent, non-profit citizen think tank that produces and disseminates research, analysis, and editorial content on West African political, economic, and social issues. It publishes policy briefs, long-form analyses, opinion pieces, podcasts, and webinars, and organizes public debates and initiatives aimed at fostering democratic governance, civic participation, and regional integration across the ECOWAS area, Mauritania, Cameroon, and Chad. All content is distributed free of charge to citizens, civil society actors, policy makers, researchers, media, and international organizations.

Product overview

WATHI is a citizen think tank for West Africa offering a unified platform for research and public debate. The organization provides multiple content formats including Publications/Wathinotes (analytical research documents), Le débat (quarterly themed debates), Initiatives (election and thematic coverage), Tribune (opinion and analysis), Grand large (Africa and world perspectives), Passerelle (intergenerational interviews), Le choix de WATHI (curated external analysis), Les Voix de WATHI podcasts, and Webinars. These products work together to serve as a knowledge-sharing platform and center for disseminating information on West African political, economic, social, and cultural affairs.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Les Voix de WATHI: Podcast series featuring discussions on West African affairs
• Wathinotes systèmes éducatifs

Products and services

• Wathinotes Short policy briefs and analytical notes summarizing key issues on West African political, economic, and social topics. Distributed free of charge to citizens, civil society, policy makers, and researchers via the WATHI website.
• Le débat (The Debate) Structured public debates and fora presenting contrasting perspectives on contemporary West African issues. Aimed at citizens, civil society, and policy stakeholders seeking exposure to multiple viewpoints on regional policy questions.
• Initiatives Targeted programs and projects addressing specific civic and policy challenges in West Africa, including democratic governance, civic participation, and regional integration themes. Designed for civil society partners, policy makers, and engaged citizens.
• Tribune Editorial opinion section publishing commentary and point-of-view pieces on West African public affairs. Targets citizens, civil society actors, journalists, and policy professionals interested in expert and stakeholder opinion.
• Grand Large Long-form, in-depth research and analytical publications on West African policy issues. Aimed at policy makers, researchers, academics, and informed citizens seeking detailed regional analysis.
• Passerelle Series addressing cross-border, comparative, and bridge-building topics across West African countries, often with a regional integration focus. Targets civil society, policy makers, and researchers working on cross-border issues.
• Le choix de WATHI (WATHI's Choice) Curated editorial selections and recommendations from WATHI's published content, highlighting pieces WATHI considers most relevant or significant. Targeted at citizens, journalists, and policy followers.
• Les Voix de WATHI (WATHI's Voices) Audio podcast featuring interviews, discussions, and expert commentary on West African policy, governance, and civic issues. Distributed via podcast platforms and intended for citizens, journalists, researchers, and policy professionals.
• Webinaires (Webinars) Online seminars and virtual events covering West African policy and governance topics, featuring expert speakers and interactive discussion. Aimed at citizens, civil society, policy makers, researchers, and media.

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Scale indicators3 records

Broad incumbents

• International Crisis Group: Global conflict prevention think tank with substantial West Africa coverage on Sahel security, elections, and coups. Comparable policy research output and election-monitoring activities, but operates globally with deeper institutional funding.
• Brookings Institution (Africa Growth Initiative): US-based global think tank with a dedicated Africa program conducting economic and governance research. Comparable research-driven policy analysis on African affairs, though anchored in Washington rather than the continent.
• Chatham House (Africa Programme): UK-based international affairs institute with a dedicated Africa Programme covering governance, security, and political economy. Comparable as a globally-funded think tank producing high-quality Africa policy research.

Others

• Mo Ibrahim Foundation: Africa-focused foundation promoting governance and leadership through research, indices, and prizes. Comparable in producing pan-African governance research and convening stakeholders, though with a much larger endowment.
• Institut de Relations Internationales et Stratégiques (IRIS): France-based strategic research institute and WATHI's documented partner. Comparable as a francophone policy research organization; relevant because of the existing partnership and overlapping methodology.

Direct peers

• Centre for Democracy and Development (CDD): West Africa-focused think tank headquartered in Abuja/London that conducts research and advocacy on democracy, governance, and security. Directly comparable in mission, regional focus, and citizen-oriented research output to WATHI.
• Afrobarometer: Pan-African research network producing survey-based public opinion data on governance, democracy, and economic conditions across more than 30 African countries. Comparable as a regional research and knowledge platform targeting similar audiences.
• Institute for Security Studies (ISS) Africa: Pan-African policy research organization with strong West Africa programming on peace, security, and governance. Comparable to WATHI in research-driven policy analysis across the region, though larger and better resourced.

Regional players

• Konrad Adenauer Stiftung (West Africa office): German political foundation with a West Africa regional office conducting rule-of-law, democracy, and political education programming. Comparable regional civic engagement and policy dialogue activities funded by an external European institution.
• Friedrich-Ebert-Stiftung (West Africa office): German political foundation with regional offices across West Africa conducting research, dialogue, and civic education on democracy and labor. Comparable regional civic engagement model with similar donor-supported programmatic footprint.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xtwitter.com/wathi_org
• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UC_163naLud7rT2LJgVbeIKA/videos
• Facebookfacebook.com/wathi.org
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/west-africa-think-tank-wathi
• Instagraminstagram.com/wathi_org

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about West Africa Think Tank (WATHI)