The
National emergency telecommunication plan (NETP): Model framework for West Africa represents an important step for West African countries in advancing resilience to use technologies to save lives. Based on the
Global Guidelines for NETPs and developed as a general framework, the model provides countries with a practical step-by-step process to develop and tailor their own NETPs according to their specific national priorities, contexts, and levels of development.
By providing a structured and scalable approach, the NETP model contributes to strengthening preparedness, coordination, and resilience across West Africa.
The framework is intended to support sixteen countries across the region:
Benin
| Ghana
| Liberia
|
Nigeria |
Burkina Faso
| Guinea
| Mali
| Senegal
|
Cape Verde
| Guinea-Bissau
| Mauritania
| Sierra Leone
|
Gambia
| Ivory Coast
| Niger
| Togo
|
One of the key strengths of the model is its flexibility. Rather than applying a one-size-fits-all approach, the framework allows countries to customize the template based on their individual needs, institutional capacities, and linguistic contexts. This is particularly important in West Africa, where countries have diverse governance structures, varying levels of digital readiness, and different official languages.
The model emphasizes the critical role of resilient and reliable communications in saving lives and maintaining coordination during emergencies and calls for strong governance frameworks, supported by legislation, policies, and clearly defined institutional roles. This is to ensure effective coordination among government authorities, telecom/ICT operators, emergency responders, and communities at risk.
This model complements the
2024 NETP model developed for Southern African Development Community (SADC) countries, which is already in regional implementation, and reflects the International Telecommunication Union's broader strategy to build disaster resilience across the African continent through practical and country-led telecommunications planning.