On 25 February 2013, ECOWAS and UNODC jointly released a Transnational Organized Crime Threat Assessment (TOCTA) for West Africa which underscores the need to address methamphetamine production and trafficking in cocaine, heroin, cannabis, firearms and fraudulent medicine.

The purpose of this regional workshop on investigative journalism is to:

1. Raise awareness among journalists from the region about the disastrous impacts of corruption and illicit trafficking on human development and human security;
2. Share knowledge and experience among the participants about investigative techniques to uncover corruption and/or illicit trafficking;
3. Consider options for collaborative networks among investigative journalists from West-Africa, Latin-America and Europe.

The following participants will be invited to the workshop:

1. Renowned journalists from West-Africa, with a focus on the Sahel region;
2. Investigative journalists from Latin-America and Europe;
3. UNODC staff specialised in research, anti-corruption and illicit trafficking.

The workshop is organised by the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) in partnership with the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO), Panos Institute West Africa, the African Network of Centers for Investigative Reporting (ANCIR) and the Organized Crime and Corruption Reporting Project (OCCRP).