From November 3 to 7, 2025, communications managers from the ten countries in the INADES-Formation network met in Abidjan for an intensive training and strategic reflection workshop. A week punctuated by technical modules, the introduction of new digital tools, and exchanges designed to prepare the major communications orientations planned for 2026.
Any organization that wants to have a lasting impact on its environment and drive change must develop effective communications. The INADES-Formation network, with its 10 national associations, has understood this and is committed to a policy of strengthening its ability to communicate around its strategic objectives and ideals.
It was against this backdrop that the INADES-Formation general secretariat organized a workshop from November 03 to 07, 2025 in Abidjan, Côte d’Ivoire, to reflect on and train the network’s communications managers.
The workshop, which brought together 13 communication officers from national offices and the general secretariat, not only strengthened the capacities of communication officers, but also assessed the implementation of the network communication strategy and drew up the communication plan for 2026.
In his opening address, General Secretary ADESSOU Kwaku Sena emphasized the importance of this dynamic: “This workshop must be structuring for the work we will continue in our countries. I remain convinced that at the end of this training, you will have the rudiments necessary to do better and help the national offices.”
He reiterated the need for the General Secretariat and National Offices to coordinate and steer communications throughout the network, in order to guarantee a consistent, strong brand image.
Training modules to modernize practices
The week was marked by a series of technical training courses designed to further professionalize the network’s communications pool. In particular, participants acquired new skills in :
Visual production
- Photo and video shooting, to improve the quality of content produced in-country.
- Video editing with Adobe Premiere Pro, to structure and enhance the network’s audiovisual productions.
Graphic design and digital content
- Use Canva to create corporate visuals and media quickly and seamlessly.
- Harmonized animation of social networks, with a first draft of an animation charter to guide national offices in their online practices.
Artificial intelligence
- Training on AI and its applications, particularly in content creation and process optimization.
- Video generation with AI, a much-anticipated module that enabled communicators to discover new production tools and make videos as practical exercises.
For many participants, these lessons have changed their perception of digital communication.
This is the case of Marguerite Mohama, Communications Manager at INADES-Formation Cameroun, who confides: “I had a poor perception of AI. The training showed me that it now has its place in our work. I’m leaving better equipped to improve the image of our institution.
Strategic thinking to strengthen the network’s coherence
In addition to technical training, the workshop provided a forum for collective reflection on major projects:
- Graphic charter reviewed to ensure compliance and harmonize productions
Participants revisited the network’s Graphic Charter, setting out the rules for the use of colors, logos, typography and media. The aim: to ensure a consistent brand image across the ten countries, and to reduce the discrepancies in application observed in local communications. Suggestions were made by participants to improve its implementation.
- The operationalization of the INADES-Formation Web TV, scheduled for March 2026, which should enhance the network’s visibility through consistent and regular audiovisual productions. It is generally agreed that a number of challenges still need to be overcome if this initiative is to be a success.
- The network’s communication plan for 2026, which should capitalize on newly acquired skills to reinforce the impact and harmonization of actions in the ten countries. The various joint actions have been planned, and each country has implemented its own plan.
For Patrice Da, communications manager at INADES-Formation Burkina, the meeting was an opportunity to kill two birds with one stone, namely to work on the communications strategy and at the same time benefit from capacity building. It also enabled the communication managers to get to know each other and exchange ideas face-to-face.
A better-equipped network for 2026
Thanks to this workshop, communicators leave with a strengthened set of skills and a shared understanding of future priorities. By 2026, INADES-Formation hopes to have a modernized, technically-equipped communications pool capable of supporting future digital and institutional transformations.
Communication Department – General Secretariat
