The West African Law Institute ("WALI") is a legal think tank, based in The Gambia, which is committed to the advancement of the legal profession in the West African region. The West African Law Institute (“WALI”) is a legal think tank founded on the premise that West African countries have much to gain from enhanced legal capacity. Through targeted and comprehensive programming, WALI hopes to com
bat the legal setbacks many West African countries are facing, including lack of legal resources and a growing exodus of skilled legal professionals. The Institute will do so by adding support to West African legal professionals, providing greater access to justice to West African citizens, and strengthening the legal capacity of West African government institutions. WALI believes in working directly with local communities in order to identify areas of greatest need, to design projects which meet such needs and to cater to the skills and understandings of the local population, with the understanding that law is the greatest tool for empowering individuals. Additionally, WALI seeks to harness the talent of West African legal professionals to carry out its projects, seeking their input and participation whenever possible. As part of this, WALI will also organize and carry out programs which strengthen the legal environment within the region so as to encourage and support the return of legal professionals who have fled the region in search of better opportunities. Ultimately, WALI seeks to become a local think tank, run by West Africans, for West Africans; the overall and specific objectives set forth below provide concrete examples as to how WALI intends to do so.
