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CEWARN and NSC of Kenya co-jointly launch the CEWARN Compendium in Nairobi

On the 8 th August 2023, CEWARN co-hosted with the National Steering Committee on Peacebuilding and Conflict Management (NSC) of Kenya, a national dissemination event of CEWARN’s latest book ‘Conflict Early Warning in the Horn:
CEWARN’s Journey’ in Nairobi. The book launch event brought together up to 60 participants of national and international organizations engaged in peace, security and development work in Kenya.

Insightful discussions on strengthening national peace structures in Kenya were held and some reflections on ongoing conflict prevention and peace building efforts were made. Some of the reflections made during the interactive session, included the need to prioritize conflict prevention through adequate and financial investments; strengthening national ownership, building synergies as well as an inclusive society approach in tackling human security challenges. The event took place at Radisson Blu Upper hill in Nairobi, a breakfast launch event which ended with a special toast.

The Book Launch event was conducted with financial support from the European Union through the Austrian Development Agency (ADA) under the IPPSHAR Program.

The CEWARN Committee of Permanent Secretaries meets in Mombasa to acknowledge and appraise early warning and response work in Member States.

The 17 th Meeting of CEWARN Committee of Permanent Secretaries convened on 28 th July, 2023 in Mombasa, Kenya to acknowledge and appraise the mechanism work in IGAD region. The meeting was preceded by the Technical Committee
meeting on Early Warning comprising national conflict early warning and response units (CEWERUs), IGAD Focal Persons of Ministries of Foreign Affairs as well as civil society organizations representatives from Djibouti, Ethiopia, Kenya, Somalia,
South Sudan and Uganda, who discussed and deliberated on early warning and response initiatives in Member States.

The CPS meeting was officiated by Dr. Korir Singoei Principal Secretary, State Department for Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Kenya, and Dr Fatuma Aden, the IGAD Head of Mission to Kenya representing the IGAD Executive Secretary. Mr Camlus Omogo, CEWARN Director welcomed Permanent Secretaries in his remarks and called for continued support from member states in positioning CEWARN’s National Conflict Early Warning and Response Units more strongly with adequate resources, decision-making capability and convening power to initiate early action. Followed by the IGAD Head of Mission to the Republic of Kenya, Dr Fatuma Aden spoke on behalf of the IGAD Executive Secretary, in her statement, appreciated member states’ commitment to the cause of IGAD and tirelessly supporting its work in addressing the region’s shared human security challenges. During the opening session, Dr Korir Singoei, Principal Secretary, State Department for Foreign Affairs of Kenya, also made remarks commending CEWARN’s focus on local-level conflict early warning and peace building, and the empowerment of local communities to be vanguards of their own security. He also further reiterated Kenya’s continued support for the operations of the mechanism.

During the meeting, CEWARN Unit provided sixty tablets and twenty four laptops to National CEWERUs and field reporters to facilitate their data collection, analysis and reporting by using upgraded tools. Equipments were purchased with the support of the European Union through the IPPSHAR Program.

In conclusion, after fruitful discussions, the Assembly adopted 16 decisions that will guide CEWARN mechanism’s operations for 2023-2024.

CEWARN hosts a learning forum on community-based conflict mitigation interventions

CEWARN held a learning forum to appraise and draw lessons from Phase II of the Rapid Response Fund (RRF) which supports conflict mitigation projects across IGAD member states from 11-13 July in Nairobi. The forum drew together national Conflict Early Warning and Response Units (CEWERUs), local implementation agencies and their financial administrative units.

A total of 40 projects that are a mix of emergency and regular projects worth about one million Euro have been completed in Djibouti, Ethiopia, Kenya, Somalia, South Sudan, and Uganda. The European Union is a principal partner of CEWARN on the Rapid Response Fund.

The meeting was officiated by CEWARN Director Mr. Camlus Omogo; IGAD’s Peace and Security Division Director Hon. Siraj Fegessa;  Head of Nat’ Conflict Early Warning and Response Unit (CEWERU) of Kenya Mr. Jacob N. Narengo as well as Head of Policy and Cooperation at the European Union Mission to the African Union Mr. Thomas Huyghebaert.

The Rapid Response Fund was set up in 2009 to support diverse type actions including urgent interventions to de-scalate persistent inter-communal conflicts and provide critical capacity building support to national structures. The RRF has been credited with providing direct support to local communities impacted by conflict. It has also contributed to fostering collaboration between governments and community-based organizations that command contextual understanding of crises and amplify local voices.

The European Union’s support to the RRF is part of the IGAD Promoting Peace and Stability in the Horn of Africa Region (IPPSHAR), a collaborative funding arrangement between the EU and IGAD for the period between 2018 – 2023 to support various IGAD peace and security programmes.The European Union’s support to the RRF is part of 28million Euro funding arrangements through IPPSHAR.

The forum utilized methods to undertake an appreciative inquiry of Rapid Response Fund’s phase II interventions in order to reflect on successes, challenges and lessons from local conflict mitigation projects implemented via RRF in IGAD Member States.

A number of recommendations were drawn on enhancing efficacy and sustainability of community-based peace initiatives supported by the fund.

CEWARN convenes technical committee on early warning to appraise emerging security concerns and ongoing peace building initiatives

CEWARN concluded a meeting of its technical committee on early warning that brought together heads of national Conflict Early Warning and Response units (CEWERUs) and civil society organisations from Djibouti, Ethiopia, Kenya, Somalia, South Sudan and Uganda. The meeting was held on 29 – 31 May in Mombasa, Kenya.

The meeting’s main aim was to prepare for the annual convening of the CEWARN’s senior Policy organ meeting, also referred to as the Committee of Permanent Secretaries (CPS) that comprises deputy Ministers of Foreign Affairs of IGAD Member States that regularly appraise the mechanism’s operations.

The technical committee received reports on ongoing conflict prevention activities of the national conflict early warning and response Units. One of the key items on the committee’s agenda was exploring ways of sustaining the mechanisms of civil society-based data collection networks as well as mechanisms to ensure data quality that informs early warning analysis.

The meeting also reviewed CEWARN&’s analytic products including the 2023 conflict profiling & scenario building report that reflects emerging peace and security challenges in the region as well as a Conflict Atlas that presents geographic analysis of violent incidents.

Other deliberations included progress of work in implementation of the projects supported by the CEWARN Rapid Response Fund (RRF) as well as initiatives related to research, outreach and communications initiatives.

The Committee of permanent secretaries is scheduled to convene in June 2023.

CEWARN holds regional workshop to identify emerging threats to human security in IGAD region

CEWARN convened a four-day regional conflict profiling and scenario building workshop in Entebbe Uganda from 17- 19 May 2023. The main aim of the workshop was to appraise current human security conditions across the IGAD region, identify trends and build scenarios with corresponding response recommendations.

Present at the workshop were representatives of national Conflict Early Warning and Response Units (CEWERUs) from the seven IGAD member states as well as CEWARN’s national research institutes and regional human security experts.

The workshop’s opening was officiated by the Head of Regional Peace and security at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Uganda Amb. Julius Kivuna, IGAD Head of Mission to the Republic of Uganda Mrs. Lucy Daxbacher, CEWARN Director Mr. Camlus Omogo and Head of the national Conflict Early Warning and Response Unit in the Republic of Uganda Commissioner Florence Kirabira.  

The workshop participants initially deliberated to identify key issues emerging along the five key sectors of human security namely, Economy, governance, security, social affairs and environment  in each member state. Subsequently, the participants identified common trends that pointed to emerging issues-to-watch as threats to human security in the IGAD region.

Priority regional emerging trends that were identified include political uncertainty faced by member states due to complex transitions; a myriad of economic and security challenges; humanitarian crises due to extreme weather events; as well as issues related to land and natural resources management.

Workshop participants also deliberated on how the effectiveness of available regional crisis response options can be enhanced.

CEWARN launched its book on regional conflict early warning work in Djibouti

IGAD Executive Secretary, Dr Workneh Gebeyehu hosted a launch event of CEWARN latest book titled “Conflict Early Warning in the Horn: CEWARN’s Journey” with the presence of the Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation of Djibouti, H.E Mahmoud Ali Youssouf on 16th March 2023 in Djibouti city, Republic of Djibouti.

The National Book Launch event gathered Permanent Representatives of IGAD Member States to Djibouti as well as senior representatives of Djibouti Government and international partners of IGAD based in Djibouti such as the European Union Delegation and UN development programme agencies.

In his statement, the IGAD Executive Secretary highlighted that “we do not treat this book as a historical record to be consigned to the archives, but rather look at it as a map that charts where we have been and further points the direction to where we want to go”.

The event took place from 11am to 2pm at the Sheraton Hotel and has started with an official opening session, followed by a reflection

session where CEWARN team presented on its conflict early warning work as well as key messages from the book and symbolic reading of a short excerpt of the section on “Managing cross-border conflicts in Djibouti” and has concluded with a lunch.

The release of the book was opportune as emphasis on conflict prevention as the most strategic response to the threat of violent conflicts and human security crises in the IGAD region and globally.

In Djibouti, CEWARN’s national Conflict Early Waring and Response Unit (CEWERU) is coordinated through the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation. The national CEWERU’s Steering Committee draws together all key governmental and non-governmental institutions working in peace and development in Djibouti. The CEWERU also has sub-national structures that extend from districts levels to locality levels.

The launch was organized with financial support from the European Union Trust Fund (EUTF) through the Austrian Development Agency (ADA) under the IPPSHAR Program.

CEWARN convenes a review meeting of its 2021-2025 Strategy

CEWARN convened a review meeting of its 2021-2025 Strategy document on 2-3 November in Adama town, Ethiopia. The strategy and its accompanying implementation plan is aimed at positioning CEWARN as a mechanism adaptable to fast evolving and highly complex human security challenges in the IGAD region. 

The meeting was attended by  heads of national Conflict Early Warning and Response Units (CEWERUs);representatives of CEWARN partners and civil society organisations.  

In his opening remarks at the meeting, CEWARN Director Mr. Camlus Omogo stated that  the CEWARN 2021-2025 strategy and its implementation plan is mainly intended to strengthen the IGAD region’s conflict early warning and response capacity as well as capacity of national structures to respond to violent conflicts and crises. 

The IGAD peace and security Division Director Hon. Siraj Fegessa on this part said the CEWARN 2021-2025 amplifies aspects of the IGAD peace and security strategy pertaining to boosting conflict early warning and conflict prevention capabilities.   

The CEWARN  2021-2025 strategy framework and its implementation plan focuses on four areas:  

  • Dissemination and utilisation of high-quality early warning analysis bymember state decision makers;  
  • Strengthening national & regional conflict early warning operationalcapacities; 
  • Strengthening regional/ national conflict early response systems andstructures; as well as  
  • Strengthening CEWARN research capabilities and knowledge management.  

During the meeting,  heads of nat’l conflict early warning and response Units (CEWERUs)andrepresentatives of partners & CSOs also reviewed a results framework and anM&E matrix for the CEWARN strategy implementation plan 2021-2025. 

CEWARN holds dissemination events of the CEWARN compendium at University of Denver, African Studies association’s annual meeting

CEWARN Public Relations and Communications Officer Ms. Tigist Hailu represented CEWARN at a seminar with faculty and students of the Josef Korbel School of International Studies in the University of Denver on 9 November 2022. The event was organised at the invitation of the Africa Center of the Josef Korbel School of International Studies that has a strong interest in African International Relations and preventive diplomacy efforts. 

The Seminar’s key theme was CEWARN’s latest book, titled: “Conflict Early Warning in the Horn: CEWARN’s journey.” Ms. Hailu presented reflections and key lessons from the book that comprehensively documents IGAD’s work in conflict prevention through data-based early warning and preventive diplomacy in the greater horn of Africa region.  

 

Ms. Hailu also held a session with a graduating class on IGAD’s efforts in promoting peace and security as well as its collaboration with the African Union’s relevant organs as well as those of the United Nations in conflict prevention. 

 

She also met and deliberated on areas for continued collaboration with the Dean of the Josef Korbel School of International Studies Dr. Frederick Mayer. In addition, she held similar discussions on a collaboration arrangement with the Africa Centre Director Ms. Abigael Kabandula. The areas identified for collaboration are joint research; internship/research fellowship programmes for post-graduate students conducting research on peace and security matters of concern to the IGAD region as well as the staging of learning events on regional peace and security themes.  

 

In addition, CEWARN Director Mr. Camlus Omogo and CEWARN Public Relations and Communications officer attended the 65th African Studies Association’s annual meeting from 17- 19 November in Philadelphia, USA. The event is the largest global gathering of scholars and practitioners researching and/or working on African issues. 

 

CEWARN was invited to convene a roundtable session on 17 November. Mr. Omogo hosted the session and presented the mechanism’s conflict early warning and Peace building work as well as its latest book, “Conflict Early Warning in the Horn: CEWARN’s Journey”.  

 

He also facilitated a discussion around pertinent issues including on measuring the efficacy of early warning systems; engagement with decision-makers; adaptability of conflict early warning to the increasing complexity of crises as well as strengthening response capacities of national and sub-national institutions. 

 

The roundtable drew together a mix of researchers and international relations students;peace and security practitioners as well as diplomats with an interest in peace nad security issues in Africa and the IGAD region.  

 

The two engagements were planned as part of CEWARN’s dissemination and engagement plans around its latest book that contains lessons from the mechanism journey that are applicable to conflict prevention efforts in other regions.  

 

The mission had increased the visibility of IGAD’s work in conflict prevention and more broadly on peace and security promotion. It has also expanded CEWARN’s networks of engagement and enabled connections with potential strategic partners including various US academic institutions and peace advocacy organisations. 

CEWARN commissions 17 conflict mitigation projects through the Rapid Response Fund

IGAD’s Conflict Early Warning and Response Mechanism (CEWARN) hosted its second bi-annual Rapid Response Fund Steering Committee Meeting in Adama town in Ethiopia on 31 October 2022. The meeting brought together heads of national Conflict Early Warning and Response Units (CEWERUs), civil society organizations and development partners.

The main agenda of the 12th RRF Steering Committee Meeting  was to review the status of on-going rapid response projects implemented by civil society organizations in Djibouti, Ethiopia, Kenya, Somalia, South Sudan and Uganda. In addition, national CEWERU heads presented status report of on-going projects to the meeting, highlighting challenges and lessons learnt in their respective member states.

Subsequently, the Rapid Response Fund (RRF) Steering Committee approved a second set of 17 regular project proposals worth Euro 563,000 from across all Member States. The areas of focus of the response projects that will receive RRF funding includes peacebuilding, mediation, strengthening existing peace structures, women and youth inclusion in peace processes as well as facilitation of equitable resource sharing. These projects are expected to end by March 2023.

The Steering committee stressed on the importance of visibility of response projects and recommended that implementing agencies utilize all available communications channels to ensure better visibility of projects. Joint field visits to project sites organized by the  CEWARN Unit, national CEWERUs as well as development partners are planned for mid-November and December 2022.

The RRF is a basket fund established to support conflict prevention, management and resolution (CPMR) efforts in Member States as well as to support response capacity of government and non-government structures at national and sub-national levels.

The principal CEWARN partners that contribute to the Rapid Response Fund (RRF) are Austrian Development Agency (ADA), the governments of Netherlands and Sweden as well as the European Union through the IGAD Promoting Peace and Stability in the Horn of Africa Region (IPPSHAR) program.

CEWARN Joins UN Ethiopia to celebrate International Day of Peace

CEWARN Director Mr. Camlus Omogo took part in a seminar convened by the Office of the UN Resident and Humanitarian Coordinator in Ethiopia Dr. Catherine Sozi, on the occasion of the International Day of Peace on 21 September 2022.

The event that brought together Heads of UN agencies in Ethiopia, representatives of civil society organisations, youth and women networks and other stakeholders was held under the theme, “promoting the culture of peace.”

The seminar opened with remarks by the UN Resident & Humanitarian Coordinator, Dr Catherine Sozi, the UNESCO Representative in Addis Ababa Dr. Rita Bissoonauth and the video message of the United Nations Secretary General, H.E António Guterres for the International Day of Peace. The opening session was followed by ‘peace songs’ and a video on “students’ perspective on peace.

CEWARN Director, Mr Camlus Omogo who was part of a panel that followed the official opening spoke on IGAD’s contributions to regional peace building and promoting the culture of peace. In his presentation, he highlighted the need for joining efforts and strengthening partnerships to better address the multifaceted and interlinked threats that the region is facing.

The Panel discussion session covered topics such as the role of education and youth in peace building, promoting digital media in countering hate speech and misinformation, as well as women participation and regional perspectives in building the culture of peace.

The seminar has ended with some key notes and recommendations on promoting the culture of peace at policy and community levels; digital media literacy to avoid hate speech, increase women involvement in peace initiatives, promoting the culture of volunteerism to break barriers, and promote education on peace in learning curriculums.

On the margin of the seminar, CEWARN Director had the opportunity to present the Book on CEWARN two decades of the mechanism’s operations titled “Conflict early warning in the horn: CEWARN’s journey” to Dr Catherine Sozi who appreciated the accomplishment of CEWARN and assured the support of her office to the regional mechanism.

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