21 August 2008
Addis Abeba — A regional forum on the development of response framework and the establishment and operationalization of Rapid Response Fund (RRF) for the Conflict Early Warning and Response (CEWARN) Mechanism in the IGAD region is being held here at the Panorama hotel.
The aim of the three day regional forum which started on Tuesday was to contribute to the development of a Response Framework and the establishment of the RRF for the CEWARN Mechanism said Ambassador Abdelrahim Khalil, Director of the conflict early warning and response unit of IGAD (CEWARN Unit/IGAD) on his opening remarks.
The director added that the forum was gathered to receive draft reports and papers on the development of a response frame work and the establishment, operationalization of RRF for the CEWARN mechanism "which is part and parcel of the implementation of the CEWARN Strategy for the years 2007-2011".
The CEWARN Strategy 2007-2011 articulated how CEWARN intends to play its role to ensure it provides an effective, sustainable sub-regional mechanism to prevent cross-border pastoral conflicts, facilitate the peaceful settlement of disputes and violent conflicts in the region.
It also aimed at overcoming the challenges identified in the initial stages of implementation of the CEWARN Mechanism which included strengthening the response side of the mechanism. In addition to that it discusses, inter alia, plans to strengthen and institutionalize CEWARN's response initiatives in conjunction with their respective national and local networks.
The mandate of CEWARN is to receive and share information concerning particularly violent conflicts, their outbreak and escalation in the IGAD region, analyzing the information and formulating feasible options for response.
This mandate remains critical to peace and security agenda of the IGAD Member States in their pursuit of a regional social-economic development strategy, the office said. The CEWARN Mechanism has been established in 2003.
According to available information, since the establishment the mechanism has provided early warning tool for member states on cross-border pastoral and related conflicts by monitoring and providing warnings on a range of issues that may trigger and influence conflicts among communities such as environmental pressures, banditry, and proliferation of small arms.
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