At the heart of the functionality of the CEWARN Mechanism is data collection, analysis and the timely dissemination of information and knowledge to the right people and institutions.
The network of actors driven by a secretariat based in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, was from the beginning forged to join government and civil society, at a time when security had mostly been the exclusive preserve of states. In addition, its fractal structure, joining regional, national and local dimensions in data collection, analysis and decision making has made it a significant milestone in the regional and continental efforts to build peace and security.