CEWARN Director and Team hosted a strong team of African diplomats and Conflict Prevention, Management and Resolution (CPMR) practitioners on 6 March at the CEWARN office in Addis Ababa.

The team members are also 2019 cohorts of the reputable Executive Masters program on Managing Peace and security in Africa (MPSA) jointly run by the African Union and the Institute of Peace and Security Studies based in Addis Ababa.

The team received an orientation on CEWARN’s conflict early warning and response work in the IGAD region and held an interactive session with CEWARN team.

CEWARN Director Mr. Camlus Omogo participated at the 2019 Global Peace Leadership Conference from 26 February – 1 March in Seoul, Korea. The 2019 Global Peace Leadership Conference was convened by the Global Peace Foundation (GPF) with the theme “Korean Dream: Vision for a Unified Korea”.

The conference was emblematic of a civil-society driven initiative for a unified and nuclear free Korea with its timing deliberately aligned with the second Summit between leaders of the USA and North Korea as well as joint centennial celebration of Korea’s 1 March independence movement.

The Global Peace Foundation convenes these large conferences on various global peace and security agenda. The 2018 Global Peace Conference held on 1-3 August in Kampala focused on East and Horn of Africa with a theme “Moral and Innovative Leadership: New Models for sustainable Peace and Development”. GPF rallies multi-sector global actors in supporting peace initiatives around the world.

CEWARN Director was on a panel of experts at a session on “Preventing violent extremism: best practices and community-driven models” on 27 February. Mr. Omogo introduced CEWARN’s early warning model, its application on preventing violent extremism and IGAD’s holistic approach in addressing violent extremism.

He also introduced the work of IGAD’s various units including the IGAD Center of Excellence on Preventing and Countering Violent Extremism (ICEPVE) and the IGAD Security Sector Programme (ISSP) towards a holistic response to violent extremism including support to member state security structures.

He highlighted “emphasis on prevention”; “a human security approach”, “community and youth engagement” as well as “use of technology and social media” as key considerations behind IGAD’s programmes in preventing and countering violent extremism.

The CEWARN Director also contributed to conversations on the implications of a unified Korea for regional economic integration in the peninsula and other regions including Africa. He also reflected on IGAD’s integration agenda and progress along the priority areas, namely: Free movement of persons; infrastructure and energy connectivity; trade including informal or community-driven trade along borders as well as other initiatives like cross-border disease control for both humans and livestock and peace building initiatives.

CEWARN is seeking to partner with competent National Research Institutes (NRIs) and/or well-established Civil Society Organisation (CSOs) in IGAD Member States, to support its conflict early warning data collection and analysis work across the IGAD region.

The NRIs are expected to support CEWARN’s conflict early warning data collection function across its five sectors of focus, namely: Security, Social, Economy, Environment and Governance. In addition, the NRIs are also expected to monitor early response Initiatives as well as conduct thematic research and analysis across all identified sectors.

Refer to the Expression of Interest and Terms of Reference.

The Ethiopia-Kenya high-level cross-border peace dialogue organized by IGAD’s Conflict Early Warning and Response Mechanism (CEWARN) on 14 December 2018 in Hawassa Town, Ethiopia concluded with a joint action plan to address ongoing inter-communal violent conflict along the common border.

The dialogue focused on emerging peace, security and development concerns in the Moyale/Moyale and South Omo/Turkana corridors that cover adjoining areas of Oromia and Somali regional states of Ethiopia and Marsabit County of Kenya as well as the Southern Nations Nationalities and Peoples’ Regional State (SNNPRS) of Ethiopia and Turkana County of Kenya respectively.

Refer to press release for further details

CEWARN alongside relevant IGAD divisions, specialized units and partners will launch a pilot implementation of the IGAD policy framework on Informal Cross-border Trade (ICBT) and Cross-border Security Governance (CBSG).

The Policy framework was adopted by IGAD Member State Ministers in-charge of trade on 21 June 2018. It proposes key shifts in the conduct of informal cross-border trade in the IGAD region to promote human security and cross-border security governance. An implementation roadmap was developed at a two-day planning retreat held on 22-23 November in Bishoftu with IGAD divisions, specialized units and partners.

The meeting brought together IGAD Divisions of Agriculture and Environment, Economic cooperation and Health and Social Development. Other specialized offices and programmes represented included: IGAD Center for Pastoral and Arid Lands Development (ICPALD); IGAD Drought Disaster Resilience Initiative (IDDRSI); IGAD Security Sector Programme (ISSP) and IGAD Center of Excellence for Preventing and countering Violent Extremism (ICEPCVE).

The pilot implementation is envisaged to span three years and will have an inception phase when CEWARN and partners would embark in extensive awareness raising on the Policy framework across the region and mobilize resources for pilot implementation. During the same period, a pilot implementation sites will be identified and a pilot project design will be developed. Relevant stakeholders will also be identified and engaged.

In terms of key outcomes, the pilot implementation will focus on informal cross border trade facilitation, the establishment of additional cross-border control or crossing points, offices and service facilities at appropriate intervals of selected sites as well as tackling gender-based crimes and empowering women traders. It will also focus on trans-boundary animal disease control; promoting participation of borderland communities in policy consultations to ensure that ICBT-CBSG related decisions are enriched by community voices a well as initiating open-source data center on cross-border economic exchanges and ICBT in IGAD region.

IGAD Center of Excellence for Preventing and Countering Violent Extremism (ICEPCVE) seeks the services of qualified consultants/researchers to carry out a regional mapping and assessment on early warning/early response in connection with preventing and countering radicalization and violent extremism in the IGAD region.

The aim of the assignment is to gain an in-depth understanding of existing initiatives and mechanism for identifying and responding to threats in IGAD member states.

Please refer to Terms of Reference enclosed for further detail on the consultancy assignment and requirements for application.

Deadline of application: 10 December 2018

CEWARN in collaboration with Global Peace Foundation (GPF) and the Uganda Mission to the UN convened a UNGA73 side event on 2 October at the Uganda House in New York to report on the Kampala Peace Declaration adopted at the Global Peace Leadership Conference August 1-2, 2018 that contains strategies to advance promising peace and development models in Africa.

A key item on the meeting’s agenda was also a show case discussion on ongoing cross-border initiatives for peace and development in the Horn of Africa including cases along the Ethiopia-Kenya border and the Karamoja Cluster, which covers adjoining cross-border regions of Ethiopia, Kenya, South Sudan and Uganda. The meeting further considered a case study of a GPF-led peace building initiative in Kaduna, Nigeria.

Senior Officials and Permanent Representatives of IGAD Member States including H.E. Eugene Wamalwa, Cabinet Secretary of Devolution and Arid and Semi Arid Lands of the Republic of Kenya as well as permanent Representatives of other African nations including Nigeria and South Africa were present. The meeting was also attended by IGAD Executive Secretary Amb. Mahboub Maalim, International Vice President of the Global Peace Foundation (GPF) Mr. David Caprara as well as senior officials of the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and the United Nations Department of Political Affairs (UNDPA).

CS Wamalwa spoke on the work that the government of Kenya is doing in building and strengthening cross-border collaboration with all its neighbours especially Ethiopia. He underlined the need for regional level planning and response to peace and development concerns of borderlands. He commended IGAD for its facilitation of strong cross-border collaboration in the Karamoja cluster with the opening of the facilitation office in Moroto.

IGAD Executive Secretary also highlighed IDDRSI’s work that encapsulates IGAD’s programmatic focus in building human security and resilience in borderlands. He also emphasized the need for partnerships and synergy across sectors in cross border cooperation.

Governor Nanok of Turkana County also related his experience at the county level of building local level structures and mechanisms on managing mobility of communities and resource sharing as well as conflict resolution. He indicated that the Kenyan government does budgetary allocations to support cross border initiatives. His remarks also emphasized the need to support and sustain local initiatives and customary governance structures.

CEWARN Director also had an opportunity to present CEWARN’s work highlighting our progressive shift and expansion of thematic focus. He gave a broad overview of our model and areas of delivery including supporting decision making and response action as well as having a bottom-up emphasis and thereby our focus in strengthening existing structures at local and national levels. # 

CEWARN co-convened the East Africa Global Peace Leadership Conference (GPLC) – alongside the Government of Uganda and the Global Peace Foundation (GPF)- that was held on 1-2 August 2018 at the Munyonyo commonwealth Resort in Kampala, Uganda.

The conference held with the theme “Moral and Innovative Leadership: New Models for sustainable Peace and Development”, attracted over 1,000 global leaders and covered broad themes such as Interfaith Peace Building and Women-led Peace Initiatives, Development, Education, Entrepreneurship and Investment, Youth Productivity and Women Empowerment.

The IGAD Executive Secretary Amb(Eng.) Mahboub Maalim addressed the high-level session on 2 August alongside regional leaders including the President of the Republic of Uganda H.E. Yoweri Museveni; First Vice President of the Republic of South Sudan H.E. Taban Deng Gai as well as Minister of Devolution and Arid and Semi Arid Lands of the Republic of Kenya H.E. Eugene L. Wamalwa among others.

 In his address to the conference, Amb. Maalim commended President Museveni’s proactive leadership in regional matters and expressed IGAD’s commitment in advancing recommendation for action that emerged from the conference.

 CEWARN Director, Mr. Camlus Omogo on his part moderated the thematic session on ‘entrepreneurship and investment as a catalyst for peace and development’. Some of the recommendations that emerged from the session include: the need for businesses to foster interdependence through exports to regional markets; the need for businesses to create job opportunities for youth as well as a call on regional governments to take lead in advancing cross-border peace.

 The Conference concluded with the signing of the Kampala declaration by regional leaders. The declaration reaffirms universal principles and shared values in social cohesion and peace building; moral and innovative leadership; empowering families and youth as a primary means of instilling positive values; as well as a need to adopt a community-driven development to tackle common challenges.

Download the attached Kampala. 

Ministers in-charge of trade from IGAD Member States convened on 21 June in Mombasa and adopted a policy framework on informal cross-border trade that is aimed at improving cross-border security governance.

The policy framework proposes key shifts in the conduct of informal cross-border trade in the IGAD region to promote human security and cross-border security governance.

In his official opening remarks Cabinet Secretary for Industry, Trade and Co-operatives of the Republic of Kenya Mr. Mohamed Adan Abdulla welcomed the draft framework as it aligns strongly with regional and continental efforts in facilitating intra-Africa trade. He further emphasized the framework’s value in ensuring livelihood and security concerns of borderland communities are addressed.

Amb. Dina Mufti, Ethiopian Ambassador to Kenya who spoke on behalf of the Ethiopian minister of trade stated the importance of informal cross-border trade in IGAD borderland regions as an innovative and resourceful practice that can be leveraged for resilience, peace and prosperity of communities in these areas.

Mr. Mohammed Moussa, IGAD’s Director of Agriculture and Environment Division on his part stated that: “As frontiers of regional cooperation and integration, borderlands are central to the promotion of peace, security and development in the entire region.”

He added, despite their historically disadvantaged position and dire socio-economic and security conditions, borderlands currently possess high potential to transform into centers of robust economic activity in light of ongoing huge investments in infrastructure as well as discoveries of natural resources in these areas. He added, currently informal cross-border trade is inextricably linked to livelihoods of borderland communities.

The policy framework is a product of an extensive work done to solicit views of borderland communities and informal traders; IGAD Member State officials of customs, trade and security; civil society; academia and other relevant stakeholders on the nexus between Informal Cross-border Trade (ICBT) and Cross-border Security Governance and how ICBT can be leveraged to enhance cross-border security.

The policy framework development was also led by IGAD’s Conflict Early warning and Response Mechanism with the support of partner institutions namely – the Horn of Africa Regional Programme of the Life and Peace Institute (LPI), the Organization for Social Science Research in Eastern and Southern Africa (OSSREA) and the Inter-Africa Group (IAG). It is aligned with important gains made in formulation and harmonization of trade policies at regional and continental levels through the Common Market for East and Southern Africa (COMESA) as well as the recent milestone achievement of the African Union Commission (AUC) in gaining broad support towards the realization of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA).

In a communiqué issued at the end of the ministerial meeting that bears their signatures, the ministers expressed that they adopt the policy framework in full support of its core objectives, namely:

a) Ensuring a coherent understanding of ICBT contributions to livelihoods and economic well-being of borderland communities;

b) Enhancing greater ICBT-CBSG policy convergence and harmonization between IGAD member states;

c) Strengthening border security systems and supporting trade facilitation at border crossing points (BCPs);

d) Promoting the participation of borderland communities in policy consultations to ensure that Cross-border trade and security-related decisions are enriched and borderland communities’ interests and concerns promoted; and

e) Ensuring availability and access to consistent, timely and reliable data and analysis on cross-border economic exchanges and ICBT.

Please find Communique herewith for reference.

The CEWARN Committee of Permanent Secretaries (CPS) meeting comprising deputy-foreign ministers of IGAD member states was held on 26 April 2018 in Djibouti. The CPS is CEWARN’s highest policy organ that convenes annually to appraise the mechanism’s work and provide strategic direction.

The CPS meeting received a progress report on the implementation of the CEWARN 2012-2019 Strategy framework that guides the mechanism’s conflict early warning and response operations along five broad thematic sectors of peace and security, namely, Social, Economic, Environment, Economy, Governance and Security.

The progress report specifically focused on lessons learnt from the pilot application of the recently developed conflict early warning data collection and related technological tools as well as early warning indicators – in Somalia, Sudan and Uganda throughout 2017.

The CPS adopted a 16-point decision proposed by the experts with a main focus on the full roll out of CEWARN’s integrated data collection and analysis system to all member states – building on the successes of the pilot period.

Other key issues covered by the decisions of the CPS include: strengthening national CEWERUs, resource mobilization and sustainability of the CEWARN mechanism as well as on building a robust network-based civil society participation in CEWARN’s operations in all Member States.

The decisions were informed by deliberations of a two-day meeting of IGAD Member State experts that convened on 24-25 April 2018 in the same venue. The experts meeting comprised national Conflict Early Warning and Response Units (CEWERUs) and CSO representatives from Djibouti, Ethiopia, Kenya, Somalia, Sudan, South Sudan and Uganda.

Please refer to the full version of the decisions of the 13th CEWARN Committee of Permanent Secretaries (CPS) meeting held on 26 April 2018 in Djibouti.