Conflict Prevention

This works towards the establishment of civil society early warning and response system in Nigeria, which is linked to ECOWAS conflict prevention mechanism at the regional level. In 2003 WANEP began with a major training of trainers in conflict analysis at Rockview hotel Abuja. It brought together heads of NGOs, academicians, lawyers and community leaders from five out of the six geo-political zones of Nigeria. The five day intensive training (January 6-10) generated a lot of enthusiasm among practitioners who were determined to take the acquired skills to the field given the challenges posed by intra-communal and religious conflicts, resource based conflicts and the threat posed by the rise in vigilante and area boys phenomenon that have undermined peace and stability in Nigeria especially in the past decade.

OBJECTIVES

  • Increase conflict prevention capacity and effectiveness of ECOWAS
  • Foster/Increase participation of and collaboration between civil society organizations in conflict prevention and peace building.
  • Interface with the ECOWAS early warning systems.
  • Develop community / national capacities / structures for early detection, early warning and early response through systemic information sharing; data based development, and technical assistance.

HIGHLIGHT OF ACTIVITIES

TRAINING OF CONFLICT ANALYSTS
 WANEP-Nigeria facilitated a capacity building workshop where NGOs, academicians, lawyers, community leaders, etc from the six zones of the country were brought together. This serves as a podium for participants / practitioners to deliberate on the challenges posed by intra-communal/ religious conflicts, resource-based conflicts in the country as well as the rise in vigilante groups/area boys’ phenomenon which undermines the peace and stability of the country.

March 31-April 2
Training workshop on early warning and early response-
WANEP-Nigeria organized a workshop where two trainers each from the six geo-political zones were trained. These trainers joined the WANEP-Nigeria and WANEP-Regional training team to further train conflict monitors in the six zones of the country.   

THE TRAINING OF TRAINERS’ ON CONFLICT MONITORING  
This is part of the preventive peace-building program. At the end of each meeting, a Zonal Level Monitoring Network scheme was established to facilitate a linkage as well as coordinate the zones. The workshop took place in South West zone between July 7 and 11; South South zone July 14 and18; North West zone August 11 and 15. In North Central zone, it took place in March 15 to 19 while South East zone was March 29 to April 2, 2004.

Publication of the pioneer report entitled “Conflict Monitor in Nigeria: Developing Civil Society Action for Early Warning and Early Response

Establishing of Conflict Monitoring Network at each of the zonal or state level to facilitate a linkage relationship as well as coordinate activities in the zones.
WANEP Liaison Office WANEP Regional set up WANEP Liaison office at the ECOWAS Secretariat in Abuja