Peace Institute, Partners Convene Workshop on Conflict Early Warning Response

Peace Institute, Partners Convene Workshop on Conflict Early Warning Response

Addressing the urgent need for proactive conflict resolution and peacebuilding in Nigeria, a significant event named the “Conflict Early Warning, Early Response Systems Strategic Stakeholders Engagement Workshop” is scheduled to take place. Organised by the Institute for Peace and Conflict Resolution (IPCR) in conjunction with Mercy Corps Nigeria and West African Network for Peacebuilding (WANEP), the event is scheduled for 9am on Tuesday August 1, 2023 at the IPCR Conference Hall.

The objective of the workshop is to sensitise the echelon of security agencies and to enhance the capacity of the personnel and other critical agents for effective and seamless response to early warning signals of conflict. Participants in the workshop include top echelon of security agencies and nominated personnel who will form a Proposed National Conflict Early Warning Response Group (EWRG).

Speaking about the expected outcome of the workshop, the Director General of the Institute for Peace and Conflict Resolution, Dr Joseph Ochogwu, said, “The EWRG will have a primary role of coordinating and ensuring seamless response to early warning reports across Nigeria, especially the PARTNER programme states.” PARTNER is the Peace Action for Rapid Transformative Nigerian Early Response programme that the IPCR is leading a consortium of organisations to implement.

The PARTNER consortium members, other than the Institute for Peace and Conflict Resolution, Mercy Corps Nigeria and West African Network for Peacebuilding, includes the Plateau Peacebuilding Agency, Kaduna State Peace Commission, Kukah Centre, Katsina State Peace Committee, Kano State Peace Committee and Mambayya House. It is sponsored by the United States Agency for International Development, USAID.

The enhanced early warning early response system to be established under the Peace Action For Rapid Transformative Nigerian Early Response (PARTNER) will be in 9 states that are categorised in three tiers: Plateau and Kaduna (Tier 1); Benue, Katsina, Kano and Nasarawa (Tier2); Kogi, Niger and Zamfara states (Tier 3). The PARTNER project has three components, which are a) conflict early warning; b) social cohesion; and c) peacebuilding.

About the Institute for Peace and Conflict Resolution (IPCR)

The Institute for Peace and Conflict Resolution (IPCR) was founded in February 2000 as a research centre, a think-tank, and an entity dedicated to enhancing Nigeria’s ability to foster peace and prevent, manage, and resolve conflicts. Operating under the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the IPCR’s primary focus is on strengthening the nation’s capacity for promoting peaceful initiatives and effective conflict resolution strategies.