WEST AFRICA CIVIL SOCIETY INSTITUTE IInINSTITUTE

Meeting Report

Review Meeting On Existing Training Initiatives and Methodologies on Conflict Prevention in West Africa

11- 12 April, 2008 WACSI SECRETARIAT ACCRA, GHANA

List of Acronyms
Abusua Foundation ADR APRM CDD CEWARN CSOs ECOWAS ECPF FAS GIF GTZ IDEG IPCR ITPPGG JHRI LECIA LECIA MAWORPNET PTA SSR TOT WACSI WACSOF WANEP WAPI WIPSEN-Africa Alternative Dispute Resolution African Peer Review Mechanism Center for Democracy and Development Conflict Early Warning and Response network Civil Society organisations Economic Community of West African States ECOWAS Conflict Prevention Framework Femmes Africa Solidarit Governance Issues Forum German Technical Cooperation Institute of Democratic Governance Institute for Peace and Conflict Resolution
International Training programme in Peacekeeping and Good Governance

Justice and Human Rights Institute Legon Centre for International Affairs Legon Centre for International Affairs Mano River Womens Peace Network Part time assessment Security Sector Reform Training of Trainers West Africa Civil Society Institute West African Civil Society Forum West Africa Network for Peacebuilding West Africa Peace Initiative Women Peace and Security Network Africa

Contents
About WACSI ........................................................................................................................................... 5 Vision ........................................................................................................................................................ 5 Mission...................................................................................................................................................... 5 About GTZ ................................................................................................................................................. 5 1.0 1.1 1.2 2.0 2.1 3.0 Introduction ................................................................................................................................... 6 Objective of the Meeting............................................................................................................... 6 Expected Outcomes of Meeting .................................................................................................... 6 Overview of Project ...................................................................................................................... 7 Discussion ..................................................................................................................................... 7 Presentation of Existing Training Initiatives in the West Africa............................................ 7

3.1 Regional Initiatives ............................................................................................................................ 7 3.1.1 3.1.2 3.1.3 3.1.4 3.1.5 WACSOF: Election Monitoring ............................................................................................... 7 FAS: Women, Peace and Security ............................................................................................ 7 CDD: Governance ..................................................................................................................... 8 WANEP: Early Warning and response ..................................................................................... 8 WIPSEN AFRICA: Women Peace and Security ................................................................... 8

3.2 National Initiatives ............................................................................................................................. 8 3.2.1 3.2.2 3.2.3 3.2.4 IDEG: Democratic Governance ................................................................................................ 8 MARWOPNET: Women, peace and security ........................................................................... 8 JHRI: Human Rights Training and ADR .................................................................................. 9 ABUSUA Foundation: Youth and development ....................................................................... 9

3.3 Research Institutions ......................................................................................................................... 9 3.3.1 3.3.2 LECIA: International relations and conflict resolution ............................................................. 9 Institute for peace and conflict resolution (IPCR): Conflict Resolution ................................... 9 3

Table 1: Summary of Presentations ........................................................................................................ 10 3.4 4.0 5.0 Gaps and Recommendation ....................................................................................................... 10 ECOWAS-Civil Society Collaboration on Conflict Prevention Framework ....................... 20 Strategies for joint Implementation ........................................................................................ 21

Appendices ............................................................................................................................................. 22 List of Participants ................................................................................................................................ 22 Agenda Day 1 ....................................................................................................................................... 23 Agenda Day 2 ....................................................................................................................................... 24 List of Acronyms ...................................................................................................................................... 2

About WACSI The West Africa Civil Society Institute (WACSI) was established by the Open Society Initiative for West Africa and the Soros Foundation Network to enhance the capacity of civil society in the region. The Institute was set up in an attempt to bridge the institutional and operational gaps identified in civil society. Vision WACSI is committed to the development of CSOs as strategic partners in the pursuit of democracy, good governance and national development in the sub-region. Mission The Institute seeks to strengthen the institutional and technical capacity of CSOs to engage in policy formulation, implementation, and the promotion of democratic values and principles in West Africa. WACSIs role will be to serve as a resource center engaged in training, research, documentation, and policy dialogue for CSOs in West Africa. The advocacy work of the Institute is conducted through its policy dialogue process, which brings together different stakeholders to deliberate on topical issues that affect West African States. Position papers will be published by the institute and disseminated to policy makers. About GTZ The GTZ is an international cooperation enterprise for sustainable development with worldwide operations. GTZ promotes complex reforms and change processes, often working under difficult conditions. Its corporate objective is to improve peoples living conditions on a sustainable basis. As an international cooperation enterprise for sustainable development with worldwide operations, the federally owned Deutsche Gesellschaft fr Technische Zusammenarbeit (GTZ) GmbH supports the German Government in achieving its development-policy objectives. It provides viable, forward looking solutions for political, economic, ecological and social development in a globalised world. Working under difficult conditions, GTZ promotes complex reforms and change processes. It has undertaken substantial amount of conflict prevention work in West Africa.

1.0

Introduction

The West Africa Civil Society Institute, WACSI, organised a 2-day regional workshop with key actors and stakeholders from across West Africa to review existing training initiatives and methodologies on conflict prevention in West Africa. This workshop aligns with phase II of the WACSI, KAIPTC and GTZ Project (Conflict prevention in West Africa, Designing conflict prevention modules for civilian actors in West Africa), a collaborative effort by these organisations geared at responding to the lack of a systematic and comprehensive framework, tools, and harnessed skills to enhance effective conflict prevention in the region. The 12 month project (January to December 2008) brings together peacebuilding practitioners and academia, practitioner in security sector reform (SSR), alternative dispute resolution (ADR), human rights, elections monitoring, youth and development , early warning and response, gender, and a handful of other experts to critically examine inputs for the designing of the resource pack. This project is elaborated over five (5) phases, two of which have been completed. Project phases; Phase one: Formation of the advisory committee.(Executed) Phase two: Review of existing training contents and methodology. (Executed) Phase three will focus on developing the various modules of the Resource Pack. Phase four will focus on the publication and dissemination of the Resource Pack. Phase five will be the delivery of the module through short and long term courses delivered by participating institutions. Objective of the Meeting The objective of the workshop was to: Review Existing Initiatives and Methodology on Conflict Prevention in west Africa Who is doing what? Scope of work and rationale for that scope Content and methodology of training Gaps Impact of training and measuring techniques Recommendations on developing the various modules for the resource pack Expected Outcomes of Meeting Bring in more institutions into the process of developing resource pack The findings of the review meeting will be used to strengthen development of resource pack Explore strategies for implementation; e.g. ECOWAS conflict prevention strategy
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1.1

1.2

2.0

Overview of Project

Participants were presented an overview of the project and the outcome of phase one. The following points were highlighted: Project name Rationale Objective Expected outcome Target audience Proposed content Project phases Advisory Committee Role of Advisory Committee 2.1 Discussion

Proposals were made on the importance of traditional conflict prevention mechanisms to be incorporated in the resource pack. Further, participants wanted a clear section on the role of women in conflict resolution in the resource pack. In addition, participant highlighted the importance of examining the role of external forces to conflicts in the sub region. Finally, participants stress on the need for collaboration with regional bodies like ECOWAS in the development of the different modules and also to include specific country case studies from across the region.

3.0

Presentation of Existing Training Initiatives in the West Africa 3.1 REGIONAL INITIATIVES

3.1.1

WACSOF: Election Monitoring

The presentation by the General Secretary of WACSOF focused on existing regional training initiatives by WACSOF through the use of local CSOs who have first hand information of the terrain. The presentation highlighted the absence of a standardized training module for civil society actors across West Africa on election monitoring and the need to harmonise training modules on election monitoring and electoral processes in the region. 3.1.2 FAS: Women, Peace and Security

This presentation focused on the training content of short courses offered by FAS on conflict prevention as well as the content of the masters programme offered by FAS in collaboration with the university of peace, Costa Rica. The presentation raised the problem of insufficient time allocation for the short courses and the difficulties of following up the replication of these courses at community level.
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3.1.3

CDD: Governance

The presentation stressed on the fact that the training content of CDD depends on the aspect of governance under examination. In addition, CDD uses experts on the different issues under discussion to deliver training programmes. The presentation underlined the difficulties in sustaining training initiatives and called for collaboration and sharing of experiences in developing the modules for the resource pack. 3.1.4 WANEP: Early Warning and response

WANEPs presentation focused on the following training programmes of WANEP; Peace and non violence that is delivered in collaboration with WAPI, policy advocacy for civil society through WIPNET, and Conflict Prevention and good governance through WARN Further, it was indicated that WANEP uses a collaborative approach through partnership with ECOWAS and other organisations to promote the idea of early warning and early response. This has led to the creation of ECOWARN through which, incidental reports, situation reports and policy briefs are made readily available to relevant stakeholders. The presentation also stressed on the need to vulgarise the activities of WANEP at the community level. 3.1.5 WIPSEN AFRICA: Women Peace and Security

This presentation focused on the training content of WIPSEN Africa in the domains of rural women, peace and human security, gender, SSR and transformation, women in leadership, decision making, peace and human rights, mainstreaming peace and security in gender mechanism. Further, the presentation also highlighted the training content for the peace girls leadership project; a project that aims at training female leader in matters of peace and SSR. The presentation highlighted the need for research in the area of domestic violence. 3.2 National Initiatives 3.2.1 IDEG: Democratic Governance

This presentation indicated that the training content of the institute will depend on the issue of democratic governance under examination. In addition, the training methodology used is largely informal involving the participation of the common man through governance issues forum (GIF). The presentation also dwelled on the fact the IDEG conducts research; prioritise the needs of the communities before coming up with a training content. 3.2.2 MARWOPNET: Women, peace and security

The presentation highlighted the fact that MARWOPNET is involved in engendering early warning and respond at community and national level. Further, the presentation outlined the training content of MARWOPNET on women, peace and security. The training methodology used is largely participatory with exercises and group work. Challenges in the course of training include high rate of illiteracy among youth and women.
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3.2.3

JHRI: Human Rights Training and ADR

The presentation of the JHRI indicated that the institute provides training and related services designed to satisfy the specific needs of its clientele. The institution works in collaboration with her clients to develop training contents that best suit their needs. Training programmes offered are national, community based and for state Institutions. Further, the presentation highlighted a rundown of the training content for conflict prevention and ADR. Finally, the presentation underlined financial constrains in extending the training to all desired quarters. 3.2.4 ABUSUA Foundation: Youth and development

This presentation dwelled on the fact that a rights-based approach is used in the training of youth for development by the foundation. In addition, training programmes cut across prisoners rights, advocacy and vocational training for the youth. Finally, the presentation pointed out the challenges of limited interest in youth matters by many stakeholders, difficulties in partnering with likeminded organisations and financial constraints in running training programmes. 3.3 Research Institutions 3.3.1 LECIA: International relations and conflict resolution

The presentation of LECIA highlighted the fact that LECIA is a research and training centre in matters of international relation and conflict prevention with a region view. Prominent among its collaborative efforts in research and teaching is the International Training Programme in Peacekeeping and Good Governance for African civilian personnel (ITPPGG). A rundown of the training content for this programme was made while indicating some financial and administrative challenges in the running of training programmes. 3.3.2 Institute for peace and conflict resolution (IPCR): Conflict Resolution

The presentation indicated that IPCR is an institution under the ministry of foreign affairs of the government of Nigeria that aims at building individual and institutional capacities in peacebuilding, conflict prevention, management and resolution, and the promotion of change by peaceful means. Further, training targets are actors in Local, State and National governments, civil society, the youth, women, traditional rulers, state legislators and judicial officers and planning officers. The presentation also indicated that IPCR is hosting a national Conflict Early Warning and Response (CEWARN) situation room. Finally, the presentation pointed out some of the challenges of the institution which include the low capacity utilisation of the system.

Table 1: Summary of Presentations

Institution WACSOF FAS CDD WIPSEN AFRICA WANEP IDEG

Area of Activity Theme of presentation Regional Regional Regional Regional Regional National Election Monitoring Women peace and security Governance Women peace and security Early Warning and Response Democratic Governance Women, Peace and Security Human Rights training and ADR Youth and Development International Relations and Conflict Resolution Conflict Resolution

MARWOPNET National JHRI ABUSUA Foundation LECIA IPCR

3.4

National National Institutional Institutional

Gaps and Recommendation

Following the presentations made by the different organisations and the research institutions, some gaps were identified that if not catered for might compromise the desired quality of the resource pack. To this end, a number of recommendations were made in order to help the different organisations charged with the development of the different modules to come up with a comprehensive package that will reflect and meet the current and future needs of the region. Below is a summary the various organisations, the gaps indentified in them and recommendations on mitigating these gaps.
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Gaps and Recommendations

Organisation

Area of Training Election Observation

Gaps

Recommendation

WASOF

Lack of a standard module for training of observers National platforms not strong enough to fully perform their mandates Weak interaction with national election observers Need for dialogue and collaboration with the administration on electoral processes Need for the harmonization of electoral process in West Africa

Review existing work on existing work on election observation and monitoring, put all related templates on the issue together and come up with a comprehensive module Follow up what local CSOs are doing on the ground prior to elections Include a monitoring and evaluation mechanism as the training unfolds. Capture regional best practices in module and also try to identify local observers well ahead of time in order to ease collaboration

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Gaps and Recommendations

Organisation

Area Training Peace Development and Gender

of

Gaps

Recommendation

FAS

Difficulties in measuring impact of work done Need to put in place mechanism to cater for conflicts emerging from university campuses Low number of staff Insufficient time allocation for short courses Difficulties in following up the replication of training at community level

Resource pack should have a build in mechanism for measuring impact Include a PTA to measure performance as training unfolds Collaborate with other organisation and institution in the domain of peace development and gender

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Gaps and Recommendations

Organisation CDD

Area of Work Good Governance

Gaps Difficulties in measuring the impact of work done Lack of sufficient financial resources to sustain some training programmes Insufficient work on the APRM Need to vulgarise ECOWAS protocol on democracy and good governance

Recommendation Module should include practical exercises on governance Make reference to different protocol on governance and not just the ECOWAS protocol Work on continental governance structure and include a special session on corruption Included issues on participation Clearly identify entry points for community participation

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Gaps and Recommendations

Organisation WANEP

Area of Work Early Warning and Response

Gaps Insufficient information on the activities of WANEP especially at the community level Need to proper research into early response In adequate advocacy on the ratification of the ECOWAS protocol on early warning Insufficient finances

Recommendation Need for training on the use of WANEP website Outline methodology of data collection for resource pack Include a session on early response at all level Carry out extensive research on early warning Collaborate with CDD, MARWOPNET and WACSOF

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Gaps and Recommendations

Organisation

Area of Training Women, Peace and Human Security

Gaps

Recommendation

WIPSEN- Africa

Need to mainstream monitoring and evaluation into the training process Need to incorporate domestic violence into the training modules Need for a compendium of modules used in Women peace and security

Develop session on domestic violence. Collaborate with BAOBAB for women development Include session to train men on promoting human security Include session on cases of best practices from across the region

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Gaps and Recommendations

Organisation

Area of Training Democratic Governance

Gaps

Recommendation

IDEG

Challenges on taking off with Governance Issues Forum (GIF) at district level Difficulties getting women to participate in debates Difficulties in evaluating the impact of work done Need to upgrade training manual to properly address gender issues

Collaborate with WIPSEN-Africa and FAS Include session on involving women on governance discussions Include session on community entry engagement Review publications on democratic governance Develop module on local governance issues Develop session on gender budgeting and auditing Be specific on gender issues and gender roles.

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Gaps and Recommendations

Organisation

Area of work Women Peace and security

Gaps

Recommendation

MARWOPNET

Government reluctant to accept the participation of women on security issues Low participation of people at community level because of high rate of illiteracy Hindrance due to gender inequality in formal security sector

Develop session on how to involve women in policy making Add portion on strategies for women to work with men and governments Properly articulate women needs in conflict area Identify strategies needed or used in addressing these needs Apply network strategies in solving problems identified in the course of developing the modules

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Gaps and Recommendations

Organisation

Area of training Human Rights and ADR

Gaps

Recommendation

JHRI

Inadequate resources Difficulties in measuring impact of training Time constraints Need for programme to grown in to a region training Need to expand negotiation skills at community level

Collaborate with other institutions outside Ghana working on mediation and negotiation Develop session on how to blend traditional methods of conflict resolution with modern methods Develop module on ADR practices from across West Africa encompassing the Anglophone, Francophone and Lusophone experiences At the conceptual level of ADR, include session on conflict transformation

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Gaps and Recommendations

Organisation

Area of training Youth and Development

Gaps

Recommendations

ABUSUA Foundation

Inadequate Human resources Insufficient documentation of activities Need to develop specific programmes on girls and children Need to align youth programmes with national programmes Need to extend collaboration with other institution

Include regional initiatives on youth and development Clearly outline youth priority and indicate method used in identifying these priorities Add session on youth best practices from across the region. Develop session on the use of youths for cross border conflicts Develop session of youth entry points into develop

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4.0

ECOWAS-Civil Society Collaboration on Conflict Prevention Framework

This presentation by the conflict prevention unit of ECOWAS on the collaboration between ECOWAS and civil society in developing conflict prevention strategies centered around the ECOWAS conflict prevention framework (ECPF) as a tool upon which ongoing efforts could build upon in order to meet the new ECOWAS dream for the region From ECOWAS of states to ECOWAS of the peoples. Further, the presentation outlined the 14 focus areas of the ECPF which are: Early Warning Preventive Diplomacy Democracy and Political Governance Human Rights and the Rule of Law Media Natural Resource Governance Cross-Border Initiatives Security Governance Micro-Disarmament Women, Peace and Security Youth Empowerment ECOWAS Standby Force Humanitarian Assistance Peace Education (Culture of Peace)

Finally, the presentation highlighted the fact that ECOWAS has put in place mechanisms for cooperation with CSOs for information sharing with civil society networks, and the setting up of communication channels for the input of civil society contribution into all ECOWAS policies and programmes. Considering all these efforts, CSOs were called upon to play their role of implementation as prescribed in the ECOWAS conflict prevention framework.
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5.0

Strategies for joint implementation

Explaining the strategy for implementation, it was stressed that WACSIs role is just to put together the resource pack. The implementation proper of training programmes with the use of the resource pack shall be done by CSOs. The following points were equally highlighted: WACSI will provide funding to some credible CSOs with a track record of success in their thematic areas of work for the development of the different modules. KAIPTC will offer courses with the use of the resource pack and will equally host the training of trainers (TOT) training programme on the use of the module. GTZ will provide funding to institutions using the resource pack for training Additionally, the following key points were also brought to the attention of participants: The period for the development of the modules will be two weeks (April 21 to May 6) There shall be a meeting in June 2008 to harmonise the modules for the resource pack There shall be a 2-day TOT training programme in October 2008 on the use of the resource pack There shall be testing sessions in francophone countries before a final printout of the resource pack Final printout of the resource pack shall be in January 2008

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Appendices
List of Participants
REGIONAL WORKSHOP TO REVIEW OF EXISTING TRAINING INITIATIVES AND METHODOLOGIES ON CONFLICT PREVENTION 11 AND 12 APRIL, 2008 VENUE: WACSI SECRETARIAT, ACCRA. GHANA
No 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8. 9. 10. 11. 12. 13. 14. 15. 16. 17. 18. 19. 20. Name Thelma Ekiyor Adama Sira Bah Gima Humphrey Forje Mr Siaka Coulibaly Dr. Oshita o. Oshita David Nii Addy David D. Afropong Gnacadja Constant Prof Oumar Ndongo Tsike-Sossah Eyram Janet Tucker Mr Babatunder Afolabi Tolu Steve Syme Ighorodje Voke Aminata Diaye Afua Lamptey k.sillah Ruby Quantson Leymah Gbowee Ecoma Alaga Country Ghana Ghana Ghana Burkina Faso Nigeria Ghana Ghana Benin Nigeria Ghana Sierra Leone Nigeria Ghana Nigeria Senegal Ghana Ghana Ghana Ghana Ghana Organisation/ Institution WACSI WACSI WACSI WACSOF/FOSCAO IPCR KAIPTC Justice & Human Rights Institute WANEP WACSOF Email Address tekiyor@yahoo.com abah@wacsighana.org gforje@wacsighana.org siaka.coulibalv@gmail.com okibe2000@vahoo.com nii.addv@kaiptc.org danafropong@yahoo.com gnacadia@vahoo.fr Phone Number +233-21778917 +233-244034182 +233-248516589 + 226-70253006 + 234-8033246056 +233-244334907 +233-244561917 +22995065615 +22997388559 + 234-7033009456 +233-244978428 +232-766076244 +232-33814342 +234-8027330554

wacsof-gs@wacsof.org ondongo@svtosnegal.net Abusua Foundation ceo@abusuafoundation.org MARWOPNET ECOWAS Logiscon CDD FAS Lecialitppgg WANEP IDEG WIPSEN - Africa WIPSEN Africa janmangava@hotmail.com tundav@gmail.com

stevesvme@vahoo.com +233-244079607 vighorodje@cddwestafrica.org +234-8033465161 +2348055 afuaa@vahoo.com kalabsil@vahoo.co.uk rquantson@ideg.org +2332447 +2332499 +233-21518017 +233-212-691-4224

lgbowee@yahoo.com

+233 24 709095

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AGENDA

Regional workshop to revue existing training initiatives and methodologies on conflict prevention
11-12 April, 2008 Venue : WACSI Secretariat

TIME DAY 1 9.00 9.30 9.30 10.30

ACTIVITIES Friday 11/04/08 Welcome and introduction WACSI Overview of project Discussion

10.30 11.00 11.00 13.00

Tea/Coffee break Presentation of existing training initiatives in the region Regional: WACSOF: Election Monitoring FAS: Women, peace and security CDD: Governance WANEP : Early warning and response WIPSEN: Women, peace and security Discussions Lunch National: IDEG: Democratic governance MARWOPNET Sierra Leone: Women, peace and security JHRI: Human Rights training and ADR Abusua Foundation: Youth and development Discussions AOB Close End of day 1

13.00 14.00 14.00 15.00

15.00 16.00 16.00

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AGENDA Regional workshop to revue existing training initiatives and methodologies on conflict prevention
11-12 April, 2008 Venue : WACSI Secretariat

ACTIVITIES TIME Day 2 9.00 10.30 Saturday 12/04/08 Institutions: LECIA: International relation and conflict resolution Institute for Peace and Conflict Resolution: Conflict resolution ICCHRA: Conflict resolution and peacebuilding Discussions 10.30 11.00 11.00 13.00 13.00 14.00 14.00 15.00

Tea/Coffee break Mapping of existing tools, gaps, opportunities and recommendations Lunch

Strategies for joint implementation ECOWAS conflict prevention framework Collaboration and Networking AOB Close

15.00 16.00 16.00

End of Day 2

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