Subject to further amendments as maybe necessary, participants at the consultative workshop which ended in Lagos, Nigeria on the 26th of April 2018, have adopted the draft 2018-2020 ECOWAS Conflict Prevention Framework (ECPF) Plans of Action (PoA).
After a diligent review of the draft Action Plans proposed for the 15 ECPF Components and the accompanying draft budget proposals prepared to ensure implementation of the Action Plans, participants identified the level of involvement and support required from the ECOWAS Member States to ensure effective implementation of the ECPF PoA and committed to fully support the unhindered implementation of same at the national levels.
During the plenary and group sessions of the Workshop, desirable improvements were made on the working documents in order to make them more responsive to peace-building needs taking into cognizance emerging trends and threats.
The broad recommendations also calls for immediate action to thoroughly revise the draft budget of the PoA while aligning and prioritizing overlapping activities in order to eliminate duplication of efforts.
Also recommended was the working out of concrete measures towards ensuring that the education of children, women and the vulnerable groups does not suffer during conflicts.
Participants recognized the need to put in place provisions to ensure that the newly handed over ECOWAS Radio based in Monrovia, Liberia, partners with the National Radio stations in the propagation of peace building and conflict resolution messages. Included in this regard is the broadcasting of ECOWAS peace culture and peace education programmes across the region.
Prior to the convocation of the consultative meeting in Lagos, sustained efforts had been made by the ECPF Secretariat to coordinate the activities of the Focal Point Directorates in the ECOWAS Commission, Development Partners as well as the Civil Society Organisations.
Related activities in this regard included trust building efforts meant to improve the financial reporting and auditing processes as well as the facilitation of the provision of technical and/or financial support to relevant ministries, departments and agencies in Member States.
The endorsed ECPF PoA are expected to be harmonized with the ECOWAS Community Strategic Framework (CSF).
Participants at the consultative meeting were drawn from the ECOWAS National Offices and experts from ECOWAS Member States as well as Focal Points of the ECOWAS Commission.
The ECPF Secretariat conveyed the sincere gratitude of the ECOWAS Commission to the participants from the ECOWAS Member States for contributing to the finalization and adoption of the draft ECPF Action Plans stating that the Commission is looking forward to the implementing of PoA in conjunction with Member States.
The revised PoA and budget proposals are to be submitted to Member States within 10 days of the conclusion of the consultative meeting for further consideration, concurrence and adoption.
The Consultative Workshop holding in Lagos, Nigeria from the 25th to the 26th of April 2018, is meant to identify and strengthen the roles of Member States in supporting ECOWAS interventions during the implementation of the Plans of Action (PoA) while increasing regional collaboration in the prevention of conflicts as well as the promotion and consolidation of human security in West Africa.
Welcoming participants to the Workshop, the ECOWAS Commission’s Director Political Affairs, Dr. Remi Ajibewa stated that the ongoing effort is part of the initiatives aimed at strengthening the level of preparedness and response to conflict situations by the ECOWAS Commission, Member States, Civil Society and external partners.
Addressing Representatives of Member States who are drawn from the ECOWAS National Offices and designated ministries, Focal Persons and other participants, Dr. Ajibewa said the process of defusing potential and real threats to human security in a country requires the coordination of actors at various levels including the state, region and international arena.
He maintained further that the act of maintaining peace and security in Member States “is not only achieved through multi-actor collaboration but also multi-dimensional conflict prevention strategies”
The ECPF document, he added will be devoid of impact without its effective buy-in by Member States, as well as domestication within national and security architectures, hence the brain storming session is meant to strengthen awareness and capacity within Member States to enhance their roles as principal actors in conflict prevention.
Earlier in an introductory remark, the Manager, ECOWAS Peace Fund Mr Dieudonne Nikiema stressed that the commitment by Member States is very well commendable and in sync with renewed efforts to realise the dream of an ECOWAS of the people as against an ECOWAS of States.
Giving an overview of the ECPF processes and updates of peace building activities and programmes, the Commission’s Programm Officer, Conflict Prevention, Mr. Constant Gnacadja stressed the necessity of reviewing the various programmes already presented with a view to improving them while taking ownership of the documents.
Stressing that the exercise was an important means of consolidating the PoA, he took participants through the outline of the programmes which will be sent in for validation once their mapping was completed. He noted among others that the activity will help in mainstreaming conflict prevention into ECOWAS policies hand in hand with the mobilization of resources to achieve effectiveness of the ECPF. He also explained that the ECPF focusses more on human security with activities devised to diffuse tensions and ensure that citizens are not afraid to move about in the region.
The ECPF programs are expected to be harmonized with the ECOWAS Community Strategic Framework (CSF).
In January 2018, experts and representatives of the Civil Society Organisations (CSOs) validated the 2018-2020 ECPF PoA. This was followed by a finalization retreat by the Focal Persons of the various components who also mapped out strategies for the effective coordination and implementation of the PoA in February 2018.
These came on the heels of the organization of sensitization interventions with civil society organisations, Ministries of Justice and Internal Affairs of Member States, Development Partners and Journalists by the ECPF Secretariat in collaboration with ECPF Internal Steering Committee all in a bid to create awareness, understanding and ownership of the ECPF.
Abuja, February 21, 2017
The Internal Steering Committee (ISC) of the ECOWAS Conflict Prevention Framework (ECPF) met at the ECOWAS in Abuja on the 16th February 2017 where stakeholders proposed pragmatic areas of intervention in the ECPF processes, among others.
The main objective of the meeting was to review, validate and adopt the report of a consultant recruited by Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) on a comprehensive evaluation of the operationalization of the ECPF for the period of 2013 – 2016 while proposing programmatic areas for intervention in the period 2017-2020.
Participants discussed in great detail, the report of the GIZ consultant and agreed on the importance of including Women, Peace and Security, Media and Natural Resource Governance Components as priority programmatic areas for the 2017 – 2020 Plan of Action of the ECPF.
After deliberating on the recommendations of the Consultant, areas of intervention and the need to chart a way forward to consolidate ownership, implementation and monitoring of the ECPF 3 Year Priority Plans, presentations were made on follow-up actions stemming from the last meeting, key developments from Focal Point Directorates, findings of the evaluation of the ECPF as well as on actions taken on the report.
Welcoming the participants to the meeting, the Director of Political Affairs, Dr. Aderemi Ajibewa recalled the positive developments in The Gambia which resulted from the effective coordination and collaboration between ECOWAS and the International Community. He noted that the ECOWAS space is gradually becoming a Community of Democracies, due largely to the political will of its leaders, and solid normative frameworks that include Mechanisms such as the Supplementary Protocol on Democracy and Good Governance, and the ECPF.
He thanked the Danish International Development Agency (DANIDA), GIZ and the Development Partners for making the ECPF a reality, funding of the consultant’s work and for their continued assistance to the Commission.
Participants were reminded by the Head of the ECPF Secretariat, Mr. Constant Gnacadja to visit the official website of the ECPF (ecpf.ecowas.int) in order to receive up-to-date information on the conflict prevention programmes/activities as well as on and Development Partners supporting the ECPF.
The Participants agreed on the need to plan a validation meeting and develop an implementation strategy for the execution of the report’s recommendations.
The ISC meeting is also being convened to review, validate and adopt the report of a consultant recruited by Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) on a comprehensive evaluation of the operationalization of the ECPF for the period under review which ended in June 2016 while proposing programmatic areas for intervention in the period 2017-2020.
The evaluation of the operationalization of the ECPF was necessitated by the end of the timeframe for the ECPF Plans of Action (2012 – 2017), which captured the programmes and activities of each ECPF Component, the implementing ECOWAS Directorates as well as technical/financial support of Partners.
Apart from validating the report on the evaluation of the operationalization of the ECPF, the ISC will brief all stakeholders on the consolidated Partner Contribution Template for 2016 and discuss the ECPF priority programmes for 2017 – 2020.
Since the last ISC meeting, the ECPF Secretariat has taken steps towards the effective mobilization of financial resources for the ECPF Focal Point Directorates and the development of monitoring strategy for the ECPF reporting process.
The ISC was raised in 2010 to oversee and coordinate the ECPF implementation process within the ECOWAS Commission and with all stakeholders. It is expected to provide direction to all ECOWAS Departments that are involved in the ECPF implementation process, ensuring that synergies between existing and new ECPF Action Plans are created and duly utilized.
Abuja 25th November, 2016Radio journalists in West Africa are gearing up to embrace Conflict Prevention norms by keying into the peace building approaches prescribed by the Political Affairs, Peace and Security (PAPS) Department through the ECOWAS Conflict Prevention Framework (ECPF).
The journalists, who concluded a one-day Workshop titled, “Strengthening Media Capacity in Conflict Transformation in West Africa: Sensitization Workshop the ECPF with Radio Journalists in West Africa”, which was held at the ECOWAS Parliament, Abuja on the 24th of November 2016, were put through modules and interactive sessions meant to enhance their capacities to understand and inform the public about ECOWAS policies and activities in regional integration, democracy, peace and security.
In addition, the participants were introduced to the ECOWAS Conflict Prevention Framework (ECPF), which serves as a guide for enhancing cohesion and synergy on conflict prevention and peace building initiatives in Member States.
Welcoming participants drawn from ECOWAS Member States to the workshop, the ECOWAS Director, Political Affairs Dr. Aderemi Ajibewa enjoined them to be collaborators in the renewed efforts at creating a more peaceful environment in West Africa.
Speaking through Programme Officer, Conflict Prevention, Mr. Constant Gnacadja, he stressed the importance of raising the level of awareness of the targeted journalists’ group on the strides being made by ECOWAS to prevent conflict and boost human development in the region.
The journalists were urged to create more awareness of the ECPF among Community citizens and be partners in actualizing the objectives of the Media Component of the ECPF in the face of emerging trends in conflict transformation.
As part of the Workshop proceedings, the radio journalists were given a tour of the ECPF Web Portal (www.ecpf.ecowas.int) while the kernel of the evolving ECPF communication strategy being strengthened in collaboration with the ECOWAS Communication Directorate was unfolded. This was supported by an intervention on conflict sensitive reporting as well peace building best practices for journalists.
Presentations were made on the synthesis of studies on the ECPF carried out by the Centre for Democracy and Development (CDD), the Kofi Anan International Peacekeeping Training Centre (KAIPTC) as well as the Goree Institute.
Other presentations included those by the Expert Consultant of the Workshop, Executive Director of the Kukah Centre for Faith, Leadership and Public Policy, Dr. Arthur-Martins Aginam which bordered on how to popularize and sensitize member states on ECPF as well as strategies for ECOWAS-Media Technical Cooperation.
Wrapping up, the Journalists expressed a strong desire to improve their collaboration with the ECOWAS Commission in the areas of peace building and conflict prevention.
Among the strategies suggested by them for the increased visibility and advocacy for the ECPF in Member States were the creation of a network of journalists on the theme of the workshop, involvement in large scale sensitization campaigns as well as appropriate follow ups and tracking of success stories on peace building in Member States.
The Workshop participants were drawn from reputable national and international media outfits across ECOWAS Member States and backed by senior and programme officers as well as focal points from strategic directorates.
The briefing is coming on the heels of an earlier meeting convened on 11 April, 2016 to assess the progress made by Departments on the operationalization of the 3-Year Priority Plans.
Since the last ISC meeting, the ECPF Secretariat has taken steps towards the effective mobilization of financial resources for the ECPF Focal Point Directorates and the development of monitoring strategy for the ECPF reporting process.
During the meeting, there would be updates on Follow-up Actions taken from last convergence of ECPF Secretariat with stakeholders, feedback from partners as well as an introduction to and internal launch of the ECPF web portal.
The ECPF Web Portal which is in prelaunch stage was developed in keeping with the desire to make the conflict prevention and peace building activities of ECOWAS, more tangible to citizens of West Africa. The birth of the web portal is part of ongoing efforts to reposition and enhance the visibility of the strides of the ECOWAS Conflict Prevention Framework (ECPF) domiciled in the Department of Political Affairs, Peace and Security (PAPS)
The Web Portal which will be published and updated in English and then translated into the two other official languages of the community-French and Portuguese, has a modern look and feel including elements that makes it captivating, navigable and accessible to help in creating the desired visibility and awareness of ECPF programmes and activities.
In a digital and globalizing world, the web portal that promotes peace and alerts to the dangers and drawbacks of conflicts is an important tool for communication and interaction even between community institutions, community citizens and ECOWAS development partners.
Apart from being an information reservoir on the all-important matters of peace, security and conflict resolution, the portal will easily serve the best interest of stakeholders of peace and stability in West Africa while potential donors can with a click, get all the information needed to lend their needed support.
The ISC meeting is a precursor to the complete the launch of the ECPF Web Portal with all the technical details and featuring a presentation to a wider audience including external media collaborators and stakeholders.
The Internal Steering Committee (ISC) of the ECOWAS Conflict Prevention Framework (ECPF) has upped the ante in bringing every Component and stakeholder of the Framework on board towards its smooth implementation.
To this end, the ISC met with Focal Points, officers of stakeholder components as well as representatives of the Development Partners at the ECOWAS Commission on the 11th of April 2016 to brief them on the steps taken by the ECPF Secretariat to fulfil vital recommendations and on the way forward on the operationalization of the ECPF with a view of having a more stable, conflict-free region where the envisaged greater atmosphere of peace can help in the realization of the ECOWAS integration goals.
Welcoming participants to the meeting, the ECOWAS Director, Political Affairs Dr. Remi Ajibewa recalled the strides made towards the consolidation of democracy in the region with internationally acclaimed credible elections which took place in 2016 in Member States of Niger and Benin together with the ones that earlier held in Nigeria, Togo, Cot d’Ivoire, Guinea and Burkina Faso the previous year.
He said that despite the observed fragilities as well as isolated terrorist attacks in Mali, Cote’ d’Ivoire and Burkina Faso, through its monitoring and peacebuilding mechanism, ECOWAS is advancing the cause of preventing conflict triggers especially so now that the new president of the Commission Marcel Alain deSouza has already identified peace and security sectors as his key priority during his tenure. 
At the meeting, participants were briefed by the ECPF Secretariat on the fund raising strategy for the effective implementation of the ECPF, priority programmes for 2016 were also highlighted including updates and complementary follow up actions.
Presentations were also made by the holding Departments and Directorates as well as the representatives of the Development Partners on financial procedures, European Union (EU) procurement procedures, status of the priority areas of ECPF Components, as well as the redesigned ECPF web portal.
In the presentation made by the Communication Directorate, participants were told that the collaboration with the ECOWAS Community Computer Centre had matured to the point where the implementation of the ECPF Web Portal had started in earnest. The Portal which has a modern look and feel would in due course be linked with the main website of the ECOWAS Commission. The Web Portal was described as interactive, complete with user friendly social media tools and frequently updated information.
The meeting which was co-chaired by the representative of the Director of External Relations, Mrs. Benetta Tar also spelt out expected outcomes which included the need for reports by departments on progress of implementation as well as the importance of taking measures to monitor the effect of their outlined activities within the ECPF 3-Year Plan of Action.
The representatives of Partners who were present at the meeting included Mrs. Lena Schildt, Counsellor, Deputy Head, Regional Cooperation, Embassy of Sweden, Addis Ababa, Mrs. Maria Lundberg, First Secretary, Regional Development Co-operation for Sub-Saharan Africa, Embassy of Sweden, Addis Ababa, Dr. Ludwig Kirchner, Head of GIZ Peace and Security, the Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) and Mrs. Yvonne Akpasom, GIZ Adviser. After making their observations, the partners pledged to offer technical and financial support to ECPF Components.
The ECOWAS Conflict Prevention Framework (ECPF) was adopted by the ECOWAS Mediation and Security Council (MSC) in January 2008 to provide a framework for operationalizing efforts to prevent conflicts in ECOWAS Member States. It is aimed towards mainstreaming conflict prevention into ECOWAS’ policies and programs and seeks to strengthen regional capacities and tools for preventing violent conflicts.
Going forward, a Report on the outcome of the ECPF Internal Steering Committee will be prepared and circulated by the ECPF Secretariat to ECOWAS Focal Point Directorates.