Ethiopian CEWERU endorses its Operational Guidelines

The Conflict Early Warning and Response Unit (CEWERU) of Ethiopia, which was established pursuant to the IGAD Protocol establishing the Conflict Early Warning and Response Mechanism (CEWARN), held a workshop on its operational guidelines and Rapid Response Fund Sensitization in Hawassa in collaboration with the CEWARN office based in Addis Ababa.  The workshop discussed and endorsed the operational guidelines for the Ethiopian CEWERU that was introduced at all levels from Federal to the Woreda as well as at Village level Peace Committees.

The workshop was officially opened by the President of the Southern Nations Nationalities and Peoples’ Regional State (SNNPS), Ato Shiferaw Shigute. In his opening remark, Ato Shiferaw underlined that the CEWARN Mechanism is pivotal to address challenges especially of the pastoralist communities. He also added that the Mechanisms so far introduced are complimentary with and will support those endeavors by the Federal and Regional Governments to bring about a structural transformation in the lives of those communities.

The draft operational guidelines presented in the workshop were endorsed after extensive discussions. The Operational Guidelines for CEWERU coordinated activities will create a clear framework of responsibilities and accountabilities for all the CEWERU organs at all levels. It would also allow Ethiopia to fulfill its commitments in the implementation of the CEWARN protocol.  A presentation was also made to the participants to raise awareness about the Rapid Response Fund (RRF) that was created to assist the response mechanism of Member States.  The RRF will assist in the response framework through building the capacity of member states at local levels.  It involves details of project formulation, evaluation, endorsement and funding for member states.

A planning meeting was held after the workshop in which the representatives of Ethiopia, Kenya and the Sudan took part. Present in the meeting were the Provincial Commissioner of the              Rift valley from Kenya, the Peace Commissioner of the Government of South Sudan (GOSS) and the Head of Security of the SNNP Government from Ethiopia.  The planning meeting considered the various difficulties that pastoralist communities face along the common borders, due to lack of pasture and water, the existence of cattle rustling and poverty.