BY CHIKA OKEKE, Abuja
Cross section of stakeholders at the just concluded capacity building for Community Observers, Response Networks and Media on warning and early response held in Kaduna State recently.
Development partners have endorsed the mainstreaming of gender into early warning and early response mechanisms, with a view to integrate youth and vulnerable groups in planning and policy response to early warning.
This was even as they advocated for adequate funding of response agencies to enhance operational efficiency in early warning system and response process.
These formed the crux of discuss at the end of a 2-day capacity building for Community Observers, Response Networks and Media on warning and early response held in Kaduna State from August 22 to 23, 2023.
It was organised by Civil Society Legislative Advocay Centre (CISLAC) in partnership with Transparency International in Nigeria (TI-Nigeria) with the support of Open Foundation Africa (OSF-Africa).
The workshop was attended by over 40 participants including security agencies, community observers, civil society and the media, targeted at enhanced partnership on early warning and conflict prediction mechanisms.
In a communique signed by the Executive Director of CISLAC/TI-Nigeria, Auwal Ibrahim Musa Rafsanjani; Mr Emmanuel Shall of Mercy Corps and a representative from the Global Peace Development, Sunday Adamu, the stakeholders harped on the need to strengthen legislative constituency office across the country.
This, they believed would enhance coordinated feedback and information gathering on early warning signals for timely and targeted response.
The partners enjoined the three tiers of governments to embrace well-informed information gathering, factual presentation and publication, as well as high-level professionalism in early warning reporting for timely response and purposeful development.
They were optimistic that transparency and accountability in the implementation of Defence and Security funds; and adequate funding for Kaduna State Peace Commission would guarantee efficient service delivery.
"Context presentation in story development and integrated gender-lens into conflict reporting to ensure all-inclusiveness and sensitivity in response process.
"Increasing policy focus and intervention on conflict sensitivity will address the root causes of conflict and lingering social agitations across the country.
"In-depth conflict analysis by relevant stakeholders in early warning and early response will support coordinated response to emerging signals," it added.
The experts requested for adequate data collection and analysis through open-minded observation that would objectively analyse conflict signals for proactive response.
They informed on the need to embrace best practices in early warning system through risk assessment, continuous monitoring of conflict signals, accurate data dissemination and communication, and coordinated response.
The Nigeria Network of Peace Journalists however vowed to strengthen peace relationship with Niger Republic; and leverage International Peace Day to promote peace across schools in Kaduna.
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