English [266KB] - West Africa Network for Peacebuilding

VISIONA West Africa region characterized by just and peaceful communities where the dignity of thehuman person is paramount and where the people can meet their basic human needs and decidetheir own direction.MISSIONTo enable and facilitate the development of mechanisms for cooperation among civil society basedpeacebuilding practitioners and organizations in West Africa by promoting cooperative responsesto violent conflicts; providing the structure through which these practitioners and institutions willregularly exchange experience and information on issues of peacebuilding, conflict transformation,social, religious and political reconciliation; and promoting West Africa’s social cultural valuesas resources for peacebuilding.GOALTo build sustainable peace; thereby creating an enabling environment for development in WestAfrica.OBJECTIVESWANEP seeks to. . .1. Strengthen the capability of peacebuilding organizations and practitioners in West Africato engage actively in the peaceful transformation of violent conflicts2. Increase awareness on the use of nonviolent strategies in responding to conflicts in WestAfrica3. Develop a conflict prevention network in West Africa to monitor, report and offer indigenousperspectives and understanding of conflicts in West Africa4. Harmonize peacebuilding activities in West Africa through networking and coordination ofWANEP members.5. Develop the justice lens of peacebuilding to create understanding of the impact of truth,justice, and reconciliation on peacebuilding in West Africa.6. Build the capacity of West African Women to alterly participate in peacebuilding processesat all levels.

TABLE OF CONTENTS5. Message from theChairman6. Management ReportProgram Report 20037. Active Nonviolenceand Peace Education9. West AfricaPeacebuilding Institute11. West Africa EarlyWarning & ResponseNetwork13. Natural Resourceand Conflict Management15. Civil Society Coordination& Programs17. Women inPeacebuilding Network“The most sustainableand effective interventionin any conflict is oneinternally generated andexternally supported”.Editorial Advisors:Sam Gbaydee DoeEmmanuel H. BombandeElizabeth NsarkohBijoue Togoh (French)TABLE OF CONTENTSInsights20. Capacity Buildingin Conflict Prevention &Good Governance23. Information &Communication Technology& Research24. Enhancing theCulture of Peace inWest Africa25. When MediationBecomes Manipulation26. Summary of Events 200330. Member OrganizationsFinancial Report 200333. Income & ExpenditureAccounts 2003Translation:American Language Center, Douala,Cameroon; Tel: 00237-3426699, 00237-7772854West Africa Network forPeacebuildingAmpomah House, 37 DzorwuluHighwayP. O. Box CT 4434, Accra, GhanaTel: +233-21-221318/221388,256439, 258299Fax: +233-21-221735Email: wanep@wanep.orgWebsite: www.wanep.orgPrinters:Hallel Ventures, Accra, Ghana;Tel: +233 21 227576, 237243

Message from the ChairmanNew possibilities and renewed hopes for a more durable peace attendedWest Africa when Charles Taylor was pressured to let go histerrible grips on particularly Liberia and generally the Mano River basincountries of Sierra Leone, Guinea, and Liberia including Cote d’Ivoire inAugust of the year under review. Fifteen years ago, a new brand of warfareunknown to West Africa began in Liberia led by Charles Taylor andsoon spread in West Africa to countries such as Sierra Leone and laterLa Cote D’Ivoire.The people of Sierra Leone remained consistent in their rebuilding exerciseafter 10 years of mayhem that left 27,000 civilians killed, thousandsdisfigured for life, and the state brought down to its knees. SierraLeone’s success so far is the pride achievement of the gallant men andwomen of West Africa through the Economic Community of West AfricanStates (ECOWAS) and later the overwhelming support from the UnitedNations led by a fellow West African, Kofi Annan. I will be wrong if I stopat praising the soldiers. They played their role very well but ordinarypeople, peacebuilding organizations in the sub region led by WANEP,and members of the international community from all walks of life descended on Sierra Leone to restore peace to thebeleaguered country. Every little contribution is acknowledged.Troubles in Cote d’Ivoire still pose a challenge to the budding peace in the sub region but ECOWAS and theinternational community is unrelenting. Backed by peacebuilding, development, and humanitarian organizationsincluding WANEP the success story will not be disrupted. Cote d’Ivoire will polish the rough edges of the peace pactand rediscover the glory that made that country an envy of all West Africans for more than 4 decades.As Liberians resettle in their war-ravaged country they and all West Africans are aware that the task will not be easy.The depth of the destabilization and the pervasive culture of violence are beyond measure. Liberians are under noillusion that things will become better in the short term. What is hopeful however is the incredible resilience and lifelovingcharacter that is so prominent in the Liberian culture. Such character will come handy and make their strugglea bit bearable. All West Africans must rally around them in their rebuilding. In fact it was our sheer indifference to ourneighbor’s burning house that spread the fire, engulfing other houses including our own. We cannot afford to makethe same mistake.WANEP is active and well at the frontlines of all these conflicts. Its national structures supported by the United StatesAgency for International Development West Africa Regional Program (USAID-WARP) and the European Union throughthe Catholic Organization for Relief and Development Aid (CORDAID), the Catholic Relief Services West AfricaRegional Office (CRS-WARO) and DKA are not only fully established, they now lead as we wage peace together. Weparticularly remember the Liberian chapter of WANEP. All international actors including international media could notafford to ignore them during the recent heat in Liberia. The Women in Peacebuilding Network of WANEP-Liberia ledwomen to provide the moral force needed to reawaken the degenerated country. That force followed the warlords toGhana and ensured that they signed a peace deal.It is clear that there are a lot of challenges that WANEP would have to face in the future. This requires a strong andwell-structured WANEP and therefore during the year its regional secretariat held a retreat to deliberate on recommendationsfrom the Fifth Annual General Meeting and has proposed an alternative structure for the RegionalSecretariat, which would be discussed at the Sixth Annual General Meeting.I extend on behalf of the Advisory Council and members of WANEP deepest gratitude to all our donor partners andfriends as well as the men and women at the regional Secretariat who continue to lead. We cannot be content withpeace being in sight. As you know peace in poverty-stricken West Africa is fleeting and must not be taken for granted.It must be guided with vigilance. That is why WANEP is ever more engaged at all levels.Annual Report 2003 5

Management ReportThree years ago WANEP developed its first Strategic Plan. As a young organisation, it was more driven by ideas thatwere yet to live in concrete terms. In those years we faced many challenges especially from the sceptics. Some saidthat our so-called idea to organize civil societies in West Africa as cohesive forces for Peace and Security and criticalindependent variable in the state equation was an illusion. They said that the notion of civil society could only apply if therewas a meaningful institutional separation between a well organised and elightened civil society and a relatively autonomousbureaucratic state.Most of the Civil Society groups we met in West Africa were service deliverers especially in rural communities andapathetic to the state. Those who engaged the state did so with confrontation and suspicion. Patrick Charbal cited by mostsceptics argued in his book “Africa Works- Disorder as political institute” that relationship between civil society in Africaare essentially plural, fragmented and above all, organised along vertical lines. The assumption of a civil society in Africa,therefore, is eminently misleading and a wishful thinking.What we have achieved at the end of our first three year plan simply throws to the dustbin Chabal’s and the other sceptic’stheories and doubts:WANEP was granted a liaison office in ECOWAS with a prominent role on human security. The leaders at theECOWAS Secretariat have indicated that the partnership with WANEP shows that there can be constructiveengagement between government and CSO. They have since established a CSO desk and held their firstECOWAS-CSOSummit. There are at least 300 organisations that benefitfrom collectivity;and the most needed leverageto engage pub-lic policies have increaseddramatically even inwar ravaged countries suchas Liberia, SierraLeone, and Côte d’Ivoire.WANEP is fully insti-tutionalized in 12 countrieswith appreciationfrom governments and governors(in the caseof Nigeria) for the role ofWANEP in peaceand security promotion. Institutionalizing and making peace and nonviolencea culture ina sub-region with noteriety inviolence also wasdramatically received. Civiceducation departments and ministries of education are on board.Governments of some countries wait for WANEP’s policy briefs and early warning reports. Some asked us whenwe began, “how we were surviving in West Africa with our strict-talk” policy briefs. That we are still alive and notdisrupted in all the 12 countries where we have offices should send a hopeful message that cracks are happeningin autocratic regimes and democratic ones are becoming partners.The hen is now crowing in West Africa, thanks to WANEP’s Women in Peacebuilding program. In Liberia, thecoordinator of the Program is an advisor to the leader of the National Transitional Government and leaders of allthe warring factions have made it know publicly that they want the women represented at all disarmament sites.If you think any good thing could not come from West Africa – the poorest sub-region in the world, the most destabilized,and home to some of the oldest dictators in Africa – then think again!As the reports herein demonstrate, the vision is clearer, the possibilities are greater, the number of actors is bigger, andthe odds against us are far fewer. There can be no turning back.Sam G. DoeExecutive DirectorEmmanuel H. BombandeProgramme Director6 Annual Report 2003

Program Report 2003Non-violence and Peace EducationLevinia Addae-MensahThe first eighteen months of the Nonviolence and Peace Education Program engaged various actors from the peacebuildingand education field across West Africa to develop pedagogic tools. The Active Nonviolence and Peace Education program issupported by the European Union through CORDAID and DKA-Austria. It continues to address the crisis of identity and cultureof violence that is spreading in the sub-continent. The program began in August 2000. The focus of the Active Non-violence andPeace Education programme in the third year under review was to strengthen the capacity of teachers in the area of peermediation and to establish peer mediation programmes in selected schools in seven countries in West Africa.Objectives:Translate draft curriculum, teacher’s guide and sourcebook into FrenchTrain francophone country team membersTrain 30 teachers per country in the theory and practice of teaching for peace and in peer mediationTrain 72 peer mediators per countryForm/Inaugurate peace clubs in 84 schools in 7 countriesHighlights of ActivitiesThe activities carried out this year are part of a three-yearprogramme, which began effectively in May 2001. The focus ofthe programme was to test the materials developed by WANEPthrough the training of teachers and students.Training of Teachers in the Anglophone CountriesNigeria: the workshop took place in Enugu on 24-28 March2003. There were 30 participants including 12 females and18 males.Ghana: The workshop took place in Dodowa on 26-30 April2003. There were 26 participants including 14 males and 12females.Liberia: The workshop took place in Monrovia on 17-21 March2003 and there were 30 participants, 20 males and 10 females.Sierra Leone: The workshop took place in Freetown on 24-28March 2003 and there were 31 participants, 21 males and 10females.Training of Teachers in the Francophone CountriesCôte d’Ivoire: The workshop took place on 2-6 June 2003. 33participants were present including 17 males and 16 females.Togo: The workshop took place on 19-24 May 2003. 26 participantstook part including 21 males and 5 females.Guinea Conakry: The workshop took place on 5-9 May. 31participants took part including 20 males and 11 females.Training workshops for Peer Mediators in the AnglophoneCountriesNigeria: The workshop took place in Enugu. 72 students tookpart, 38 males and 34 females.Ghana: The workshop took place in Accra on 23-27 June and28 July to 1 August respectively. 72 students took part, 36males and 36 females.Sierra Leone: The workshop took place on 21-25 July inFreetown. 65 students took part including 24 males and 31females.Training workshops for Peer Mediators in the FrancophoneCountriesCôte d’Ivoire: The workshop took place in Anyama on 25-29August 2003. 60 students took part including 31 males and29 females.Togo: The workshop took place in Bagbe on 7-12 October2003. 73 students took part including 42 males and 31 females.Guinea: The workshop took place in Conakry on 22-25 November2003. 71 students took part including 40 males and31 females.Inauguration of Peace ClubsThe inauguration of Peace clubs took place in informal waysin the various schools in all the countries throughout the lastquarter of the year. However in Nigeria a special ceremony tocommemorate this activity was organised bringing togethervarious students from all the schools involved in theprogramme in Enugu on 6 November 2003.TOT workshop for Francophone country teamsThis workshop took place in Lome, Togo on 10-14 March 2003.15 teachers took part including 10 males and 5 females.Outputs 15 peacebuilding francophone practitioners and educationaliststrained in a Francophone Regional Workshop French versions of peer mediation manual, curriculum,teacher’s guide and source book for primary andsecondary schools produced. 7 Training of Trainers (TOT) workshops organisedfor teachers. 14 Peer mediation training workshops organised forstudents from first and second cycle schools in the sevencountries. 5 member country teams formed in all seven countriesin the programme 204 teachers from a minimum of 84 schools in sevenAnnual Report 2003 7

Program Report 2003Highlights of Activities8countries in West Africa were trainedin the theory and practice of teachingfor peace and in peer mediation485 students from primary, secondaryand tertiary schools in sevencountries in West Africa trained tobe peer mediatorsPeace clubs established in atleast 60 schools in seven countriesin West Africa An increased awarenessamong students of non-violentmeans of dealing with conflictsIndirect Outputs In Cote d’Ivoire, the UN Officefor the Coordination of HumanitarianAffairs, OCHA, has partneredwith WANEP’s network in that countryto train peer mediators from bothurban centres and from rebel-controlledterritories where formal educationalprogrammes have beendisrupted. Again in Cote d’Ivoire, both theministries of Reconciliation and ofEducation have accompanied theprocess of implementing theprogramme. In Guinea, the vision, missionand objectives of the programmehave not only been shared by theNational Civic Education Departmentof the Ministry of Education ofthe Republic of Guinea, but havebeen integrated into the national civiceducation programme as a key partof that programme which aims atfighting thehigh levels ofviolenceamong youthsin that country. The RegionalUN officefor DisarmamentandIntegration inTogo has expressedinterestand is developinga partnershipwiththe program. In SierraLeone, thetraining workshops for teachers andthe pedagogic tools produced byWANEP have served as an integralpart of the peace educationprogramme of the Children LearningServices, an NGO that engagesin reducing violence among youthsin Sierra Leone and providing hopefor young victims of the just-endedwar.At the international level, theappreciation of WANEP’s work inActive non-violence and Peace Educationled to WANEP being invitedto play key roles in regional and internationalinitiatives relating topeace education.Key challenges Problems associated with thesetting up of functional national networkstructures impacted in theorganisation of activities. The lack of incentives for teachersto conduct extra-curriculum activitiesis beginning to reduce the enthusiasmof some of the teachersinvolved in the program. The success of any peer mediationprogramme in schools is toa large extent dependent on an efficientcoordination of the programmein the schools concerned. However,the initial design of the programmedid not make provision for supportingthe peace clubs and the peermediation programmes.Lessons learntThough WANEP has refrainedfrom high visibility through the media,recent involvement of the mediain covering some of the activitiesof the peace educationprogramme in countries such asCote d’Ivoire and Guinea has contributedimmensely to the positiveimpact of the programme in thosecountries. The media is therefore animportant partner for maximum impactof this program. The Anglophone andFrancophone mix in WANEP is providingopportunities to learn key lessonsabout the francophone cultureof education and learning and thiscontinues to inform the shape of theprogramme for the threefrancophoneand four Anglophonecountries involved in theprogramme.Even though conducting peermediation training workshops forprimary school pupils has been verychallenging as some of the conceptsof peacebuilding are difficultto break down to that level, with theappropriate methodology, the efforthas been worthwhile and goes toprove that it is never too early to beginto adopt non-violent means todealing with conflicts.Follow-Up ActivitiesA comprehensive evaluation of the CollaborativePeacebuilding Program inWest Africa of which the Active Non-Violenceand Peace Education Program isa major program has been done in December2003. The second phase of theprogram will be informed by the outcomesof the evaluation. In the meantime,there will be monitoring visits toselected schools, education ministriesand other relevant educational institutionsin 2004. The programme will begina process of research to gather empiricalevidence on issues relating to violenceand youth. This will reinforce thedesign of the next phase of the Active nonviolenceand Peace Educationprogramme.Annual Report 2003

Program Report 2003West Africa Peacebuilding Institute (WAPI)Ecoma AlagaThe West Africa Peacebuilding Institute, (WAPI), is an initiative of WANEP and its strategic partners. It is a peaceinstitute designed and set up to provide specialized, intensive training in conflict transformation and peacebuilding, at areduced cost, to practitioners from across West Africa and beyond. It provides the space and platform for the actualizationof WANEP’s schema for the resolution of conflicts in Africa by Africans. It is also the learning centre at WANEP forexchange of best practice and research in peacebuilding in West Africa.Objectives:WAPI was launched in September 2002 with the following objectives:• To increase the number of competent, informed and active peacebuilding practitioners in West Africa.• To provide quality training (similar to trainings in Europe and America) at a reduced cost• To develop mechanisms that will integrate other models with local, indigenous models to address the contextualrealities of issues of conflict, peace and human security within West Africa in particular, and Africa ingeneral.Highlights of ActivitiesWAPI 2003 took place at the Coconut Grove Beach Resort,Elmina, Ghana. It was officially opened by Dr AntwiVladimir Danso on Sunday, September 7 th . The ParamountChief of Elmina, the town that hosted the WAPI campus,Nana Kondua, waspresent to give his blessingsto the program. Alsoin attendance were Mr.Tayib Thomas from theCatholic Relief Servicesand Rev. Fr. ClementAapengnou of the NorthernGhana Peace Projectwho chaired the occasion.The Executive Director ofWANEP, Mr. Sam Doe,gave the welcome addressand Mr. EmmanuelBombande, the Directorof Programs (WANEP), formally introduced WAPI to participantsand invited guests. Participants were given a rundown of the campus schedule by the WAPI coordinator,Ms. Ecoma Alaga.The training program ran from September 8 th to 26 th withthree sessions, each with two 5-day intensive courses runningconcurrently. Courses were sequenced for practitionersat various experience and skill levels.50 participants (18 females and 32 males) were drawn frompractitioners working with religious institutions, civil societyorganizations involved in humanitarian/relief aid, development,peacebuilding, human rights and advocacy, socialwelfare, as well as government institutions. Fifteen nationalitieswere represented from different countries in WestAfrica and from East Africaand Madagascar. Allparticipants brought personalknowledge and experiencesof living orworking in areas involvedin protracted conflicts.They also came keen,willing and motivated tolearn.The teaching method washighly participatory, providingspace for extensiveparticipant contributionand group discussion,role plays and simulation,in combination with formal tutor inputs. The curriculumencouraged reflective learning and participants worked inlearning sets that took advantage of their range of experiencein different political, social and cultural contexts,thereby blending theory and practice.Building Community in a Learning EnvironmentThe WAPI family was one of mutual respect and learning.Participants, faculty, staff and guest lecturers explored issuesof concern within the sub region through classroominteraction and weekend seminars. Informal sharing of personalanecdotes created trust, friendship and built hopeAnnual Report 2003 9

Program Report 2003Highlights of Activitiesworship. The climax of this was the lighteningof candles as a symbol of peace and apledge to stay committed to the quest forjust peace.as participants relaxed together over weekend dinners, recreationaloutings, variety nights, sporting activities, martialart drills, picnics, dance parties and worship. Bonds of personaland collegial friendship were established across national,regional and continental boundaries.Variety/Cultural NightsOn Wednesdays, variety nights were organized. These featuredcultural displays from different countries, depictingthe rich cultural heritage of Western Africa. Western Africafolklores and jokes were also shared. There were also displaysfrom East Africa (Uganda and Kenya) and Madagascar.Excursions/Weekend dinnersOn Saturdays, tours were organized for interested participants.These took participants to the famous Elmina castleand the Kakum canopy walkway. Others chose to eitherexplore the Cape Coast environs on their own or stayedback on the beach to enjoy the ocean view. In the evenings,participants reconvened to attend weekend dinners. Thesetook place in the Elmina Beach Resort and the Cape CoastHotel. The climax of each of these weekend dinners wasseminar presentations by invited guest speakers, who drewtheir themes from issues of conflict, peace and developmentin Africa.Inter-religious Peacebuilding ServiceOn Thursday, the 25 th of September, an inter-religiouspeacebuilding service was organized. All participants (Moslems,Catholics and Protestants alike) came together toOutputs of WAPI 2003 50 informed trained and equipped practitioners. The formation of an Alumni body as a basefor networking and exchange of informationon issues of peace and conflict. Development of action plans on ActiveNon-violence and Peace Education forschools in the different countries participantswere drawn from. *Participants have reportedthat they have begun developing and planningactivities on these. Launch of the WAPI Journal which providesparticipants the literal space to articulatetheir views and share their experiences.Production of a WAPI documentary.Key Challenges Non-availability of core funds, especially in thearea of sponsorship Untimely submission of course documents whichdelays timely production of course packs Limited number of computers, printers and photocopiersin the WAPI campus Inability to provide Francophones with all readersavailable to the Anglophones.Lessons Learnt After a two year experience, it will be useful toadvertise WAPI at both the regional and nationallevels through the national networks to increasethe participation of grassroots peacebuilders As a means of engendering the training, moreeffort should be put in encouraging women andassisting them financially to attend WAPI. Thewomen who participate in WAPI should be activein the women’s program of WIPNET.WAPI 2004 PlanningThe planning for WAPI 2004 is exploring increasing thenumber of courses from 6 to 8, organising an annual symposiumand a research on a specific topical issue. Thevolume of a WAPI journal is forthcoming while discussionstowards affiliation with an identifiable institution foraccreditation to WANEP will be initiated.10Annual Report 2003

Program Report 2003West Africa Early Warning & Response Network (WARN)Takwa Z. SuifonThe West Africa Early Warning and Early response Network (WARN) is a pivotal programme in the context of the West AfricaPreventive Peacebuilding Strategy of WANEP. WANEP is a member of the Forum on Early Warning and Early Response(FEWER), a global non-governmental organization with a particular focus on conflict prevention. WARN is therefore at theforefront of civil society early warning in Africa, with an initial emphasis on West Africa. WARN’s visibility and recognition hastaken WANEP into a major collaboration with the sub-regional inter-governmental structure, the Economic Community of WestAfrican States (ECOWAS).Objectives:WARN’s overall objective is to institutionalize a culture of prevention in West Africa through an appropriate and effective earlywarning and early response mechanism. WARN therefore envisages the following objectives:• Develop community, national and sub-regional capacities/structures for early detection, early warning and early responsethrough training, data base development, and technical assistance.• Identify and monitor context specific conflict and peace indicators and analyse them for preventive purposes.• Foster collaborative relationships with/between civil society and existing national, sub-regional/regional and internationalearly warning, conflict prevention, and peacebuilding organizations.• Share early warning reports, policy briefs, preventive instruments, mechanisms, tools, and strategies with partners, stakeholders,policy makers/actors potential interveners.• Promote proactive/pre-emptive and integrated approaches to conflict prevention and peacebuilding.Highlights of ActivitiesNigerian Trainings:2003 began with a major training oftrainers in conflict analysis in Abuja,the Federal Capital of Nigeria. Itbrought together heads of NGOs, academics,lawyers and community leadersfrom five out of the six geopoliticalregions of Nigeria. The five day intensivetraining (January 6-10) generateda lot of enthusiasm among the participantswho were determined to take theacquired skills to the field given thechallenge posed by inter-communaland religious conflicts, resource basedconflicts and the threat posed by therise in vigilante and ‘area boys’ phenomenonthat have undermined peaceand stability in Nigeria especially in thepast decade. Replication workshopshave since followed and Nigeria isgradually but surely laying the groundwork for preventive peacebuilding.Funding came from the German basedBread for the World.Early Warning Policy Briefs, LiberiaThe challenge posed by the fourteenyear long Liberian civil war rekindledthe WARN resolve. Highly appreciatedpolicy briefs were written as WANEP’scontribution to peace in Liberia. WARNpolicy briefs became the working documentsduring the Liberian peace talksin Accra as scores of copies wereprinted and distributed to participantsfrom all sides of the divide and mediatorsdrew a lot from them. In recognitionof WARN’s insights and analysis,the draft copy of the peace agreementwas shared with WANEP for perusal,comments and inputs.Guinea Policy BriefThere is a justifiable cause for concerngiven the precarious situation in GuineaConakry with rising indicators of violentconflict in a region already renderedvulnerable and fragileby wars in SierraLeone, Liberia andCote d’Ivoire. Benton its objective ofpursuing a preventiveculture, WARN embarkedon data collectionin an attemptto pre-empt yet anotherimminent catastrophein WestAfrica. A policy briefto sound the alarm was prepared in preludeto attempts at a round table conferencebetween the major actors andstakeholders in Guinea. The plannedround table was put on hold with arapid deterioration of the security situationin Guinea at the time of writingthis report. A policy brief was howevercirculated on the eve of the generalelections.Outputs• Over 25 Conflict analysts trained inNigeria, a strategic country forpeace and stability in West Africa.Annual Report 2003 11

Program Report 2003Highlights of Activities• More than 100 monitors alreadytrained in the various geo-politicalregions of Nigeria with different conflictpotentials.• Three major policy briefs on Liberiagreatly influenced the August 2003Liberian peace agreement. It put anend to the rebellion as Charles Taylorbowed out of power, into exile inNigeria.Major Outcomes• Media Solicitations: As a result ofWARN’s authoritative breakthroughsand hallmarks, mediasolicitation in 2003 was overwhelming.Ghanaian radio stations suchas Joy FM, Choice FM, RadioGhana, and Ray Power in Nigeriaas well as television stations inthese countries (Metro TV, TVThree, and GTV Ghana, Africa IndependentTelevision-AIT Nigeria)were regular hosts to WARN on awide range of issues in the sub-region.The British Broadcasting Corporation(BBC World Service) andVoice of Germany (RadioDeutchewelle) consistently soughtWARN analyses on burning issuesin Liberia, Cote d’Ivoire, Nigeria andGhana. The UN informationwebsite, IRIN solicited WANEP’sauthorization to publish WARN’sreports.• UN, UNDP,EU, andECOWAS Recognition:TheUN RegionalOffice for Africabased in AddisAbaba has enteredinto anagreement withWANEP tostrengthen theECOWASEarly WarningSystem beginning in 2004. The EUCommission President, RomanoProdi did not mince words when herecently referred to WARN’s reportas “…one of the best reports I haveever read from Africa”. ECOWASpersonnel have equally appreciatedWARN’s analysis and anxiouslylook forward to more collaborationwith WANEP in the area of earlywarning.• Partners and Collaborators’ Feedback:WANEP partners, both individualsand institutions have continuedto appreciate WARN reports.The Institute for Security Studies(ISS) South Africa, FEWER haveall appreciated the quality of WARNreports and have published someof them on their websites while alsosharing with varied stakeholders.Key Challenges• WARN as a program did not havea budgetary allocation. Most initiativeswere ad hoc, borne out of theprofessional commitment. Thussustainable sponsorship in 2004would revive and revitalize the programand confirm WARN’s strategicrole in conflict prevention in WestAfrica.• Early Warning Euphoria: Despitethe limited means, many countriesare soliciting special trainings inearly warning and early response.The solicitations and questions“…what are you doing in Guinea,Togo, Burkina Faso and Niger” byvarious partners and members ofthe international community is amajor challenge.• Security Context/Risk management:Given the very nature of earlywarning and the continuousmisperception of early warning asintelligence reports, the risk posedto monitors and analysts is enormousespecially in a region that stillhas some dictatorial regimes. Politicalearly warning therefore remainsa challenge though our collaborationwith ECOWAS may constitutea bulwark against some governmentrepressive machinery.Follow-Up Plans for Year 2004The WARN program envisages severalmajor activities in 2004. Training activitywill resume in January in the in theSenegambia region, followed by theECOWAS-UNDP-WANEP cooperationagreement trainings/consultations.As part of the Capacity Building inConflict Prevention Program forECOWAS and Civil Society Organizationsin West Africa, WANEP shallsupport ECOWAS to write four zonalearly warning reports and two sub-regionalreports under the auspices ofWARN.WARN in 2004 will seek to institutionalizethe early warning policy briefingsessions on an alternative basis in theWANEP secretariat in Accra andECOWAS Secretariat in Abuja as away of soliciting views and engagementof key response actors and stakeholders.It would bring together membersof government; diplomats; representativesof international organizations; themedia, NGO, civil society and opinionleaders and the academia.12Annual Report 2003

Program Report 2003Natural Resource and Conflict ManagementRuby DagaduIn its first year and tested in Ghana as a pilot project, the Natural Resource Conflict Management Program (NRCMP)wasconceptualised and designed to understand conflicts that arise over natural resource management. It is an integral part of asustainable livelihoods approach to development. As more flexible, people centred and collaborative approaches to povertyalleviation and resource management are developed, the changes that follow naturally generate conflicts. The challenge is todeal with these conflicts in a constructive way by creating opportunities for understanding between disputants. The NRCMPhas been putting emphasis on the collaborative management of natural resource conflicts through “interest based negotiations.”The NRCMP is part of a bigger program on Improving Support for Enhancing Livelihoods of the Rural Poor supported by theUnited Kingdoms Department for International Development (DFID). WANEP is the host institution as well as implementationagency for the program. Trainees are drawn from various institutions while an advisory board has been constituted forcollaborative management of the program. The following are key stakeholders in the NRCMP. CARE International Ministry of Food and Agriculture (MOFA/DAES) Action Aid Ghana Natural Resources Management Platform University of Development Studies, Ghana Directorate of Fisheries (MOFA) SNV/Netherlands Development Organization Forestry Commission, Ghana World Vision GhanaObjectives: With support from partner agencies, enable the FAO field and regular programmes become more effective in theapplication of sustainable livelihood approaches. In collaboration with its partners such as WANEP, contribute directly to the promotion and application of enhancedsustainable livelihood approaches within the FAO and sub-programme partner agencies through improved conflictmanagement methods and approaches Reduce the vulnerability of selected stakeholder groups. Conduct a training of trainers (TOT) programme on conflict management.Highlights of ActivitiesThe reporting period for the NRCMP isfrom May to December 2003:First Training WorkshopBetween August 22 to 30 2003 at theGhana Institute of Management andPublic Administration (GIMPA), 22 participants(19 males: 3 females) weretrained on the key steps in the collaborativeapproach to managing conflictin community-based forest management.Participants were introducedto the first five steps of the map of acollaborative process. The purposewas to equip participants with skillsto handle each of the steps of a collaborativeapproach to conflict managementwithin a Sustainable LivelihoodApproach (SLA)Field MentoringThe participants in Training one togetherwith the Trainees selected eighttraining sites across Ghana where theTrainees applied the sharing, skills andknowledge acquired from the first training.Between September and November,the Trainees travelled to the trainingsites and mentored Trainees in theapplication of the tools in real naturalresource conflicts identified in eachtraining site.Training twoFrom November 13 to 22, 19 participants(15 males: 4 females) werepresent throughout the period of thesecond training. It was a follow up totraining one and also a continuation ofsteps 6-9 of the collaborative approachto conflict management.The first two days were used to givefeedback and share experiences fromthe field. There were inputs, group discussions,exercises, role-plays and afield trip to one of the conflict sites atAssin Akropong where one of theTeams of Trainees is applying tools andknowledge of conflict management.The workshop ended with the developmentof action plans by the variousteams.Case study Writing and JournalingEach of the 22 Trainees working inteams on selected conflicts are writingcase studies of the conflicts theyare working with as well as keeping aAnnual Report 2003 13

Program Report 2003Highlights of Activitiesjournal of their activities. The Journal will help to re-adaptthe materials and tools used. It is anticipated that the programwould be extended to other West African countriesthrough the WANEP Networks.Outputs Eighteen participants/Trainees have formed a networkof experts. They will share their experienceswith others, exchange technical information onnatural resource conflict issues, and build a strongresource base for the management of Natural ResourcesConflicts. At end of thethird training,the numberof NaturalResourceConflict ManagementTrainees willincrease by20 During theperiod underreview, aconflict involvingcommunitieslivingon theWetlands ofthe Amazuriin the WesternRegion has been mediated and outcomesagreed by all the communities will be implementedbeginning January 2004 During the reporting period, a fisheries conflictaround a community based project supported bythe FAO in Saltpong in the Central Region of Ghanahas been resolved. During the period of reporting, progress has beenmade in resolving a major forestry conflict in AssinAkropong in the Central Region of Ghana.Key Challenges There is still a misunderstanding of the role playedby the partner agencies and their contribution tothe programme. Time allocated for field mentoring work out of otherduties and schedules in the institutions of Traineesis inadequate. A lot more on the field couldhave been achieved as a direct impact of the program.There is a lack of gender balance in the selectionof Trainees. Trainees are not well sensitized ongender issues and the need to include gender considerationsin natural resource conflict managementis important.There is the need to make more explicit to thevarious institutions of the participants what theprogramme stands to achieve and how it can beinstitutionalised in the participating partner agencies.Lessons Learnt It is important toinvolve partner agenciesin the design ofprograms such as theNRCMP in order toget their full cooperationfor the successfulimplementation ofsuch programs The keennessof participants to learnmade teaching sessionshighly participatory. The fieldmentoring of Traineescoupled with field tripsduring training providedunique learning opportunities.Follow-up ActivitiesA second phase of field mentoring will commence in Januaryas Trainees work on Natural Resource Conflicts in Ghanafrom December 2003 to March 2004. Between January toMarch 2004, there will be a follow-up on conflicts werecommunities are implementing agreements reached duringnegotiations. The NRCMP is being discussed at variouslevels with partners and WANEP is developing strategiesfor its implementation in other national networks.14 Annual Report 2003

Program Report 2003Civil Society Coordination & ProgramsVictoria KunbourThe civil society desk was set up in May 2003 and placed under the Capacity Building Program (CBP) to coordinateand facilitate the civil society component of the program which is to strengthen and enhance the capacities of civilsociety for effective collaboration in conflict prevention, good governance and peacebuilding in the West Africa subregion.The desk is also the focal point for partnership with the European Center for Conflict Prevention (ECCP) andWANEP.Objectives: Develop a common platform for effective action in conflict prevention from the community to the global level Establish regional thematic conflict prevention and peacebuilding networks composed of key NGOs, CSOS, CBOS,sub-regional networks, practitioners and academics. Strengthen and enhance national networking through civil society consultations Create national civil society forumsfor effective advocacy, lobby and partnership with governments Organise a regional civil society conference to develop a regional action plan for conflict prevention, peacebuildingand good governance in the sub-region.Highlights of ActivitiesMeetings to Create National CSOThematic Groups and Civil SocietyForum (CSF)In the year under review, CSOS havebeen active in conflict prevention, goodgovernance and peacebuilding, throughconsultative meetings. The ProgramCoordinators made field visits to tencountries and helddiscussions with keyCSOS on the formationof a broader nationalcivil society forum.Meetings held duringthe field visits sought tohighlight problems andlessons learned on therole of civil societyorganizations in conflictprevention,peacebuilding and goodgovernance. The extentto which civil societyorganizations areengaged with theirrespective governmentsand the ECOWASrepresentatives in their respectivecountries was also assessed.With the exception of Guinea, preparatorymeetings for the formation of CivilSociety Forum were held. Variouspeacebuilding, conflict prevention, goodgovernance and other thematic organizationsparticipated in these meetingsat the respective country levels.As an outcome of these preparatorymeetings, working groups have beenselected to support the processes,which will lead to the holding of NationalConsultations and finally a regionalCivil Society Forum in 2004. TheRegional CSF will influence bothECOWAS and the United Nations indeveloping appropriate strategies forconflict prevention, good governanceand peacebuilding in West Africa, takinginto account country specific needsand realities, and the role of civil societyin these processes.WANEP-Fund for Peace RegionalCivil Society ConsultationThe Fund for Peace (FfP) in collaborationwith WANEP held a regional workshopin Accra on 27-28 October 2003 onthe role of civil societyin building regionalcapacities to protectcivilians from conflictsin West Africa. At thecivil society, nationaland regional levels,key issues and problemswere identified,and recommendationsfor improvementwere made in order tobetter address conflictand humanitariancrisis in the region.The role of ECOWASin preventing conflictand undertaking military interventionswas also explored and concrete recommendationswere put forth to improveits operating and coordinatingrole with and alongside the efforts ofcivil society organizations.Annual Report 2003 15

Program Report 2003Highlights of ActivitiesWest Africa Civil Society OrganizationsForum (WACSOF)WANEP played a key role in assistingECOWAS in collaboration withCenter for Democratic Development(CDD) and International Alert to hold ameeting of civil society organizationacross West Africa in Accra on 11-12December 2003. There were up to 100participants with about 60 male and40 female. The civil society desk assistedin the selection of viable andcredible CSOS from the WANEP nationalnetworks. During the meetingparticipants ratified and adopted theCharter of the West Africa Civil SocietyForum and issued a communiquéwhich was presented to the ECOWASCouncil of Ministers for onward presentationto the ECOWAS Heads ofStates submit held in Accra on 19thDecember 2003.OutputsAn emerging active desk forcivil society activities atWANEP Regional for effectivecivil society mobilizationacross West Africa Of the 100 participants 30WANEP network leaders participatedin WACSOF 173 CSO participated in preparatorymeetingsin 11 countries Effective collaborationwithFund for PeaceestablishedKey Challenges At WANEPRegional, integratingthe mobilizationof CivilSociety Organizationsthroughthe Civil SocietyDesk to participateactively in WANEP programsrequires streamlining. Funding is a major challengeto the implementation of thecivil society programs. Eventhough WANEP planned to organizea Regional Civil SocietyForum it now has to takeinto account other initiativesparticularly, the integration ofWANEP’s Civil Society Programactivity with WACSOF.Lessons learnt• A WANEP civil society deskis providing the platform forCSOS mobilization. WANEPis seen as a leader of CSOSin the sub-region and shouldhave the capacity for suchmobilisation.• The establishment of nationalforums and regional bodieslike WACSOF implies a redesignof WANEP civil societyprogram and active collaborationwith those structures inorder to achieve its objectiveof creating a platform for civilsociety advocacy.• During the year under review,the need for advocacy byWANEP is evident and theCivil Society Desk should incorporateadvocacy capacitiesand implementation.Follow-Up ActivitiesThe Civil Society Desk will intensifybroader consultations to completethe organisation of nationalCSOS forums and organise a regionalconsultation in March toform a Regional Steering group aspart of WANEP’s role as RegionalInitiator in West Africa in the GlobalPartnership for Armed ConflictPrevention partnership with theEuropean Centre for Conflict Prevention(ECCP).16 Annual Report 2003

Program Report 2003Women in Peacebuilding Network (WIPNET)Thelma EkiyorIn 2003, the Women in Peacebuilding program (WIPNET) focused on strengthening and broadening initiatives implementedin the pilot year. A strategic programmatic decision was made to develop and strengthen the capacity of ruraland urban women at the national level aimed at localizing issues of peace and conflict affecting women, involvingwomen’s groups in policy frameworks on peace and security and ensuring that all WANEP’s initiatives mainstreamgender components.Objectives Build capacity in policy analysis, advocacy and lobbying skills, advanced negotiation and mediation Translation of training methodologies into indigenous West African languages Mainstreaming of gender into peace studies programs in West Africa Involvement of women’s groups in formal peace processes in the regionHighlights of ActivitiesCapacity Building:In 2003, the following capacity buildinginitiatives were implemented: A trainingworkshop in specialized peacebuildingtechniques was organized for 20 womenon the 24 – 28 March in the Republic ofBenin. This workshop paved the way forthe women in peacebuilding program inBenin. As a result of the workshop, keywomen working under the umbrella ofWIPNET are working towards key peaceinitiatives for rural women in the country.A regional training workshop in leadershipand teambuilding, advocacy, advancedmediation and negotiation skillsfor 11 WIPNET focal persons was organizedin Côte d’Ivoire on August 19 – 23,2003 with support from the Global Fundfor Women and the Catholic Relief Services.Consultative meetings:Women in peacebuilding as a distinctfield is in its formative stages. Consultativemeetings organized during the yearunder review provided opportunity forwomen’s groups across the sub regionto input into how the field is shaping.WANEP also uses these consultationswhen intervening in a country for the firsttime. This enables actors to work withWANEP in designing appropriate strategiesto suit the countries needs. In 2003,consultative meetings were organized in:- Jos, Nigeria in collaboration withCBD-NGO forum; an umbrella NGOorganization working in the middlebelt region of Nigeria. The aim of theconsultation was to form a coalitionof women’s groups working forpeace in the ethnically divided region.A key outcome of the consultationwas that CBD-NGO forum andWANEP committed their institutionsto ensuring that women’s groups inthis coalition would have the requisiteskills to enable them work asactors in peacebuilding.- A re-strategizing consultation for 20women from various civil societygroups was organized in TheGambia on 6 November 2003.Though WIPNET has had membersin The Gambia since 2002, the aimof this consultation was to review thegoals of the program in The Gambiawithin the newly formed WANEPstructure and to identify actors thatwould work with the program in theformulation of a wider SeneGambiawomen’s agenda for peace. A 3-yearplan of activities for the country commencesin 2004.- On July 31 st, WIPNET organizedconsultative meeting for 28 womenleaders in Côte d’Ivoire. This meetingwas organized to identify the roleof women in the post conflict era inCôte d’Ivoire and the needs and challengesof women in peacebuildingin Côte d’Ivoire.- In July 2003, a strategic planningmeeting was organized for WIPNETmembers in Senegal to develop aplan of action for the implementationof initiatives in the country. Thismeeting helped WANEP and its partner,Oxfam America to have a clearerunderstanding of key areas of focusfor women in Senegal. The goal ofthe members was to work withgroups across the country to find along lasting solution to theCasamance conflict.Translation of Manual:Women in rural communities do not oftenbenefit from training initiatives inpeacebuilding because existing trainingtools are in French and English. To facilitateapplicability, and linguistic relevance,in 2003 the women inpeacebuilding program embarked on a3-year project to translate the specializedtraining tools and methodologies toindigenous West African languages. Thefirst phase of this project translated themanual into Krio, Hausa and Dioula.Mainstreaming gender into peace studiesprogram:The conflicts in West Africa necessitatedthe development of indigenous conflictstudy programs. Though women makeup the majority in local populations, thesenew peace studies programs do nothave programs that address issues ofgender in peacebuilding. WIPNET approachedthe Peace and Conflict Studiesprogram at the University of Ibadanand pointed out the gaps and imbalanceexcluding gender would create in students’learning. The University appreciatingthe existing gap partnered withWIPNET to organize a symposium on“Engendering peace studies programsin West Africa. The symposium had arange of objectives including raising theawareness of the importance of a gen-Annual Report 2003 17

Program Report 2003Highlights of Activitiesder perspective in peacebuilding course and deliberating onavenues to engender existing courses being taught at institutions.Various topical papers were presented including: “TowardsGender and Peace building Curriculum for West Africa” andEngendering peacebuilding courses; “Opportunities forlearning”. A third paper examined “Developing a workablecurriculum in Gender and peacebuilding in West Africa.This multi-disciplinary symposium was well attended by Academicsfrom the fields of Law, Education, International Relationsand Economics. Peacebuilding practitioners providedpractical examples of the importance of including gender inpeacebuilding.The main outcome of thesymposium was a 4-point working documenton the process of developinga curriculum forcourse on gender andpeacebuilding in West Africaninstitutions of learning.The thorough outcomeof the symposiumled University authoritiesto develop a pilot courseon gender andpeacebuilding to commencein 2004.Mano River Union (MRU)Women’s peace summit:WIPNET organized theMRU women’s peace summit on August 17 – 18 2003 in Coted’Ivoire with support from the Urgent Action Fund. The summitwas organized in response to the looming humanitarian andsecurity threats posed by the Liberian crisis to neighbouringcountries. Over 200 delegates from Cote d’Ivoire, Liberia,Sierra Leone and Guinea Conakry deliberated on spreadingwars in the region and the roles women can play in fosteringpeace. Specifically, the summit examined the prospects ofwomen’s groups working on peace forming a common advocacyagenda that would influence policies on peace and securityin the region. A concrete outcome of the summit was thedecision of all the delegates that an observatory for women’sgroups be formed across the sub region to serve as a watchdogfor peace and security policies in the region. WANEP wasnominated as the coordinating organization for this observatory.The communiqué issued at end of the summit was disseminatedto NGOs, intergovernmental institutions, and thedonor community. This document has facilitated the inclusionof WIPNET members in the key peace process in Cote d’Ivoirewhere members were part of a peace delegation that went tothe rebel held city of Bouake to promote the reconciliationprocess in the country.Liberia women’s mass action for peace:The Liberian crisis erupted in April 2003, and the focus ofWIPNET shifted to ensuring that women played a key role inpeace process. The women of Liberia under the auspices ofWIPNET embarked upon a long term, large-scale peace advocacycampaign known as the “Mass action for peace”. Thecampaign, which began in Liberia, saw thousands of womenconducting mass demonstrations and sit, ins dressed in sackcloth (white t-shirts, lappas and head scarves). Demonstrationswere held at the airfield, embassies and United Nationscompound.The presence of thousandsof women on thestreets of Liberia pressuredthe then PresidentCharles Taylor to seek anaudience with thewomen. At this audience,the women clearly articulatedtheir concerns onthe growing violence inthe country. A positionstatement was presentedto President Taylorin which they spelt outmeasures to be taken.With support from theCatholic Relief Services(CRS), Urgent ActionFund, African WomenDevelopment Fund(AWDF), and Oxfam GB, the women of Liberia took the MassAction to peace talks in Akosombo and Accra, Ghana, wherethey demonstrated outside the venues. Interviews were heldwith local and international media where the women askedfor regional and international intervention in the Liberian crisis.Akosombo also presented the women of Liberia with therare opportunity to meet with all sides in the conflict. WIPNETmembers liaised on a regular basis with rebel leaders, governmentrepresentatives and opposition leaders from theDiaspora. The message to all sides was the same; the womenof Liberia wanted an immediate cease-fire, the deployment ofIntervention Force, that all sides should engage in fruitful dialogueand finally, that the International community shouldmonitor the cease-fire.The vocal and consistent position of the women under theMass Action for peace led to Liberians appreciating the womenas the conscience of the people and they became a rallyingpoint for civil society mobilization in Liberia. Due to the involvementof women in the peace process, WIPNET has been18 Annual Report 2003

Program Report 2003Highlights of Activitiesinvited by the Transitional government in Liberia to play anactive role in the Disarmament Demobilization and Rehabilitation(DDR) process.Women in peacebuilding course at WAPI:The first women in peacebuilding course was offered at theWest African Peacebuilding Institute (WAPI). The class, whichhad 7 men blended theory and practice on women inpeacebuilding. Using mini lectures, simulations, role playsand group work the course covered the following topics:women & religion, gender mainstreaming in peacebuilding,violence against women, national, regional and internationalprotocols and instruments on women, peace and security.Participants at the course particularly the men, claim that thecourse broadened their understanding of women, peace andconflict. In the words of one of the participants, “what womenare saying they want in peacebuilding should be somethingthat we should all want; we need all hands on board to buildpeace”.Annual conference:The 2003, WIPNET annual conference; “women’s leadershipin peacebuilding in the 21 st Century” was held on November2003 in Banjul, The Gambia. The Gambia was selected asthe venue in honour of Satang Jobarteh, an active member ofWIPNET in The Gambia who died in 2003. The conferencebrought together WIPNET delegates from 8 countries and invitedguests from the African Union (AU), and the private sector.Several papers were presented and experiences shared.The conference also gave WIPNET delegates a chance toplan for 2004 activities.“Voices of Women” radio program:In November 2003, WANEP with support from Oxfam Americalaunched the first region wide women’s radio program called“voices of women”. The concept of the radio program wasdeveloped with the aim of reaching rural women who do notusually benefit from training and empowerment programs.The radio program will be aired in target locations in localdialects and will cover issues of democracy & governance,violence against women, peacebuilding enlightenment, andpost conflict reconstruction issues. WANEP estimates thatapprox. 50,000 women will be reached annually through thisradio program. *Airing commences in January 2004.HerStory JournalIn 2003, WANEP published the maiden edition of the women’sjournal called HerStory. This journal is dedicated to womenand focuses on giving women literary space to write aboutissues affecting their lives and peace. The colorful journalhas intellectual, inspirational, poetry, report and picture gallerysections. It portrays what is beautiful, intelligent and uniqueabout African women. This first journal was very well receivedand has motivated scores of women to submit articles forsubsequent journals.OutputsThe network (WIPNET), which is one of the thematic areas offocus at WANEP and one of the deliverables of the women’sprogram, grew to 160 women’s organizations as members.This growth has contributed to women being very present andactive in WANEP’s initiatives. A women’s desk at all WANEP’snational offices has been created. There is now an increasingand tangible visible role of women in all peace processes inWest Africa.Key ChallengesFunding was a constant problem in 2003. Women’s initiativesare still low on donor funding priorities. The human faceof peacebuilding which the involvement of women is basedon is not seen as strategic for most funders. The program hadto rely on the commitment of key partners but it is clear that thesize of the program requires more assistance and commitmentfrom other donors.Women in peacebuilding in its unique character is still difficultfor certain sectors of society to accept. WANEP has had towork extra explain the important roles women play inpeacebuilding and to ensure that there is no misunderstandingthat WIPNET is an emerging separate organization.Key Lessons learned- Women’s roles in peacebuilding need to be documentedmore professionally to ensure that their contributionsare not lost or sidelined- Peacebuilding training tools and materials have tobe in indigenous languages for relevance in ruralcommunities- A strong staff of women working at WANEP nationaloffices is necessary to sustain the program at thenational level- Key linkages need to be made with women’s groupsworking outside West Africa for information sharingand lessons learnedFollow-Up Activities in 2004WIPNET programs planned for 2004 are diverse and includethe airing of the Voices of Women radio program on communityradio stations across West Africa and the completion ofthe Manual Translation project in other West African languages;Yoruba, Twi, Kpelleh, Wollof, Bambara. A “Never Again” advocacycampaign will be implemented in Liberia while WIPNETplans to extent its programs to 2 new countries; Mali and GuineaBissau. Other activities are to conduct regional assessmentof National Women/Gender Ministries to engage inpeacebuilding and engage in advocacy campaigns in Coted’Ivoire. A regional consultation with ECOWAS gender directorateon mainstreaming gender issues into ECOWAS activitiesis also envisaged during the year.Annual Report 2003 19

Program Report 2003Capacity-Building in Conflict Prevention and Good GovernanceC. Gnacadja & W. SaaThe Capacity Building Program (CBP) seeks to work with ECOWAS and CSOS to undertake effective conflict preventionactivities in West Africa in order to create a conflict sensitive environment for development programmes. Apart from improvingearly detection and response mechanisms and enhanced capacities of ECOWAS and Civil Society Organisations (CSOS) toundertake conflict prevention activities, this program is directly strengthening the capacities of WANEP national networks in 10countries, namely, Burkina Faso, Cote d’Ivoire, Gambia, Ghana, Guinea, Liberia, Nigeria, Senegal, Sierra Leone and Togo.The implementation of CBP revolves around a strategic partnership between WANEP and the West Africa Regional Office of theCatholic Relief Services (CRS-WARO) with funding support from the USAID.OBJECTIVES:The Capacity Building Program has the following three strategic objectives:• Increased conflict prevention capacity and effectiveness of ECOWAS;• Increased participation of, and collaboration between civil society organizations in conflict prevention, peacebuildingand good governance;• Increased collaboration between ECOWAS and civil society organizations in the areas of conflict prevention,peacebuilding and good governance.Highlights of ActivitiesSeveral activities were implemented during the year under review. The following are some of the highlightsof these activities.Hiring of National Network CoordinatorsWANEP recruited ten national networkcoordinators to head National Secretariatsin ten countries. Office spaceswere provided through which the nationalsecretariats are functioning asthe fulcrum for effective collaborationto mitigate and intervene in conflictsin West Africa. All the network coordinatorsparticipated in the West AfricaPeacebuilding Institute.Supporting the creation of new nationalnetworksUp to 70% of the field work ofWANEP’s Program Coordinators wasdevoted to the support and creation ofnational networks. The existing loosenetworks were transformed into structurednetworks upon the completion oflegal, financial, and organizational formalities.The National Networks wereofficially launched during envisioningworkshops in the year under review. Insome cases such as The Gambia, highlevel Government officials participatedsuch as the Vice President participatedin these launching events. Theenvisioning workshops reinvigoratedthe members of the Network and providedunique opportunities for sharingWANEP’s regional vision. Boards ofAdvisors for the National Networkswere elected to make fully functionalthe operations of these networks.Organizational Capacity and TrainingNeeds Assessments of WANEPNetworks and CSOSExcept for Liberia where the civil warprevented an assessment and inGuinea where the National NetworkSecretariat had just been formed, adetailed assessment of training needsof WANEP Network Members andother Civil Society Organizations wascarried out in 2003. These assessmentsexplored a wide range of issuesrelating to administrative and financialmanagement practices as well as intangibleissues relating to organizationalculture and identity. 131 Organizationsactively participated in thisexercise in 8 countries. Two other assessmentswill be conducted in 2004.Providing Electronic CommunicationCapabilities to all WANEP NationalNetworksThe process is well underway to provideall national network offices withelectronic capabilities. Some Networksincluding Burkina Faso, Cote d’Ivoire,Ghana, Nigeria, Senegal, Sierra Leone,and Togo have already acquired suchcapabilities. Due to renewed fightingin Liberia prior to signing of the AccraPeace Agreement amongst the partiesto the conflict, the Liberia Network officewas vandalized and equipmentsbelonging to the network office, includingother valuable assets were lootedby fighting gangs. Under these circumstances,WANEP undertook urgentsteps to enable the secretariat to resumework.Developing a Sub-Regional-SpecificTraining ManualWANEP mobilized and constituted anexperts team to develop a sub-regionspecifictraining manual. The expertsmet in Accra, Ghana from 15 – 18. Thefirst draft of the modules has been com-20Annual Report 2003

Program Report 2003Highlights of Activitiespleted. The manual will be used to trainECOWAS’ Conflict Prevention MechanismStaff and CSO members and staffin the following three areas: Conflict,policy and human security analysis;Conflict, policy and human securitymonitoring; Conflict intervention andpeace-building, including advocacy andgood governance. Module themes includeState Collapse and Cross BorderIssues; PopulationMovement, Refugeesand InternationallyDisplaced Persons;Elections andElectoral Violence;The Media and ConflictPrevention; Ethnicand Religious Instability;Small ArmsProliferation; HumanRights and JudicialReforms; ResponseMobilization andPeacebuilding.Meeting to supportthe developmentand signing ofWANEP/ECOWASMOUSeveral meetings were held with theECOWAS Deputy Executive Secretaryand Program Manager of the ConflictPrevention Unit to further review anddiscuss the implementation of the CBP.One of the outcomes of these discussionswas that WANEP would draftMemorandum of Understanding (MOU)and share it with ECOWAS for theirinput. This activity was completed beforethe end of the year paving the wayfor WANEP and its partners to sign anMOU in February 2004 with ECOWAS.Assessment of ECOWAS’ ConflictPrevention Mechanism, TrainingNeeds and CapacitiesSignificant progress was achievedduring the year under review toAnnual Report 2003complete this activity. However, due tothe sudden shift of focus to Liberia andCote D’Ivoire, which made it impossibleto meet with or obtain the contributionof the key respondents including theExecutive Secretary, ProgramManager, Heads of the zonal bureausand other staff who were on aprolonged official mission, the exercisecould not be completed but will be fullyimplemented in 2004. Work doneincluded a detailed review of theProtocol relating to the Mechanism forConflict Prevention, Management,Resolution, Peacekeeping andSecurity and the additional protocol onDemocracy and Governance. Anassessment tool was designed andreviewed, and circulated to staff of theConflict Prevention Unit at theECOWAS General Secretariat and thefour zonal Observation and MonitoringCentres in Banjul, Cotonou,Ouagadougou and Monrovia.Mid-term review evaluation of theCapacity Building ProgramMid way through the Capacity BuildingProgram, a review process wasorganised led by an independent consultantfrom October 21 and 22, 2003in Accra, Ghana. ECOWAS, USAID,CRS and WANEP participated in thisreview. There were 16 participants fromthe partner organizations, including twoNational Network Coordinators fromCote d’Ivoire and Liberia, respectively.Outputs• 13 new staff,3 female and 10 maleat the regional and nationallevels were recruitedduring the year.The national networkshave professional andfully functioning structures.• WANEP nationalnetwork officesexcept Guinea andLiberia have acquiredelectronic capabilities.• T h eWANEP-ECOWASrelationship hasgained visibility.WANEP Liaison Officerrelocated toAbuja, Nigeria and set up the LiaisonOffice at the ECOWAS Secretariat.The Liaison Office withinECOWAS is immensely bridgingthe gap between civil society andgovernment actors in the area ofconflict prevention, peacebuildingand good governance.• A WANEP-ECOWAS MOUhas been reviewed and is ready forsigning including the other projectpartners, USAID/CRS.• The strategic partnership betweenCRS-WARO and WANEPRegional has strengthened andprovided for the development ofcloser collaboration between CRScountry offices and WANEP nationalnetworks.21

Program Report 2003Highlights of ActivitiesChallengesThe implementation of the project duringthe year was not without challenges:• The processes of recruiting nationalnetwork coordinators andthe creation of national networkshave proven to be a challenge. Incountries where emergingWANEP networks were being created,there was insufficient knowledgeabout WANEP’s Mission andVision.• The development and growth of therespective national networks varyfrom one country to another, andsubsequently, how to deal withthese challenges also differ fromone country to the other.• The pressures and unpredictabilityof events in particular and thestate of peace and conflict in WestAfrica (i.e. hostilities in Liberia andCote d’Ivoire) have made it difficultto solicit the full involvement ofECOWAS at all stages of theimplementation of the project.• The growing interest by internationalorganizations and governmentsto work with ECOWAS inthe areas of peace, security, andgood governance and apparentlack of coordination of these initiatives,will result in the duplicationof efforts and wastage of resourcesand could complicate analready outstanding task forstrengthening and bridging thegaps between ECOWAS andCSOS within the framework of aconstructive and coordinated fashion• Travel and communication betweencountries in the region is aserious challenge in terms of highexpense and unpredictability. Arrangingtravels throughout the subregionposes challenges and extradays are lost through delays,flight irregularities and connec-tions.• At the Regional level, WANEPneeds to restructure itself to reflectthe values of good governanceas well as ensure National Networksown the network from thenational through to the regional.VI. Lessons Learned• WANEP’s visibility as a prominentpeacebuilding organization inthe sub-region, and its importantlink with the various national networksduring the year under reviewhas brought out the need to clearlydefine the nature of the relationshipbetween WANEP Regionaland National Networks in Memorandaof Understanding.• The volatile situation in thesub-region and ECOWAS’s increasingvisible role has led to increasedinterest of manyorganisations to work withECOWAS. The interface with CivilSociety organisations in West Africaunder this project is timely andappropriate.• Developing Networks andmanaging them is difficult but theyare the most effective mechanismto enhance collaboration in conflictprevention activities.•The implementation of the programmust take into account theprocess and procedures ofECOWAS and adhere to them atthe earliest opportunity to ensurea timely response. Much effort hasbeen placed on seizing the crucialmoments and exercising greatflexibility in the implementation ofactivities.VII.year 2Follow-Up Activities forA Detailed Implementation Plan (DIP)for year 2 of the CBP has outlined severalactivities. Some of these activitiesinclude assessing ECOWAS’ currentconflict prevention mechanism and itstraining needs and capacities. Thestrengthening of WANEP National Networksin institutional development andelectronic communication capabilitieswill continue. WANEP will organizeconsultations with 33 ECOWAS and42 WANEP/CSO analysts, monitors,and peacebuilders in data analysis,conflict monitoring, peacebuilding andconflict resolution as well as supportECOWAS Zonal Bureaus andWANEP analysts in the developmentof four zonal early warning and responsereports.22Annual Report 2003

Program Report 2003Information & Communication Technology and Research H. Calvin BirchInformation and Communication Technologies (ICTs) are increasingly filtering through into every day lives of peoplethroughout the world. Not only has it transformed the way we live, it also has enhanced the way we work and perform.The ICT department ensures the smooth, efficient and effective technical maintenance of the website, e-mail andcommunication facilities of the regional secretariat.Objectives: Manage resource centre at the regional secretariat Maintain and update website Conduct research Publish Quarterly Newsletters, Annual Report, Topical Papers, Monograph, Journals, Reports etc. Compile and publish members and resource persons directoryHighlights of ActivitiesPublicationsDuring the period underreview, the following publicationswere published:four quarterly newsletters(WANEP Links),three topical papers(From the Field), 2002Annual Report, oneWIPNET journal(HerStories), two WAPIin Retrospect (2002 and2003), WAPI 2003 brochures.Efforts are beingmade to obtain an ISPNidentity for our publications.Resource CenterWe are raising our voices higherin appeal for more books and othermaterials to fully equip our resourcecenter.WebsiteWANEP still maintains its webpresence at (www.wanep.org). Notmuch change has been made tothe site because of the reformationor our structure. But the sitestill receives a large number of visitsfrom Africa, the United States,Europe and Asia for resource purpose.All is being put into place togive the site a face-lift in 2004.OutcomesOur web presence has provided a platformfor an electronic resource centerfor peacebuilding practitioners and interestedpersons. The site has receivedan increase in number of ticks. Thesite contains publications, basic factson WANEP, policy briefs and reportson conflict trends in West Africa. Thewebsite also hosts the West AfricaPeacebuilding Institute atwww.wanep.org/wapi.Our quarterly newsletter (WANEPLinks), topical paper (From the Field),women’s work and experiences(WIPNET Journal) and WARN policybriefs series are helping in the crossfertilizationof knowledge and experience.The publications are widely distributedand readership is increasing.Particular positivefeedback is the emphasis onpractice instead of theoreticaldiscourse. Grass rootorganizations least knownare now being exposed tothe international communitythrough these publications.ChallengesOne of the biggest challengesthe department facedin the year under review wasthat, the department is vastand comparatively undermanned.This resulted in thedelay in publication.Activities for the Next Project Period Publish 4 Quarterly Newsletters(WANEP Links) Publish 4 Topical Papers (Fromthe Field) Publish 1 Annual Report 2004 Publish WAPI journal Publish WIPNET journal Publish WANEP Directory forMember Organizations/ResourcePersons Conduct and publish major researchpapers Restructure and update website Monitor and support national networksICT structures Create electronic newsletter Equip resource centerAnnual Report 200323

InsightsEnhancing the Culture of Peace in West Africaby Emmanuel BombandeCompared to previous years, in2003, West African leaderswere more proactive in mitigatingconflicts in the sub-region. InGuinea Bissau, the military junta ledby General Seabra Correia that overthrewthe government of PresidentKumba Yalla was persuaded to allowa civilian transitional government to ruleand prepare for freshelections. In Liberia,Persistent efforts to promotedialogue and mediationyielded into thesigning of the AccraPeace Accord whichhas ushered in a TransitionalGovernment.Sierra Leone is steadilyregenerating itselfthrough the rebuildingof national institutionsfollowing a successfuldisarmament program.In Cote d’Ivoire, theNew Forces have justrejoined the TransitionalGovernment afterstrenuous efforts by West African leadersto resuscitate and compel all partiesto abide by the Marcoussis PeaceAccords. While all these efforts needto be sustained to ensure durablepeace, the critical challenge is how togo beyond sustainability and enhancethe culture of peace in West Africa.As an important priority, CivilSociety should compliment the workof Governments to establish and buildthe conditions of peace in order toenjoy the fruits of peace and stability.The most significant threat to peacein West Africa continues to be the persistenceof extreme poverty, the disparityof incomes between and withinsocieties, the spread of infectious diseasesand environmental degradation.A recognition of and concerted effortsto minimise this threat will enhancepeace. Governance under the Rule ofLaw can be a means to achieve stabilityin West Africa, but it is not enough.The constant recourse to militarism willbe abated when such concerted effortis made to build social justice, ensureequity and the inclusion and participationof all in governance and decisionmaking processes that affect the livesof the entire citizenry.A lot of effort is still requiredin our sub-region to enhance a cultureof peace. It is simply not enough toelect leaders through elections but alsoto ensure that the possibility for changingour leaders exists and that thesepossibilities are real. The need to limitthe terms of Heads of States is thereforeimportant in order to effectivelymanage transitions, ensure continuitythrough the institutionalization of goodgovernance. The work to nurture WestAfrica’s fledgling democracies shouldanchor around the critical roles of CivilSociety. The building of informed robustcivil societies complimented byobjective and critical media will ensurethat civil liberties are respected and en-joyed by the people of West Africa.Another threat to peace as weobserved in the past year has been thecontinuation of the proliferation of smallarms which augment armed conflictsand diminish the opportunities for humandevelopment. The reconstructionof Liberia which is interwoven with howwe sustain stability in the greater ManoRiver Union Basin will be difficult whensmall arms are widely available in thesub-region. At WANEP, we anticipatethat there should be no errors in thedisarmament exercise inLiberia. It is desirable indeedthat at the level ofthe Heads of States ofECOWAS, a real commitmentis undertaken toput in place all the stepsfor an entire West AfricaRegional disarmamentprocess. Such processmay sound overwhelmingand yet if it weredone in the context ofenhancing the culture ofpeace in West Africa, itcould be a unique opportunityto guarantee collectivepeace and securityin the sub-region.Undoubtedly, our hopes are highthat stability and durable peace willreturn to West Africa. Such hope ishowever moderated by our current economicplight and that is why the agendafor accelerating the economic integrationof our sub-region should be pursuedvigorously because there in maylay our survival.24Annual Report 2003

InsightsWhen Mediation Becomes ManipulationSam Gbaydee DoeAnnual Report 2003Some years ago in graduateschool I participated in an interesting class discussion. It wasan Advanced Mediation course. The Professorwas brilliantly sharing with theclass the process of mediation especiallyin political conflicts—the ethics involvedand what to watch for. The captivatinglecture caught the attention of all theclass members except one. While allseemed excited there was a friend fromRwanda who sat quietly and a bit subdued.He did not seem impressed atall. As the professor continued with hisimpressive lecture my friend raised hishand and asked, “When does brainstormingbecome brainwashing andwhen does mediation become manipulation?”Everybody in the class spontaneouslyburst into laughter. After a fewminutes of laughter he still insisted thathe needed a response. The rest of the3-hour class was consumed in the discussionsthat followed.It is 8 years since that class but thequestion still haunts me especially as Itraverse conflict fields and participate inpolitical negotiations in West Africa. Recentefforts to bring peace to Liberia remainfresh in my mind and it is what haslifted this troubling question from my subconscience. The parties to the Liberiaconflict were here in Accra, Ghana for 75days in one of Ghana’s five-star hotels.They had left behind them a country inruins for the comfort and elegance theinternational community provided. Themediators were optimistic that the processwould be smooth. After all, Liberiansshould be really tired with war. But theexperience was different.The first challenge the mediatorsfaced was accreditation. Who isqualified to sit at the table as parties?When I was in that advanced mediationclass, it seemed obvious that the partieswere those in conflict. The Liberiansituation challenged my learning. Whoare the parties in conflict and what conflict?There were clamours at the mediationsite. Every Liberian argued thathe/she was qualified by virtue of the factthat they have suffered immensely. Theyare a party because it is their country thatis being contested. They wanted to havea say. My professor said that every conflicthas parties. This conflict seemed tohave 3 million persons who argued convincinglythat they are the parties. Theparties with the gun argued that they werethe primary parties. They are the oneswho could decide whether war continuedor not and therefore must be the onlyparties to the mediation. Does one cometo the table because you decide whenthe gun is shot or does one come becausethe conflict as defined makes onea party? In these wars where a few gangstersare checkmating a whole nation,should political negotiation be limitedonly to warlords?Then there was the second challengeof issue definition. The Mediatorwas so frustrated that there was not asingle time when the parties indicatedexactly why they were at war? All that wassaid was that President Charles Taylorwas the reason for the war. They wantedTaylor out. Taylor himself started his warbecause he wanted President Doe out.Wanting somebody from power was notwhat my Professor told me was an issuein conflict! This is a position. RogerFisher and his colleague in their famousbook, “Getting to Yes” said emphaticallythat one must not negotiate position. Theparties had no issues—no reason forgoing to war except to remove CharlesTaylor. Why Taylor must be removedwhich are the core issues really did notmatter. If he is removed how to avoidthose issues from taking Liberia back towar did not make the agenda at all.I have learned since I started practicalpolitical mediation here in West Africathat issues really do not matter atall. It is the stakes of the parties that arecritical and these they find difficult tomake public because they lack moral andpolitical grounding. Should we providethe space where stakes are toleratedand negotiated in practical political mediation?The third challenge is genuinenessof the parties. In fact WANEP was approachedbefore the mediation beganhere in Accra to help one of the partiesso that they are prepared to negotiateprofessionally. In our first meeting therepresentatives indicated to us, “justteach us the tricks of negotiation so thatwe can outsmart the others.” With thiscomment WANEP declined. The groupgot angry and since they had little skillsto negotiate they resorted to what theyknow best—violence. They walked outwhen they could not understand or suspectedothers were outsmarting them;they commanded their soldiers back inLiberia to attack when they could not gettheir way at the negotiation table. Negotiatingwith tricks and not with core issues?Where does this leave the “neutralityor impartiality” of the mediator?Should mediators tolerate this when theyknow that parties are not genuine?Interestingly in most cases the mediatorsthemselves resort to tricks. Inthe case of Liberia when things got toughor when the parties were becoming unreasonable,the mediators would secretlysignal to the Liberian women whowere the moral force at the mediationsite. The women would storm the roomto the apparent surprise of the mediators,sit on the floor and cry. The mediatorswould then negotiate with the womenand they would insist until the point wasresolved between the parties. Once theparties agreed to the point the womenwould go out and take their positionagain. In one of the previous mediationprocesses on Liberia I remembered oneincidence when the Mediator tricked theparties to sign a peace deal after givingthe parties alcoholic drinks! By the timethey realized it the agreement was announcedto the world and the partiesfound it difficult to renege. That agreementnever lasted a day before it wasviolated.These are the dramas that challengedthe theories I had read in textbooksand in my advance mediationclass. It would seem, as my friend whohad witnessed a terrible genocide thattook place because of poor mediation inRwanda insinuated in our class, the textbooksare yet to capture the reality of politicalnegotiation and my professor’sbrilliant lecture was only theory. I haveseen and now appreciate my friend’scynicism. Practical mediation truly haselements of manipulation that collidewith the ethics and principles defined inthe textbooks. Mediators need to beginthe process knowing that tricks and manipulationswill take place on all sides.Whether accepted or not it a the fact inAfrica’s senseless wars.25

Summary of Events 20035 – 11 JanuaryWANEP conducted a five-day workshopon Preventive Peacebuilding in Nigeriato establish a civil society early warningsystem in Nigeria.12 – 16 JanuaryWANEP organised its second staff retreatduring which policies and proceduresof operation of the organisationwere reviewed.19 – 23 JanuaryWANEP facilitated a four-day workshopon how Bawku District Assembly memberswill be pro-active in contributing topeace in Bawku.21 – 25 JanuaryWANEP attended the First Annual GeneralMeeting of WANEP-LIBERIA.26 – 30 JanuaryWANEP organised its fifth Annual GeneralMeeting to Review and Reinvent thestructure required to sustain its rapidgrowth, develop understanding and draftindicators for monitoring and evaluatingpeacebuilding intervention3 – 4 FebruaryWANEP helped in the designing of aframework for comprehensivePeacebuilding in Dagbon in Ghana.3 FebruaryWANEP conducted a training at the Universityof Legon in Ghana onPeacebuilding and Good Governance forAfrican civilian Peacekeeping Personnel.6 – 7 FebruaryWANEP conducted another training atthe University of Legon, Ghana onPeacebuilding and Good Governance forAfrican civilian Peacekeeping Personnel.9 – 15 FebruaryWANEP conducted a 5 day training workshopfor Peace Animators from four Districtsin the North Eastern corridor of theNorthern Region of Ghana. It was estimatedthat after the training, the PeaceAnimators will work with communitiesusing drama and theatre to bring outconflict issues for community level analysisand resolution.13 FebruaryThe African Women Development Fund(AWDF) brought the funding partnersComic Relief to WANEP to showcase theWomen in peacebuilding program as asuccessful regional women’s initiative16 – 22 FebruaryWANEP accompanied its long time partnerNPI-Africa in conducting a TOT workshopfor Early Warning Methodology andApplication.14 – 26 FebruaryAs part of the staff development schemein WANEP, the ICT Officer attended anintensive training on Web Designing andIT troubleshooting in South Africa.19 – 21 FebruaryWANEP together with its partners namelyUSAID and CRS met with General CheickDiarra, Deputy Executive Secretary atECOWAS to introduce the CapacityProgramme and request the partnershipof ECOWAS in the implementation of theprogramme. Also, the establishment ofthe WANEP Liaison office in ECOWASwas discussed during this meeting.22 – 28 FebruaryWANEP through the CBP programmeconducted an assessment in SierraLeone to find more about their structure,legal status etc. This study was in preparationfor the implementation of the supportof the CBP to the network.23 February – 2 MarchWANEP conducted a training for the EducationProgramme in the University ofReadings in the UK.24 – 28 FebruaryWANEP conducted a recruitment processin WANEP-LIBERIA for a networkcoordinator as part of the CBPprogramme.3 – 7 MarchWANEP through the Capacity BuildingProgramme organised a training needsassessment in Burkina Faso.4 – 8 MarchWANEP in its consultation work to theSwedish International DevelopmentAgency conducted a case study onBurkina Faso.4 – 9 MarchWANEP through the Capacity BuildingProgramme assessed the Network capacityand training needs and launchedthe recruitment of the network coordinatorin Guinea.3 – 14 MarchWANEP supported 2 of the replicationtraining of the TOT for teachers underthe Active Non-violence Programme inNigeria4 – 9 MarchWANEP conducted a training and capacityassessment study on WANEP-GUINEA and launched the recruitmentof the network coordinator.10 – 14 MarchWANEP through the Active Non-violenceand peace Education Programme conducteda 5-day TOT for 3 francophonecountry team members as part of thepilote project of implementing PeaceEducation and Peer Mediation inschools. It was expected that the variousteams will organise TOT for teachersin their various countries as a continuationof the process.10 – 15 MarchWANEP produced the draft for theconsultancy work for the Swedish InternationalDevelopment Agency.13 MarchThe Coordinator of the women inpeacebuilding program and Liberiancoordinator participated in a Radio talkshow in Liberia called “women talks” onthe role of women in regionalpeacebuilding13 – 19 MarchWANEP conducted the TOT for teachersunder the Active Non-violenceprogramme in Sierra Leone16 – 21 MarchWANEP through the WIPNET regionaloffice provided a link between LiberianChristian Women Initiative and Discoveryfor Women leadership program anda rally was organised in Monrovia withover 3,000 women in attendance eachday.26Annual Report 2003

Summary of Events 200316 – 21 MarchWANEP supported the replication of TOTfor teachers under the Active Non-violenceProgramme in Liberia.21 – 28 MarchWANEP trained a research workgroupon PME in Sierra Leone.24 – 28 MarchWomen in peacebuilding programorganised a Training of Trainers workshopfor women’s leaders of Women’sNGOs and associations in Republic ofBenin30 March – 2 AprilWANEP conducted a TOT for monitorsunder the Proventive Peacebuildingprogramme.29 March – 3 AprilWANEP provided organisational and institutionalto SEP in Cameroon.30 March – 2 AprilWANEP conducted a Training of Trainersunder the Proventive Peacebuildingprogramme in Nigeria31 March – 4 AprilWANEP revised the module for Trainingof Monitors in Lagos, Nigeria9 – 13 AprilWANEP facilitated a capacity buildingworkshop in Burkina Faso.25 – 30 AprilWANEP conducted a 5-day training workshopfor 20 Teachers in Ghana under itsActive Non-violence and Peace Educationprogramme.27 April – 3 MayWANEP assisted the piloting committeeto continue the process of setting up theSenegal Network under the CapacityBuilding Programme of WANEP.29 April – 3 MayWANEP’s through the women’s programfacilitated Gender, peacekeeping &peacebuilding training sessions forUNITAR in South Africa on Consultancybasis.Annual Report 20035 – 10 MayWANEP facilitated a workshop on ConflictPrevention organised by CARITAS InternationalTraining for FrancophoneWest Africa.12 – 16 MayWANEP conducted an MRU Assessmentthrough a preparatory training for researchersin the MRU for the CWS assessmentproject in consultation with theChristian and inter-religious councils inGuinea, Conakry12 – 19 MayWANEP gave support to the National CollaborativePeacebuilding Sierra Leone(NCP-SL) Office, Freetown in the recruitmentof a National Network Coordinatorunder the Capacity Building Programmeof WANEP18 May – 1 JuneWANEP participated in a conference inCanada on Collaborative Peacebuildingin West Africa.24 – 28 MayWANEP was invited by the University ofIbadan to present a paper on lessonslearned from building women’s peacenetworks.26 – 28 MayWANEP made a field trip to Togo andfacilitated an envisioning workshop forthe WANEP-Togo National Network.25 – 31 MayWANEP conducted a Training of Trainersworkshop for 22 its Active Non-violenceand Peace Education programme.30 May – 3 JuneWANEP through its women’sprogramme, WIPNET was invited to facilitatesessions on UN resolution 1325on women peace and security in Kenya,a workshop organized by Urgent ActionFund.1 – 5 JuneWANEP through its Capacity BuildingProgramme helped finalise efforts for thelocation of a WANEP-Ghana (GHANEP)office, to orientate and introduce the newlyappointed National Network Coordinatorto GHANEP members, and facilitatethe constitution of an interim AdvisoryCouncil/Board pending a formal AGM.2 – 6 JuneWANEP through its Active Non-violenceand Peace Education programme conducteda 5-dayTraining of Trainers workshopfor 22 Teachers in Abidjan.4 JuneWANEP through its women’sprogrammes organised a PeacefulMass Action during the Liberian PeaceTalks in Accra, Ghana. 120 women attendedthe Mass Action.4 – 8 JuneWANEP participated as West Africa RegionalInitiator for the “Role of Civil Societyand NGOs in the Prevention of ArmedConflict Programme” at the InternationalPreparatory meeting in Soesterberg, theNetherlands under the partnership withthe European Centre for Conflict Prevention(ECCP).5 JuneWANEP-Benin was launched through thefinancial support of CRS-Benin.9 – 13 JuneWANEP through its Capacity BuildingProgramme conducted induction andorientation for the newly employed NationalNetwork Coordinator and procuredand supplied communication equipment(Computer, Printer) and office furniture.11 JuneWANEP through its women’sprogramme, WIPNET organised a Forumfor the Liberian Women present atthe Peace talks in Akossombo, Ghana.11 – 19 JuneWANEP conducted a field assessmentof progress of WIPNET-Senegalprogramme and had a strategic meetingwith Oxfam America to discuss andplan for the next phase of OxfamAmerica’s support for the programme.17 JuneWANEP hosted the first major AdvisoryCommittee meeting of the NRCMP.21 JuneWANEP held a formal dinner meetingwith the Deputy Executive Secretary forPolitical Affairs of ECOWAS and ProgramManager of the ECOWAS-WANEP partnershipunder its Capacity BuildingProgramme.27

Summary of Events 200323 – 27 JuneWANEP through its Active Non-violenceand Peace Education programme conducteda 5-day Peer Mediation trainingfor 36 students in Sierra Leone.22 June –1 JulyThe Programme Manager of the CBPprogramme attended a Summer Coursesponsored by CRS at the Kroc Institutefor International Peace at the Universityof Notre Dame, USA.1 – 3 JulyWANEP attended the official launch ofthe Strategic Conflict Monitoring Club ofWest Africa supported by the Club deSahel in Bamako, Mali. The new club hasresolved to focus on conflicts in Côted’Ivoire, Togo and Guinea Bissau.7 – 11 JulyWANEP conducted an experts meetingfor the development of the draftPeacebuilding Monitoring and EvaluationManual in Elmina, Ghana.7 – 11 JulyWANEP through the Capacity BuildingProgramme facilitated the inauguralBoard Meeting of WANEP Nigeria Boardand facilitated the training of MonitorsWorkshop in Preventive Peacebuildingat Ibadan, Nigeria.24 – 25 JulyWANEP organised a teambuilding workshopfor its Staff at the Regional Secretariat.21 – 22 JulyWANEP Conducted comprehensive strategicplanning session with all membersof WIPNET-Senegal.21 July – 25 JulyWANEP through its Active Non-violenceand Peace Education Programmeorganised a Peer Mediation workshopfor students in Sierra Leone. 65 participantswere drawn from selected Primary/ Secondary schools and vocational centresacross the country.28 JulyWANEP through the WIPNET programmeconducted a Consultation on “the role ofwomen in peacebuilding in the middlebelt region of Nigeria” for 20 women’sgroups.28 – 29 JulyWANEP was invited by the EU ItalianPresidency to a special consultation onAfrica. The focus of the meeting was onViolent Conflicts and their impact on developmentin Africa. The EU Presidencycommitted itself to accompany Africansas they confront violent conflicts.31 JulyWANEP Conducted a one-day consultationwith women’s groups in Côte D’Ivoirethough the Women’s programme.27 July – 1 AugustWANEP organised two Peer Mediationworkshops for Primary school pupilswho were drawn from six (6) out the ten(10) regions in Ghana, namely, Ashanti,Upper East, Volta, Eastern,Central andGreater Accra. These workshops wererun simultaneously in Legon andDodowa in Ghana.3 AugustWANEP’s Executive Director deliveredthe keynote address of the 2003 Agendafor Reconciliation Conference of the Initiativeof Change, Caux, Switzerland. Over300 persons from 70 countries attendedthe Conference.3 – 8 AugustWANEP conducted a PeacebuildingTraining for Peace Animators in NorthEastern Corridor of Ghana.6 – 9 AugustWANEP through the Capacity BuildingProgramme implemented support to thenetwork in Sierra Leone.7 – 8 AugustWANEP facilitated the creation of thenational Network in the Gambia.11 AugustWANEP held a meeting with a representativeof UNDP to exchange ideas onhow the two institutions can enhancepartnership and collaboration withECOWAS26 – 27 AugustWANEP facilitated the hiring of a nationalCoordinator for the Guinea Network.4 – 5 SeptemberWANEP facilitated the hiring of a nationalCoordinator for the Senegal Network.14 AugustWANEP mediated a conflict betweenCassava Farmers, Quality AssuranceTeam and Exporters at the initiative ofthe Food Research Institute of Ghana.14 – 16 AugustWANEP though the CBP programmeorganised an envisioning workshop forthe Ghana Network to develop a strategicplan and organise the CSF.18 – 22 AugustWANEP through the Active non-violenceand Peace Education programmeorganised 2 peer mediation workshops.The two workshops will be held simultaneously.19 – 24 AugustWANEP through the Women’sprogramme organised a MRU Summitto address the Liberia Crisis and a Leadershiptraining for all WIPNET desk officers.20 – 23 AugustWANEP through the CBP programmedevelopped a Strategic plan for theGambia Network and hosted a day CivilSociety Forum Consultation.21 – 30 AugustWANEP in partnership with FAOorganised the first Training in Naturalresource Conflict management.24 – 27 AugustWANEP through the CBP organised anenvisioning meeting in Mali to mobilisethe CSOs in order to create National Thematicgroups.25 AugustWANEP conducted an Awareness workshopat Anyama in la Cote d’Ivoire, forEducational administrators, Teachersand parents with the view of introducingthe Peer Mediation programme to theseauthorities in order to seek their support.28Annual Report 2003

Summary of Events 2003This workshop brought together 50adults and 200 children.25 – 29 AugustWANEP organised a Peer Mediationworkshop for primary and secondaryschools sutdents at the « PensionnatProtestant d’Anyama » in Côte d’Ivoire.28 children between the ages of 7 and12 from the Primary schools and 32 studentsfrom the secondary schools between11 and 21 participated.25 – 29 AugustWANEP through the CBP programmeheld a Compilation workshop for a regionalspecific training Manual.26 AugustWANEP organized the recruitment ofnational network coordinator for Guineaconakrynetwork.27 – 30 AugustWANEP through the CBP programme developeda Strategic Plan for the LiberiaNetwork and organised a one-day consultation.31 AugustWANEP through the CBP organised aworking session for strategic planning.1 – 5 SeptemberWANEP through consultation helped indeveloping a long term intervention planfor the Niger Delta.6 – 26 SeptemberWANEP organised its Second West AfricaPeacebuilding Institute.14 – 16 SeptemberWANEP attended an International conferenceon conflict resolution in schoolsorganised by ECCP in Soesterberg inthe Netherlands. This conferencebrought together experts from bothacademia and the field of practice fromvarious countries to share experiencesand best practices focusing on practicalguidelines for setting up conflict resolutionprogrammes in schools.13 – 18 SeptemberWANEP through the Capacity BuildingProgramme organised a Civil SocietyForum and an Envisioning workshop inSenegal.28 – 30 SeptemberWANEP through the Capacity BuildingProgramme organised an Orientationworkshop for all the National Coordinatorsof the various networks.28 September – 3 OctoberWANEP Co-Facilitate a training workshopfor Anglophone and FrancophoneCARITAS Agencies.29 – 30 SeptemberWANEP held a partnership meeting withECOWAS and UNDP to strategize theoperationalization of the ECOWAS earlywarning system.7 – 12 OctoberWANEP though the Active Nonviolenceand Peace Education programme organized2 workshops for peer mediators inprimary and secondary schools. 72 peermediators were trained.9 - 10 OctoberWANEP held an envisioning workshopfor the national network in Guineathrough the capacity buildingprogramme.13 – 15 OctoberWANEP through the Capacity buildingprogramme organized an envisioningworkshop for the national network inGhana.14 – 17 OctoberWANEP assisted in a training organisedby UNITAR in Addis-Ababa. Served asresource on mainstreaming gender intopeacebuiding.15-17 OctoberWorkshop with Zonal Bureau heads ofthe Monitoring and Observation Centerand hierarchy of ECOWAS.20 – 25 OctoberIn collaboration with voices for women,WANEP attended a leadership and motivationalseminar in Sierra Leone.21 – 22 OctoberThe Capacity Building programme ofWANEP had its first mid-term review.25 – 31 OctoberOrganised an envisioning workshop forthe national network in Senegal to explainthe vision of WANEP and form thematicgroups.27 – 28 OctoberIn collaboration with Fund for Peace,WANEP organised a Civil Society Forumin Accra.3 – 5 NovemberOrganised the Second Annual Conferenceof WIPNET in the Gambia. 38 delegatesattended.2- 7 NovemberActive nonviolence and Peace Educationworkshop for peer mediators in Guinea.72 peer mediators were trained.4 NovemberIn partnership with Oxfam America,WANEP through the WIPNET programmelaunched the radio programme in theSenegambia region dubbed ‘Voices ofWomen’5 – 8 NovemberOrganised an envisioning workshop forthe national network in Benin. Also putin place office equipment for the nationalnetwork in the Gambia.6 NovemberActive Nonviolence and Peace Educationinaugurated Peace clubs in schools inEnugu, Nigeria.6 NovemberWANEP through WIPNET held an assessmentand strategic planning meetingfor women in the Gambia.1 – 6 DecemberWANEP in partnership with the CatholicRelief Services (CRS) organised a workshopfor the Civil Society in Liberia.Annual Report 2003 29

Member OrganisationsBENINAHAVAAlliance Biblique du Bénin(ABB)Amis de l’IslamAteliers ORISHADroits de l’Homme, Paix etDéveloppement (DHPD)I.A.J.PInstitut Biblique du Bénin (IBB)Nouvelle EthiqueServices Mennonite du BéninUnion des FemmesMusulmanes du Bénin(UFMUB)BURKINA AB3P ACAT CITOYENS DU MONDE COA / FEB CRS FBACU FEME GERDESS BURKINA OCADES ODE TOCSIN UCAP./BCOTE D’IVOIRE AFMCI Afrique Démocratie etDéveloppement (ADD) Club Moammar Al-Quadaffipour U.A Club UA / CA COFEMCI Démocratie Paix etDéveloppement (D.P..Dev) Doux Soleil d“Afrique D.S.A Education Communautaire EECO FCI / PC FDC / CUE Femme Cote D“IvoireExpérience FF.PM Green Light Cote d“Ivoire Le Riof (miffed) PHENIX Positive Africa SOS / DVH VAFAG VICASGAMBIA African Centre for Democracy30and Human Rights StudiesChristian Children FundConcern UniversalForoyaa News PaperForum for African Women EducationalistsGambia Christian CouncilGambia Red Cross SocietyGambia Workers UnionHope for Children GambiaInternational Centre for HumanRightsNational Women FarmersAssociationNational Youth CouncilStay Green FoundationYouth for Better World InternationalGHANA Action Aid Ghana Action Aid Ghana Upper EastRegion Development Program Action Aid Ghana Upper WestProgram Action Aid-Ghana (TamaleOffice) Action Child Mobilisation –Ghana Action for Transire(ACTFORTAN) Assemblies of God Relief andDevelopment Bawku East Women’sDevelopment Association -BEWDA Bela-Bela Association of Self-Help Interest Women Business and DevelopmentConsultancy Centre(BADECC) Care International Catholic Relief Services Centre for Communicationand Advocacy Development(CENCAD) Centre for the Development ofPeople (CEDEP) Christian Children’s Fund ofCanada (CCFC) Christian Council of Ghana Christian/Muslim DialogueCommission Dawah Academy Development AlternativeServices Foundation (DASF) Frafra Traditional areaConsortiumHelp FoundationHouse of Hope MissionGhanaIBIS Ghana Northern OfficeNorthern Ghana Network forDevelopmentNorthern Ghana PeaceProject (NGPP)Northern Region Youth andDevelopment AssociationNorthern Sector OfficeOxfam GhanaPartners In ParticipatoryDevelopmentPeace Seekers InternationalProgressive YouthOrganisation.Rural Media NetworkRural Media NetworkSEND Foundation of WestAfricaServices (AGREDS)Social Development AgencySuntaa-Nuntaa Rural DevelopmentProgrammeThe Human Help and DevelopmentGroup (THUHDEG)UNICEFUpper West Rural Women’sAssocWa Diocesan Justice & PeaceCommissionWa Diocesan Justice andPeace CommissionWa Peacebuilding Team(WAPET)Women in Conflict Prevention(WINCOPAR)Women in Conflict Preventionand Peace buildingWomen In Peacebuilding andConflict Management(WINPEC)World Vision InternationalYouth Network for HumanRights and DemocracyYouth Network For HumanRights and DemocracyGUINEA Abc Développement Association Pour La DéfenseDes Droits de La FemmeGuinéenne Club Unesco Université DeConakry Conseil Des Eglises DeAnnual Report 2003

Member OrganisationsLiberia31GuinéeEglise AnglicianJournaliste A Horoya EnceuteRtgJournaliste HORAYAKadiatoul KoubraLingue Islamique NationaleOrganisation Guinéenne PourLe DéveloppementCommunautaireOrganisation Catholique PourLa Promotion HumaineOrganisation Guinéenne PourLe développementCommunautaireRéseau Africain Pour LeDéveloppement LocalUnion Des Jeunes Pour LeDéveloppement De DixinnUniversité De ConakryArchdiocesan TraumaCounseling ProgramCatholic Relief Services(CRS)-Center for Justice and PeaceCenterCenter for Trauma Healingand Reconciliation (CTCR)Christian Empowerment forSustainable Program (CESP)Christian Health Associations(CHAL)Christian Women for PeaceCommunity EmpowermentProgramDevelopment EducationNetwork –LiberiaEdward Peal Center ofRenewalFlomo Theater Production(FTP)Inter-Religious Council ofLiberiaJustice and Peace Commission(JPC)LCL-LWF-Ws Trauma HealingProgram (THRP)Liberia United To ServeHumanityLiberian Women Initiative(LWI)Mother Pattern College OfNursingMuslim Women for PeaceNational Association ofPalaver Managers (NAPAM)New African ResearchDevelopment Agency (NARDA)Peace Building ResourceCenterPress Union of LiberiaRural Human Rights ActivistProgramSave My Future Foundation(SAMFU)Young Men’s ChristianAssociation of Liberia (YMCA)NIGERIA Academic AssociatesPeacework African Youth DevelopmentFoundation (AFRYDEF) Akpabuyo Bakassi GreenMovement (ABGREMO) Alfacare Organization Arewa Youth Forum Zaria CAREFOR Centre for American Studies(CAST) Centre for Development,Constitutionalism and PeaceAdvocacy Centre For Education AndRural Development Centre for Peace & DevelopmentAction (CPDA) Centre for Peace and Development Centre for Peace in Africa Centre For Peace Initiative &Development Ent. (CEPID) Centre For Peoples Healthand Progress “3P” Centre For SustainableDemocracy & Mass Empowerment Christian Association ofNigeria Christian Association ofNigeria Christian Rural and UrbanDevelopment Association OfNigeria(CRUDAN) Civil Resource Development&Documentation Centre(CIRDDOC) Civil Rights Concern (CRC) Committee for AdvancementOf Justice (CAJ) Community Action For PopularPartcipation Community Partners forDevelopment (CPD) Country Women Assistant OfNigeria(COWAN) Dutse Youth progressiveUrioar Empower Citizen Organization Friends of Nigerian Women Gender Action Team General Action Against theViolation of and Child Right Girls Guard Association Grassroot Women Foundation(GWF) Grassroots DevelopmentOrgan. (GRADO) Human Aid Corps Human Rights Centre (HRC) Impact for Change andDevelopment Information Aid Network Institute For Media Society Institute of Church & Society Inter –Faith Mediation Centre Jigawa Women NetworkAssess to Justice Justice Development & PeaceCommission Justice Development & PeaceCommission Justice Development & PeaceCommission Katsina Youth Forum Kawo Youth association Legal Defence And AssistanceProject(LEDAP) Love and Peace Advocacy Man and Water SurvivalProject Mediation Center International N. C. W. S. National Women PeaceGroup, Anambra State Chapter Negotiation Conflict ManagementGroup(NCMG) Niger-Delta LeadershipForum Ogoni Youth DevelopmentProject Organisation for Labour andEnvironmental Development,Africa (OLENDA) Peace & Conflict Studies U.I Peace and Conflict StudiesProgramme,University ofIbadan Peace Campaign andInitiative Peace Development Organi-Annual Report 2003

Financial ReportINCOME ANE EXPENDITURE ACCOUNT FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31ST DECEMBER 20032003 2002US$ US$INCOMECollaborative Peacebuilding in W/ACordaid 547,761 431,835DKA 40,977 29,784Early WarningWestminster - FEWER - 14,773International Alert - 2,819Justice Lens: Cordaid 32,467 -ISIP (CRS/WARO) 79,580 143,205Liberia Dance Troupe: War Child Canada 3,526 -Collaboration Dev’t Action - 14,760Proventive Peacebuilding in NigeriaBread for the World 59,975 44,801Misereor - 9,479FAO-NRCMP 5,336 -Fund for Peace 19,954 -WAPI 54,521 53,718WIPNETOxfam America 100,735 -CRS/WARO 17,000 26,840Global Fund for Women 10,000 -Tides Foundation 10,000 -African Women’s Dev’t Fund 2,000 -General SupportMennonite Board 2,475 5,000Community House Church 1,000 1,000William & Flora Hewlett Foundation 100,000 -CRS 5,000 2,975Capacity-Building in Conflict PreventionUSAID 332,887 -CRS 74,760 -TOTAL INCOME 1,499,954 780,988EXPENDITUREProgram ExpensesNetwork & Coordination 69,865 144,895Nonviolence & Peace Education 134,692 49,311Impact Assessment 9,710 -Annual Report 200333

Financial ReportJustice Building in W/A 25,882 21,000Collaborative Peacebuilding in Sierra Leone 1,671 27,798Early Warning 2,451 80,188ECCP 3,239 -WAPI 153,991 38,908Liberia Dance Troupe 1,862 1,313WIPNET 108,217 158,935Support for Liason Offices 9,473 44,679Proventive Peacebuilding in Nigeria 88,188 12,572Capacity-Building in Conflict Prevention 442,458 5,457FAO-NRCM 2,245 -ISIP - 7,014Mano River Civil Society - 17,675Swiss Contract - 3,482Fund for Peace 16,597 -General & Administrative 251,437 259,1551,321,978 872,381Surplus / (Deficit) for Year Transferredto ccumulated Fund Account 177,976 (91,393)34Annual Report 2003