TANA RIVER COUNTY TO LAUNCH CONFLICT EARLY WARNING AND EARLY RESPONSE (EWER) GUIDE FOR PRACTICTIONERS

ON TUESDAY 29^TH JUNE, 2021

MARJAN HOTEL, TANA DELTA SUBCOUNTY, TANA RIVER COUNTY

9AM – 1:00p.m.

A Brief Concept Note

BACKGROUND: Tana River County is one of the frontier counties in Kenya that have since independence in 1963 suffered from fragility, instability, socioeconomic marginalization, volatility, vulnerability, poverty and insecurity. The county also suffers from increasing frequency of disasters caused by natural and man-made hazards and protracted conflicts. Political driven conflicts have also affected Tana River with the county experiencing its worst violence in 2012 prior to the 2013 General Election where over 400 people were killed, villages burnt down and thousands of people displaced to neighbouring Kilifi (Malindi), Lamu (Witu) and Mombasa counties.

ABOUT THE PROGRAM: Kenya Community Resource Centre (KECOSCE) has been implementing the Building Peaceful and Cohesive communities in Tana River and Mombasa Counties project, with a sub-grant from the Safeguarding Democratic Space in Kenya (SADES-K) program, which is funded by the United States Agency for International Development ( USAID).  SADES-K partners with government institutions, civil society organizations (CSOs), and the media to strengthen the country’s governance reform agenda and secure democratic gains enshrined in the 2010 Constitution,  strengthen social and ethnic cohesion, and protect civic and democratic space.

KECOSCE WORK IN THE COAST REGION: KECOSCE is a local NGO that has been working in both Mombasa and Tana River counties over the past two years to strengthen social and ethnic cohesion. KECOSCE has worked with national government, county governments, the community structures and the population including women, youth and minority communities to develop innovative approaches to peace building and community cohesion.   KECOSCE has reached over 100,000 people with messages of peace resilience to violence.

We have supported the local councils of elders, peace committees and over 1000 youth to become champions of peace.  These have all been working at intra community and inter community levels to address emerging conflicts as well as engaging with county government and national government agencies to push for access to justice and improved services delivery.

These efforts have contributed to Tana River remaining relatively peaceful which has allowed for economic growth and investments led by both county and national governments as well as private investments.

As part of these efforts, KECOSCE established an early warning and early response mechanism that supports use data-based early warning and support early response initiatives to tackle human security challenges. The EWER System is an effective local information sharing platform that helps in anticipation and identification of conflict concerns in Tana River. The system has a dedicated alert number (0726549400) that through which communities send short text messages (SMS) and make phone calls to report conflict concerns and potential security threats. The system is supported by a network of 30 peace monitors who also collect information for triangulation and verification. These monitors are linked to National Government officials and local peace structures to enhance response action.

Approximately 500 reports have been shared since January 2020 that have resulted in proactive responses such as arrests of criminals, prevention of inter-ethnic conflicts in Chara, Kipini and Hamesa Kajisteni areas.

THE LAUNCH EVENT: In order to broaden the EWER innovation, KECOSCE has now produced a Conflict Early Warning and Early Response (EWER) guide for use by the peace and security actors including citizens/communities and response actors (county departments, ministries, etc.) to strengthen partnerships and participation to conflict information sharing, and real time responses to address emerging political, economic, social, cultural conflicts.

As the country moves to another electoral cycle, the need for localised and effective early warning and early response mechanism is becoming increasingly important to prevent political, economic and socially instigated intra and inter–ethnic conflicts.

Objectives of the Event.  This event will present a platform to show case the impacts of the SADES-K program in conflict prevention and mitigation in the County and its contribution to ethnic cohesion, and encourage stakeholders to sustain the initiatives. More specifically, the following are the key objectives of the event:

• To launch the EWER practitioners guide. This will massively publicize the guide and ensure all relevant actors can access it for its use especially towards, during and after the 2022 general elections.
• To Award youth champions who have developed innovations for promoting community cohesion and
• To enhance networking and collaboration on Early Warning and Early Response to prevent electoral violence.

Target Participants: The event will aim to bring together at least 70 participants, both state and non-state actors, in line with COVID-19 regulations.  The event will also be streamlined live on major social media platforms to enable thousands of partners and collaborators to participate.

Expected Outcomes

• Stakeholders sensitized on EWER guide and are able to use it in their operations
• EWER Guide Launched and adopted by stakeholders for their use
• Enhanced networking and collaboration of local actors around early warning and early response

For More Information please contact

The Executive Director

KENYA COMMUNITY SUPPORT CENTRE (KECOSCE)

PEMBENI ROAD, NYALI

1. O. BOX 42944-80100, MOMBASA

TELEPHONE 0716777230, 020 2435408

Email: [email protected]

Website: www.kecosce.org

KENYA COMMUNITY SUPPORT CENTRE (KECOSCE)

LAUNCH OF EARLY WARNING AND EARLY RESPONSE GUIDE

TUESDAY 29^TH JUNE, 2021

MARJAN HOTEL – GARSEN

TENTATIVE PROGRAMME: 9:00 AM – 1:00P.M.

DOWNLOAD THE FULL CONCEPT DOCUMENT HERE