Experts have  observed building community resilience , preparedness and harness of  internal/external mobilised resources as one of the ways to support early warning and early response mechanisms in conflict prevention.

This was contained in a communique at the one day capacity observers and response networks on early warning and early response, organised by Civil Society Legislative Advocacy Centre  (CISLAC)/ Transparency International In Nigeria  (TI-NIGERIA)  with support from Open Society Foundation Africa  (OSF-AFRICA) held at Lagos recently.

 At the Workshop aimed at building the capacity of community observers within the state for more collaboration, communication, coordination and collective support ,  Ms. Patience Ikpeh Obaulo delivered a paper titled: “Building Resilience in Communities through Effective Early Warning Systems” .

 The experts also made the following recommendations,  “Gender sensitivity and multi-stakeholders’ involvement in Early Warning mechanisms and process to elicit all-inclusive and comprehensive response by relevant authorities. “

” Mainstreaming Early Warning awareness and sensitisation into extra-curricular activities in schools’ system to guide socialisation process, reduce tension, positively shape orientation and encourage peaceful co-existence among students. “

“Encouraging inclusive Early Warning Early Response system to conflict signals through targeted community sensitisation and behavioural change communication to discourage socio-culturally impose”

“Mainstreaming the Traditional Institutions, Religious/Community Leaders, women/youth-led Associations to elicit inclusiveness, trust, ownership and sustainability in Early Warning and Early Response system and process.”

” Integrating the gatekeeping system at community levels to support efficient information gathering and accurate reporting process that facilitate Early Response mechanisms.”

” Strengthening community surveillance system and collaboration through proactive approach like Community In-road Advocacy to identify and de-escalate threats to a successful

Early Warning Early Response sensitisation effort and system.”

However, brainstorming  on various thematic issues , the experts observed that recurring

 threat by armed opposition groups against reporting effort by community members discourages proactive reporting of Early Warning signals by Observers.

“While poor resilience at community levels hamper collective monitoring and timely Response to Early Warning signals, associated indicators like mental health challenges, inter-ethnic/inter-religious tensions, unemployment and youth restiveness have high tendencies to accelerate conflict.”

“Efficiently managed conflict through well-institutionalised Early Warning Early Response mechanisms and process stimulates interest, improves positive communication, elicits social change and all-inclusive benefits. “

” Unattended gender disparity and inherent discrimination enabled by systemic and other socio-cultural barriers in Early Warning system delays inclusive information gathering to assist adequate Response to conflict signals at all levels. “

” Effective Early Warning system must take into cognisance sufficient data gathering and collection, proactive signal analysis, effective communication and response through bias-free, factual and verifiable information presentation. “

“Delayed response by relevant authorities coupled with inadequate intelligence information gathering structures on Early Warning signals hinder conflict de-escalation effort at community levels.”

” Key indicators in Early Warning signal such as vote-buying, protests, hate speeches, cultism, gangsterism, human rights abuses, small arms proliferation, discriminate destructions may degenerate to major conflict in absence of proactive Early Warning Early Response system.”