The 5th meeting of the Technical Committee on Early Warning (TCEW) will be held on 29-30 October, 2007, while the 7th Meeting of the Committee of Permanent Secretaries (CPS) will follow thereafter on 31 October, 2007, IGAD told ENA in a statement.

The meetings, which aim to receive briefs and updates on the activities of CEWARN and the ongoing implementation of the CEWARN strategic plan for the years 2007-2011, will bring together members of the TCEW and Permanent Secretaries of he relevant Ministries of IGAD Member States of Djibouti, Ethiopia, Kenya, Sudan, Somali and Uganda.

CEWARN is an early warning and response mechanism established in 2000 by IGAD Member States to provide early warning information and respond effectively to pastoral and related conflicts in the region.

Since its establishment in 2003 the mechanism has been able to capture and provide data-based reports of incidents in the region, promoting and facilitating consultations between various relevant stakeholders including government intuitions and civil society actors and working through its structures at the local and national level.

Although the focus is on pastoral and related conflicts an evaluation and mid-term review will be undertaken in 2009 to determine whether the Mechanism will expand its operations to cover types of conflicts outlined in the protocol, the statement said.

R-5:15-5:45

E-11:50-12:11

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