A week-long training on conflict analysis and data management, organised by the ECOWAS Commission in collaboration with Capacity Building International (InWent), a German organisation, is underway at the Paradise Suites Hotel in Banjul.

The training, the first of its kind, is an activity within the framework of partnership between the ECOWAS Commission and InWent.

InWent cooperates with regional economic communities in the field of crises prevention. This initial training for English Speaking staff of ECOWAS is the first in a series of three to be administered between 2007 and 2008, and is targeting all personnel involved in the operation of the ECOWAS Warning and Response Network, ECOWARN.

Speaking at the opening ceremony, Mrs. Florence Iheme, Programme Manager Early Warning Department of ECOWAS, indicated that the office of the Commissioner for Political Affairs, Peace and Security, has been in collaboration with InWent since 2002 when, according to her, InWent invited ECOWAS to participate in a six-week course on conflict prevention. “The importance which both organisations attach to our partnership is demonstrated by ECOWAS’ participation in all four of these courses over a two-year period as well as InWent’s reflection of ECOWAS’ input to the programmes midpoint evaluation,” he said.

According to her, apart from agreeing to make later InWent courses more gender sensitive, one such response conveys the willingness to offer a tailor-made training for ECOWAS needs.

“Consequently, starting in 2006, both organisations have taken a number of steps to identify the requisite training for the Early Warning Department personnel,” he said.