ECOWAS Capacity Development Workshop Underway

Speaking on the opening ceremony, Dr Guye Abdou, Early Warning System Manager ECOWAS, said that in the last few years conflict prevention has become a corner stone for a sustainable peace building in West Africa. ECOWAS Early warning system, he revealed, is the first pillar of overall conflict prevention given mandate by ECOWAS heads of state and government. "This workshop with UNHCR is aimed at deepening the partnership base and increase the effectiveness and efficiency of the early warning system. The workshop is a true transformation of our vision of an integrated early warning system where all major actors and stakeholders are involved. It is my wish that at the end of the three days, we will have been imbued with capacity and knowledge to improve our understanding and analysis of humanitarian crises in West Africa," he said.

Major Lamin Jammeh, of The Gambia Armed Forces, welcomed the participants to The Gambia and described the workshop as timely.

Mrs. Naffie Barry, Deputy Permanent Secretary at the Department of State for Trade, Industry and Employment who declared the forum open encouraged the participants to take the workshop seriously.

The ceremony was chaired by Mr.Moussa Dabal Head of Mission.