To enhance conflict monitoring and response mechanisms in the Niger Delta, the Foundation for Partnership Initiatives in the Niger Delta (PIND) has conducted refresher training for its Early Warning and Early Response (EWER) monitors across Bayelsa, Delta, and Rivers States.
The training is part of the European Union-funded project, A Community-Centered Approach to Transforming Criminality and Violence in the Niger Delta, implemented by PIND in collaboration with Search for Common Ground (SFCG) and Stakeholder Democracy Network (SDN). The project aims to foster inclusive security approaches to address the systemic drivers of violence and criminality in Bayelsa, Delta, and Rivers States.
Strengthening Local Capacity for Conflict Prevention
Held from 2nd to 20th February 2025, the three-week refresher training reinforced the capacity of PIND-trained EWER monitors to enhance conflict monitoring and response. It also reintegrated inactive monitors and onboarded new community-based observers, equipping them with the skills to identify and report early warning signs of conflict accurately. A total of 330 monitors were trained across the three states, further strengthening PIND’s EWER system and ensuring timely interventions to mitigate violence.
Speaking at the training on behalf of PIND’s Executive Director, Mr Tunji Idowu, Aniekan Archibong, PIND’s EU Project Lead, emphasized the importance of local engagement in conflict prevention: “Sustaining peace in the Niger Delta requires a proactive approach. By equipping community-based monitors with the skills to identify and report early warning signs of conflict, we are not only improving response mechanisms but also fostering a culture of resilience and collaboration.”
The training engaged participants from 12 LGAs in Delta State, 8 LGAs in Bayelsa State, and 13 LGAs in Rivers State. Through structured sessions, they gained hands-on expertise in accurate reporting techniques to improve data accuracy within PIND’s SMS-based EWER system, while also learning foundational concepts in peacebuilding. They also gained expertise in identifying and verifying early warning signs of conflict, leveraging social media for real-time monitoring and advocacy, strengthening community engagement strategies for grassroots peacebuilding, and applying alternative dispute resolution methods to facilitate peaceful mediation and conflict resolution at the community level.
Key Outcomes of the Training
The refresher sessions reinforced the capacity of trained monitors to:
- Identify and report conflict risks with precision using PIND’s EWER system.
- Strengthen community resilience through proactive peacebuilding strategies.
- Ensure timely and data-driven early warning reports for effective interventions.
Advancing Sustainable Peace in the Niger Delta
PIND remains committed to empowering communities with the tools to prevent and respond to conflict. By reinforcing the EWER system, PIND is enhancing early detection and intervention, ensuring a proactive approach to regional stability.
Through strategic partnerships and systemic interventions, PIND continues to drive lasting peace and sustainable development across the Niger Delta.
