The Reacting to Early Warning and Response Data in West Africa (REWARD II) is a follow-on activity to the original five-year REWARD program. REWARD II addresses critical gaps in the conflict early warning and early response systems of ECOWAS through capacity building and supporting stakeholders in ECOWAS member states to mitigate electoral violence. Furthermore, REWARD II’s efforts address democratic backsliding, prevent conflict, and address security vulnerabilities resulting from governments' responses to the coronavirus pandemic.

PROJECT OBJECTIVES

The objective of REWARD II is to bolster the capacity of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) to monitor, gather, analyze, and disseminate human security information to its 15 member states for the purposes of supporting peace and security in the region. REWARD II addresses critical gaps in the conflict early warning and early response systems of ECOWAS through a two-tier approach, by: (1) providing capacity building to ECOWAS to enhance conflict early warning and response systems in the 15 ECOWAS member states; and (2) supporting national and local stakeholders in five countries to mitigate electoral conflict triggers before they escalate into violence.

PROJECT ACTIVITIES

  • Provides technical assistance to ECOWAS National Coordination Centers for Response Mechanisms (NCCRMs) and NCCRM staff to reinforce and deepen their analytical capacity on activities such as: 
  • Data collection, research design, and assessments
  • Integrating the human security analysis framework and making it actionable to national and local stakeholders
  • Targeted early warning products for joint planning and response
  • Promotes coordination between ECOWAS, member states, and civil society actors around strengthening human security architecture and conflict prevention. This includes supporting ECOWAS in effectively coordinating with its member states, other regional institutions, civil society organizations (CSOs), and government and non-government entities to advance peace and security in the region. This includes supporting host country governments and civil society/local NGOs to minimize the impact of COVID-19 on the backsliding of democratic processes.
  • Provides additional funding for the Small Grants Mechanism to expand the implementation of the conflict prevention and elections activities in up to five additional countries.

PROGRAM INFORMATION

GOAL: Bolster ECOWAS’ capacity to monitor, gather, analyze, and disseminate human security information to its 15 member states to support peace and security in the region

LIFE OF PROGRAM: September 2020 – August 2022

TOTAL US FUNDING: $6.3 million

IMPLEMENTING PARTNER: Creative Associates International, lead implementer, with Fund for Peace and Karuna Center for Peacebuilding