Announcement

Ethiopian Delegates Study Innovative Kenyan Ways of Handling Conflict

Speech by Cheryl Anderson at the Closing Event of a Study Tour by an Ethiopian Delegation to the Kenyan National Steering Committee on Peacebuilding and Conflict Management

Nairobi, Kenya  | Friday, September 07, 2007

Mr. Hassan Mohammed, Coordinator of the National Steering Committee on Peacebuilding and Conflict Management, and host of this event,

Ato Meressa Reda, Special Assistant to the Ethiopian Minister of Federal Affairs and Head of the Ethiopian Delegation,

Ladies and Gentlemen.

Thank you for the opportunity to greet and welcome the delegation.  I’m pleased to represent USAID/East Africa as well as my counterparts the directors of USAID/Kenya and USAID/Ethiopia.

This kind of exchange is important between IGAD countries as they are now working to develop the country conflict policies that were agreed in the 2002 CEWARN protocol. 

Kenya and Ethiopia are two countries that are moving ahead and have, to date, invested the most time and effort in the strategies.  The commitment of both countries is clear in this visit to exchange ideas and experiences.

USAID/EA active in supporting the broad CEWARN process, including national policy development.

The Kenya process has been extraordinarily transparent, consultative and broad-based.  I understand the draft policy is now being prepared for Cabinet submission.  This is a huge achievement, both of process and of substance, and I’d like to take this opportunity to salute the skill and dedication of the National Steering Committee on Peacebuilding and Conflict Management in making this happen.

The IGAD states don’t -- and shouldn’t -- see the national policy development process as an isolated, one-off task.  Or as an end in itself.  It is part of a far more ambitious regionally-based effort to find constructive ways of dealing with violent local conflict, which includes the CEWARN secretariat in Addis Ababa and the national CEWERUs.

Within this regional effort, much constructive work has also been done locally, particularly in cross-border areas.  Local peace efforts such as the South Omo – Turkana initiative have served as useful laboratories through which the two countries’ national policies can be developed using real-world, positive experiences. 

Similar initiatives, such as the one under way in the critical Mandera-Doolow-Gedo triangle, can also be examples of how constructive processes involving local government, security forces, community leadership, and civil society can help to bring dramatic reductions in local tensions and effective responses to cross-border violent incidents. 

And enhancing direct links between local officials, communities and civil society in cross-border areas, and promoting sustained dialogue and contact between them, has proven to be an effective tool in conflict prevention and response, and I’m sure this experience will be incorporated in both countries’ national policies.

In conclusion, emphasize the importance of finding constructive, innovative and inclusive ways of handling local conflict.  Local conflict threatens all of our development and humanitarian efforts, requires emergency responses that detract from long-term progress, and in a region where regional integration and cooperation are so important, can compromise relations between countries.  The national-policy drafting process is vital.  We are impressed by the commitment of Kenya and Ethiopia on the national policies and encourage you and wish you all the best in your efforts to bring this process to successful conclusion:

--formalized in policy and relevant legislation,

--disseminated and understood by communities, local government and civil society, and

--used as vital tools to help reduce violent conflict and the suffering it brings. 

I’m sure the exchanges that took place during this important visit will have made an important contribution to this end. 

THANK YOU. 

Cheryl Anderson
Mission Director
USAID/EAST AFRICA