CONFLICT EARLY WARNING AND EARLY RESPONSE VOLUNTEER ACTIVITIES : 2014-2020
This page briefly outlines PAC volunteer conflict early warning and response activities implemented between 2014 – 2020 from national to local levels. The volunteer structure comprises of Regional Task Teams (30, 10 from each region), District Coordination Teams (300, 10 from each operational district), Constituency Coordinators (193, 1 from each constituency), Trainers (at least 35 in each district) and Election Monitors (one per polling centre). They work hand in hand with Programs Office in the implementation of various activities. From the volunteer structure another group of youths was established in 2014 specifically for activities on Conflict Early Warning and Early Response (EWER). It should be noted that not only youth volunteers have been doing Conflict EWER activities but also the whole volunteer structure.
1.Identification and Training of Youth Volunteers: In 2014 PAC identified 90 youth volunteers from its volunteer structure (specifically from areas that were seen to be conflict hot spots) to be change agents and peace ambassadors in their communities. They were trained and given tools for the voluntary activities at local level.
2.Monitoring Exercise: In 2016 PAC held a monitoring exercise targeting 90 youths that were recruited from conflict hot spots in 2014. Districts covered were Thyolo, Blantyre, Machinga, Mangochi, Ntcheu, Dedza, Lilongwe, Kasungu, Mzimba, Mzuzu, Rumphi and Karonga.
3.Regional Review Meetings : Regional review meetings were also held in 2016 with an aim of taking stock of Conflict Early Warning and Early Response activities implemented from 2014. The review meetings provided an opportunity to analyze and document project successes and difficulties at local level.
4.District Stakeholders Meetings : In 2017 PAC held three training workshops on Early Warning and Early Response Systems for district stakeholders in Karonga, Rumphi and Mangochi. These are the districts that had registered a number of conflicts and violence resulting from land disputes.
5.National Review for Regional Teams: In 2018 PAC held Regional Task Team members national review meeting to review conflict `prevention activities from 2014 – 2018.
6.Training of old and new youth volunteers : In 2018 the number of youth volunteers was increased from 90 to 140 and together old and new youth volunteers were trained on conflict EWER.
7.District Coordination Teams and Constituency Coordinators Trainings : In 2018 PAC held three District Coordination Teams and Constituency Coordinators trainings in Karonga, Mulanje and Chikwawa on how to play a supervisory role to youth volunteers.
8.Training of youth volunteers on peace building and the use of mobile application for reporting political violence and tensions :In April, 2019 an online platform was established and 140 youths were trained on how to use the platform. Smart mobile phones and airtime were provided to youths for real time reporting of political conflicts, real time monitoring and intervention by electoral stakeholders like PAC, MEC and Multi Party Liaison Committees (MPLC).
9.Community sensitization meetings on the prevention of political violence and conflicts : PAC held community sensitization meetings on the prevention of political violence in Dowa, Karonga and Lilongwe in selected communities.
10.District Stakeholders Meetings on the prevention of political violence and conflicts
PAC held district stakeholders meetings in Chikwawa and Salima. The meetings were aimed at sharing formal and informal processes of resolving conflict in Communities and to build capacity of the stakeholders on how they can work together in managing and resolving conflicts.
11.Youth Regional Review Meetings : PAC held three youth regional review meetings on electoral violence reporting using a hot line.
12.Report on violence monitoring in the 2019 tripartite elections : PAC engaged a consultant to analyze the incidences reported to the online platform and produced a report.
13. Regional Task Team Meeting on Religious Intolerance : The meeting was organized to look into issues of religious intolerance happening in the country and divisions that were noted among members of Regional Task Teams.
14.Regional Review Meetings: Regional Review meetings took place in all three regions and were attended by representatives of District Coordination Teams in the region. They assessed the adequacy and effectiveness of youth volunteers on reporting violence and how voluntary work on different and emerging issues in the districts contributes to the core values and vision of PAC.
15.Community sensitization meeting on conflict / violence prevention and reporting : These meetings took place at Mileme in Phalombe North and Makwangwala in Ntcheu Bwanje South. The main discussions were on political conflicts and land grabbing