Youth and Peace Education (YPE)

RESEARCH, MONITORING AND EVOLUTION

The Research, Monitoring and Evaluation Program was established in 2005. The need to develop mechanisms or tools to determine the impact of WANEP’s work and produce research documents becomes critical as WANEP forges strategic partnerships with other institutions such as CSOs, governmental institutions and bilateral donor agencies which require impact assessment tools integrated in funded projects.

Furthermore, to adequately address conflict prevention and for peacebuilding outcomes to be more effective and sustainable in West Africa, there is serious need to map the conflicts in the sub-region, analyze the root causes, nature, consequences, and the stakeholders and beneficiaries in these conflicts. The results of the research undertaken should be published and used to inform policy formulation.

Objectives

• Generate information that will enhance appreciation and understanding of the types and causes of conflict in West Africa by location; identify the principal actors in any particular conflict, as well as the victims and ‘beneficiaries’ and determine mechanisms for transforming them.

• Make accessible original, reliable, and evidence-based data for reference purposes.
  Use the information gathered from the research to inform WANEP’s Peace Monitoring Centre.

• Review and strengthen existing M&E mechanisms.

• Share lessons learnt with others in the field to harmonize M&E in peacebuilding activities.

• Identify and implement specific tasks and activities to improve M&E at national and regional levels.

• Document the successes and impact of WANEP’s work across the sub-region
   

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HIGHLIGHTS

Research Activities
As a newly created unit, preliminary groundwork undertaken included drawing up a one-year research plan which was also a pre-requisite for accessing Ghana Research and Advocacy Program (G-RAP) funding for research into conflict in the country. The research work plan outlined activities in 10 regions in Ghana. The work plan was submitted to G-RAP.

The Research Unit wrote and presented a paper on Border Security and the International Obligations of Ghana’s Border Security Agencies. The paper looked at the contested concept of security, identified the agencies concerned with border security, their role, the challenges, and recommendations on how to enhance security at the country’s borders. The paper was highly appreciated and commended as having aptly addressed fundamental problems within Ghana’s borders at a time when much of the West African sub-region was embroiled in conflict with grave implications for the proliferation of small arms and light weapons.

Draft West African Code of Conduct for Armed and Security Forces (WACOCAS)
The Research Unit through the senior researcher also represented WANEP at the Preparatory Meeting on a Draft West African Code of Conduct for Armed and Security Forces (WACOCAS) sponsored and organized by ECOWAS and the Geneva Centre for Democratic Control of the Armed Forces (DCAF) from October 24 to 26, 2005. A presentation was made by WANEP on Civil Society Perspectives on a Code of Conduct for Armed and Security Forces. The presentation called for greater civilian and security forces interaction to foster an enhanced collaboration, especially in the areas of conflict prevention.

Course on Ghana Security Sector Governance and Management
Earlier in August, the Senior Researcher attended a course on Ghana Security Sector Governance and Management at the Ghana Armed Forces Training and Staff College.

The purpose of the course was to make participants appreciate security sector governance and management and the need for a reform of the sector for democratic governance and to create an understanding of the contribution of every individual as a stakeholder in the security of the nation. was also expected that participants would clearly understand the paradigm shift in security issues from the traditional notion of defense of national sovereignty, elite/regime protection to include human security.

Early Warning
Toward the end of October, after monitoring the peace negotiations in Côte d’Ivoire led by South African President Thabo M’Beki, an Early Warning policy brief was written to highlight the Pretoria Peace Talks. The policy brief analyzed the implications of the failure of the talks and looked at the opportunities currently available for building sustainable peace in that country.

Capacity Building
The Unit coordinator attended the module on Early Warning and Early Response at WAPI 2005 and also participated in the tripartite workshop between ECOWAS, WANEP and USAID in Banjul in November 2005.

M&E Training of Trainers workshop
At the beginning of 2005, WANEP entered into a partnership with Management Systems International (MSI) and the Capable Partners Program (CAP) of the USA to build the capacity of WANEP staff and its 400 plus member organizations in performance monitoring and evaluation. A customized monitoring training was successfully conducted by CAP in Elmina, Ghana from the 3rd 12th October 2005.
In all, 32 participants took part in the training with 25 completing the Training of Trainers (TOT) and committed themselves to replicate the training in their various countries.
 

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Lessons Learned/Observations

Peacebuilding monitoring is qualitative in nature and focuses on intangible results such as relationships, trust and confidence which make it very difficult to assess and measure changes and progress. In the same vein, evaluating peacebuilding programs involves value judgments which are subjective.

Many now recognize the need to monitor peacebuilding programs and projects but need support to build their capacity to do this specialized activity. WANEP is leading the process by involving all its 430 plus network members to introduce the concept to other partners.

The new approach to TOT was a useful tool for new trainers to assess themselves and their performance.

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RM&E QUICK LINKS

Objectives

Highlights

Lessons Learned/Observation