Regional Training on Early Warning in Africa
Enhancing Collaboration for Human Rights Protection
Organized in Collaboration With
Lead Organizer
About the Training
The RFLD Team in Accra is organizing a comprehensive two-day Regional Training on Early Warning in Africa, designed to enhance collaboration between civil society organizations, Human Rights Defenders (HRDs), and the African Commission on Human and Peoples' Rights (ACHPR).
This training responds to the ACHPR's request to strategically position HRDs to effectively utilize early warning data and advocate for improved human rights conditions across Africa. The workshop will bring together key stakeholders from across the continent to develop synergistic approaches to early warning mechanisms and strengthen advocacy responses to deteriorating human rights environments.
🌍 Welcoming Participants from Across Africa
We are excited to welcome participants from African countries to join this transformative training experience in Accra, Ghana. This regional gathering will foster cross-border collaboration and knowledge sharing among human rights defenders and civil society organizations.
Learning Outcomes
By the end of this training, participants will:
Training Objectives
Primary Objective
To establish a dialogue for collaboration between the civil society organizations that develop early warning mechanisms, those that engage in advocacy, and the ACHPR to ensure that civil society proactively addresses deteriorations in the enabling environment.
Specific Objectives
🔄 Streamline Actions
Ensure synergies between organizations producing early warning information for effective responses
📈 Evidence-Based Advocacy
Explore strategies that leverage early warning data to influence policy and practice
🗣️ Strengthen Participation
Enhance the voice and participation of HRDs in continental human rights governance structures
💪 Build Capacity
Develop technical capacity in early warning data analysis and interpretation
🤝 Collaborative Frameworks
Establish frameworks for information sharing and coordinated responses
Training Methodology
The workshop employs interactive and participatory approaches designed to maximize learning and encourage collaboration among participants:
Training Agenda
| Time | Session Description | Speaker/Facilitator |
|---|---|---|
| 8:30 – 9:00 | Welcome and registration of participants | RFLD Logistics Team |
| 9:00 – 9:30 | Official Opening Ceremony • Welcome by RFLD's Partnerships and Resource Mobilization Officer • Welcome by WACSI Representative • Address by ACHPR Special Rapporteur |
John Gbenagnon, Paul Osei-Kuffour, Prof. Rémy Ngoy Lumbu, Omolara Wademos |
| 9:30 – 10:00 | Objectives of the Training and Overview of the Agenda Overview of training goals and agenda walkthrough |
John Gbenagnon / Mengo Onyonge |
| 10:00 – 11:00 | Advocacy with the European Union • Virtual presentation about advocacy options with the EU • How civil society can engage with the EU • Interactive Q&A session |
Emma Achille - EPD (Virtual) |
| 11:00 – 12:00 | ACHPR Special Rapporteur's Mandate • Understanding the mandate on HRDs • Collaboration between the mandate and civil society |
Prof. Rémy Ngoy Lumbu |
| 12:00 – 12:10 | ☕ Coffee Break | — |
| 12:10 – 13:10 | Implementation of the Mandate Collaboration between ACHPR and civil society (continued) |
Prof. Rémy Ngoy Lumbu |
| 13:10 – 14:00 | 🍽️ Lunch Break | — |
| 14:00 – 15:00 | Mapping Concrete Advocacy Opportunities 2025/2026 • Advocacy in Africa: What works, where and how • Examples of successful advocacy actions • Group work: Mapping advocacy spaces (African Commission, UPR, ECOWAS, etc.) |
Omolara Balogun |
| 15:00 – 16:00 | Group Work Continues • Identifying advocacy spaces • Group presentations • Key spaces mapped out and way forward |
Omolara Balogun |
| 16:00 – 16:10 | ☕ Coffee Break | — |
| 16:10 – 17:10 | Early Warning Systems in Africa • Deep dive into the architecture of early warning systems • Challenges and opportunities • Continental frameworks (AU's CEWS, Regional Economic Communities) • Case study analysis of successful interventions |
Paul Osei Kuffour |
| 17:10 – 17:30 | Day 1 Wrap-up Summary and outline of Day 2 agenda |
RFLD + ACHPR Organizing Committee |
| Time | Session Description | Speaker/Facilitator |
|---|---|---|
| 8:30 – 9:00 | Arrival and welcome coffee | RFLD Logistics Team |
| 9:00 – 10:00 | Participatory Workshop on Early Warning Systems • Mapping of existing early warning mechanisms • Bridging the gap between warning and action • Addressing implementation challenges • Mapping stakeholder ecosystems |
Dr. Paul Mulindwa |
| 10:00 – 10:50 | Case Study: EU SEE Monitoring Mechanism • Overview of the EU SEE system • How the system works • Categorization of alerts • Q&A session |
Bekezela Gumbo |
| 10:50 – 11:00 | ☕ Tea Break | — |
| 11:00 – 11:50 | Testing the System - Working Groups • Categorizing early warning events • Three case studies • Groups write alerts based on case studies |
Bekezela Gumbo & Mengo Onyonge |
| 11:50 – 12:30 | Finalizing Alerts • Groups present alerts and category decisions • Review and comments • Final agreement on alerts |
Bekezela Gumbo |
| 12:30 – 13:10 | From Early Warning Data to Advocacy Groups discuss how to link alerts/events with advocacy options from Day 1 |
Cathy Elando Kodiemoka |
| 13:10 – 14:00 | 🍽️ Lunch | — |
| 14:00 – 15:00 | From Early Warning to Early Response • Bridging the gap between warning and action • Implementation challenges • Stakeholder ecosystem mapping • Designing response protocols • Case studies: Failures and successes |
Dr. Pascal Dohou |
| 15:00 – 15:30 | Connecting the Dots Summary of key issues: • Types of early warning events/alerts • Advocacy options • Implementation challenges |
Mengo Onyonge |
| 15:30 – 16:00 | Workshop Evaluation | Mengo Onyonge |
| 16:00 – 16:10 | Closing Remarks and Vote of Thanks | Ms. Dossi Sekonnou Gloria – DG RFLD |
Who Should Attend
This training workshop is designed for approximately 40-50 participants representing key stakeholder groups in the early warning and human rights protection ecosystem:
Front-line defenders across Africa
Commissioners and staff
Technical teams developing systems
Representatives from NHRIs
Advocacy and policy experts
Staff from Regional Economic Communities
Researchers and academics
Expected Outcomes
📋 Enhanced Coordination Framework
Establishment of structured frameworks for coordination between early warning producers and advocacy organizations
💡 Improved Technical Capacity
Enhanced skills in data analysis, early warning interpretation, and evidence-based advocacy
🤝 Strengthened ACHPR Engagement
Better positioning of HRDs to engage with continental human rights mechanisms
📝 Collaborative Action Plans
Development of concrete action plans with clear roles and responsibilities
Join Us in Accra
Be part of this transformative training that will strengthen human rights protection across Africa
Register Your Interest
