(IGAD - Addis Ababa) The Regional Steering Committee of IGAD Forum for Non Governmental and Civil Society Organizations held its 4th Meeting in Addis Ababa on November 30th, 2009.

Making his opening remarks at the beginning of the meeting that comes six months after the last one, the acting Director of Finance and Administration at the IGAD Secretariat, Mr Bwango Apuuli reminded the members that IGAD continues to recognize the role of NGOs and CSOs in the region, especially in poverty alleviation as well as conflict prevention, management and resolution.

The 3rd Programme Steering Committee meeting of the CPMR-ESA took place on 26th and 27th October 2009 at the Chaminuka Lodge in Lusaka.

The two-day meeting was attended by the representatives of COMESA, EAC and IGAD. Others included officials from the African Union Commussion (AUC), European Commission Delegations of Ethiopia and Zambia, the Inter Regional Coordination Committee (IRCC) and the regional Centre on Small Arms (RECSA).

Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD) Committee on Early Warning and Response (CEWARN) said it is taking measure to address conflicts along the border of member states.

Speaking at the 7th meeting of the Technical committee on Early Warning and Response here on Monday Ethiopian Special Envoy to IGAD ambassador Brook Debebe said the institutional capacity of CEWARN has been strengthening in handling conflict management.