77 Peace and Conflict Review 8.1 2014 Revisiting the Utility of the Early Warning and Early Response Mechanisms in Africa: Any Role for Civil Society? Olumuyiwa Babatunde Amao, Dorcas Ettang, Ufo Okeke-Uzodike, and Clementine Tugizamana Abstract This paper aims to contribute to on-going research on ways of operationalizing and iŵpƌoǀiŶg AfƌiĐas edžistiŶg ĐoŶfliĐt pƌeǀeŶtioŶ ŵeĐhaŶisŵs, fƌoŵ the peƌspeĐtiǀe of Ciǀil Society Organizations (CSOs). Drawing on the insights provided by Ghana and Kenya, it unpacks the roles CSOs can play as agents of conflict prevention within the framework of the Early Warning and Early Response processes at national level. This arises from the fact that CSOs are often relied upon for their wider reach, link to the grassroots and ability to access information through the instrumentalities of their networks. Hence, they are of immense benefit to any process aimed at conflict prevention. The paper also examines existing continental and Early Warning and Response systems in Africa, their level of efficacy and the role of CSOs as possible instruments for conflict prevention. This is achieved through conceptualization of civil society, drawing on the experiences of Ghana and Kenya, including an analysis of the varying perspectives and probable lessons that can be learned from their activities. The paper concludes with key recommendations that could enable Africa to be freed from its plethora of conflicts using CSOs as conflict prevention agents.  Olumuyiwa Babatunde Amao is a doctoral candidate in the Department of Politics, University of Otago, Dunedin, New Zealand. He holds a Master of Arts degree (Cum- Laude) in Political Science from the University of KwaZulu-Natal. Dorcas Ettang is a doctoral candidate of the School of Social Sciences, at the University of KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa. Ufo Okeke-Uzodike is Professor of International Relations at the University of KwaZulu- Natal, Pietermaritzburg, South Africa and Editor-in-Chief of Affrika Journal and the UBUNTU Journal of Peace and Conflict Transformation. Clementine Tugizimana is a doctoral candidate of the School of Social Sciences, at the University Of KwaZulu- Natal South Africa.