Section 1: In this Act unless the context otherwise requires -

"Act" means the National Early Warning and Response Mechanism Centre Act, 2025; "Alert" means a concise report on emerging, unusual occurrence or pattern that may pose potential danger or threat to peace or human security; "Analyst" means a person charged with the responsibility to study or examine and analyse issues that may pose threat to peace and human security; "Board" means the governing body of the Centre established under section 3; "Centre" means the National Early Warning and Response Mechanism Centre referred to in section 2; "Civil Society Organisation" means a non-state organisation, a non-profit organisation or a voluntary organisation that is distinct from the State including a community-based organisation and a nongovernmental organisation; "Commission" means the Commission of the Economic Community of West African States; "Community" means the Economic Community of West African States; "Conflict" means contradictions inherent in power relations and which manifest themselves in individual and group interactions with one another and with nature in the pursuit of limited resources or opportunities; "Early warning" means the provision of timely and useful information to Government, through identified public sector institutions, on issues relating to human security and peace, which may expose the state, individuals or communities to threat, danger, crisis or hazards, for the purpose of early response and risk reduction; "Executive Director" means the Executive Director of the Centre appointed under section 13; "Government" means the Government of Sierra Leone; "Human security" means protecting the vital core of all human lives in ways that enhance human freedoms and human fulfilment from severe and widespread threats and situations; "Member country" means a country which is a member of the Economic Community of West African States; "Minister" means the Minister responsible for Planning and Economic Development and ‘’Ministry’’ shall be construed accordingly; "Peace" means absence of hostility, conflict and freedom from fear of violence between individuals or groups; "President" means the President of the Republic of Sierra Leone; "Regional Early Warning and ResponseCentre" means the Centre that coordinates early warning activities and analyses early warning reports generated in member states; 2 3 Interpretation. No. 9 The National Early Warning and Response Mechanism Centre Act 2025 No. 9 The National Early Warning and Response Mechanism Centre Act 2025 "Situation report" means a report on incident, occurrence or prevailing situation with analysis on peace and human security implications; "Threat" means a person or thing likely to cause damage, trouble, danger, ruin, conflict or severe discomfort to the state or the people; "Vice President" means the Vice President of the Republic of Sierra Leone. PART II- THE NATIONAL EARLY WARNING AND RESPONSE MECHANISM CENTRE.