Cairo, Egypt – CCCPA, in collaboration with the African Union Commission (AUC) and the African Development Bank, held the first-ever training on Integrating Forced Displacement in Post-Conflict Reconstruction and Development (PCRD) Efforts in Africa from 22-25 November 2022.

The training seeks to strengthen African nations' capacities and introduce participants to various humanitarian-development-peace nexus (HDPN) operationalization pathways to effectively integrate forcibly displaced persons into PCRD and harness their role in post-conflict contexts. Furthermore, the training sheds light on the interlinkages between conflict, development, and forced displacement.

In his remarks, H.E. Ambassador Ahmed Abdel-Latif, CCCPA Director General, stressed Egypt’s strong commitment to enhancing peace and security in the African continent, highlighting that this training coincides with the AUC commemoration of the second PCRD Awareness Week.  He also highlighted that the training comes within the context of operationalizing the relevant Aswan Forum for Sustainable Peace and Development recommendations. Moving on, Ambassador Abdel-Latif noted that the COP27 Presidency's "Climate Responses for Sustaining Peace" initiative included a pillar on advancing durable solutions to the climate-displacement nexus—given that climate impacts increase climate-induced displacement.

Finally, the Director General of CCCPA expressed his sincere gratitude to the Japanese government for its support of this training program.

H.E. Ambassador Ashraf Swelam, Director of the African Organizations Department, Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Egypt, emphasized the importance of the training as it “reflects Egypt’s unwavering support to achieving peace and stability in Africa as the Champion of PCRD efforts in the Continent.” In this regard, Ambassador Swelam noted Egypt’s initiative to propose the establishment of the African Union Centre for PCRD in Cairo (which officially launched in December 2021). He also stressed how “this training is an opportunity to bring to the fore the pressing need for sustainable responses to displacement in Africa.”

On his part, H.E. Ambassador Hiroshi Oka, Ambassador of Japan to Egypt, affirmed his country’s long-standing, active contribution to Africa’s peace, stability, and socio-economic development. He noted that this contribution has mainly been through the Tokyo International Conference of African Development (TICAD) process since its inception in 1993, adding that the TICAD8 Tunis Declaration stressed “the need for protection and support to forcibly displaced people.” In addition, the Japanese Ambassador commended the long-term collaboration with CCCPA and its significant role in the training and building of African capacities.

The training brought together a select group of officials from African countries in conflict and post-conflict affected settings (Liberia, Nigeria, Somalia, and South Sudan).

CCCPA is an Egyptian public agency, specializing in capacity building, convening, and research in the fields of peace and security. Its board of directors is chaired by H.E. Sameh Shoukry, Minister of Foreign Affairs of Egypt. CCCPA is an African Union Center of Excellence.

The training comes as part of the project on “Enhancing Peace, Security and Stability in Africa VII”, funded by the Government of Japan and administered through UNDP.