Cairo, Egypt – Two cooperation projects between CCCPA, the Government of Japan and the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) were launched on 30 June 2021, extending their strategic partnership in support of peace and security in Africa. Japan’s contribution of $1,148,177 will be attributed, among others, for capacity-building, activities and seminars in the frameworks of the seventh phase of the project “Enhancing Peace, Security and Stability in Africa”, initially launched in 2009, and the first phase of the project “Addressing Systemic Risks to Development, Peace and Security in Africa”. Reinforcing this continued support, the Government of Japan is also the first Strategic Partner of the third edition of the Aswan Forum for Sustainable Peace and Development.
Anchored in the outcomes of the Aswan Forum, and under the banner of the New Approach for Peace and Stability in Africa (NAPSA) announced on the occasion of the Seventh Tokyo International Conference on African Development (TICAD 7) in 2019 co-chaired by President El Sisi and then Japanese Prime Minister Abe, the project “Enhancing Peace, Security and Stability in Africa VII” will contribute to accelerating the operationalization of the paradigm shift to resilience and the development-peace nexus, while strengthening the AU-UN partnership on issues related to peace, security and development.
Meanwhile, the project “Addressing Systemic Risks to Development, Peace and Security in Africa” seeks to (i) advance the implementation of the conclusions of TICAD 7 and the first and second editions of the Aswan Forum, which tackle persistent, new and emerging threats and risks to peace, security and sustainable development in Africa, and (ii) strengthen the Aswan Forum Secretariat.
Upon signing the project document, H.E. Ambassador Lamia Mekhaimar, Director of International Cooperation for Development at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, commended the launch of the seventh phase of the project that has been ongoing since 2009. She stated that “this project reflects the growing role that CCCPA is playing as an actor in enhancing peace and security on the African continent.” Ambassador Mekhemar stressed that this collaboration with the Japanese side “exemplifies the spirit of friendship and cooperation between Egypt and Japan, as well as a common vision towards Africa’s peace, security and development issues.”
In his remarks, H.E. Ambassador NOKE Masaki reaffirmed that “CCCPA is their longstanding partner since TICAD 4 in 2008.” He added that “Japan’s new support to CCCPA comes in recognition of the center’s active role in achieving peace, stability and development in Africa, especially when COVID-19 is posing new challenges in the continent and threats to human security in general.”
As the first strategic partner of the 3rd edition of the Aswan Forum, Japan will continue to support the Egyptian efforts to make Africa more resilient and capable of tackling and overcoming the threats to the continent, hoping to create a synergy between the Aswan Forum and TICAD8 that will be held in Tunisia in 2021.
Ms. Randa Aboul-Hosn, Resident Representative of UNDP Egypt, highlighted that “UNDP is proud to be partnering with the Government of Japan and the Government of Egypt through the Ministry of foreign Affairs and CCCPA in this very strategic programme at this very important juncture of history and prospects for the future.”
On his side, H.E. Ambassador Ahmed Abdel-Latif, Director General of CCCPA, emphasized that “the long standing partnership between CCCPA and the Government of Japan which is renewed today reflects a common commitment to strengthen African and Arab capacities to achieve peace and security through holistic approaches and nationally owned solutions.” He added that “the unprecedented challenges raised by COVID-19 further underline the critical importance of such partnerships in addressing both existing security risks and new ones, as well as interlinkages at the heart of the humanitarian, peace and development nexus.” Furthermore, the “enhanced support provided by the Government of Japan for the year 2021-22 will enable CCCPA to scale-up its interventions to tackle such challenges and risks working with a broad range of stakeholders, including in the framework of the Aswan Forum.”
CCCPA is the Executive Secretariat of the Aswan Forum, and an African Union Center of excellence in training, capacity building and research.
