CCCPA, the Government of Japan and the United Nations Development Programme Launch a New Phase of Cooperation

April 15, 2019

In the photo (Left to Right): Ms. Randa Aboul-Hosn, UNDP Resident Representative a.i., H.E. Masaki Noke, Ambassador of Japan to the Arab Republic of Egypt, H.E. Ambassador Soha Gendi, Director of the Department of International Cooperation for Development of the Egyptian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and CCCPA Director General Ashraf Swelam.

The Cairo International Center for Conflict Resolution, Peacekeeping and Peacebuilding (CCCPA), hosted the signing ceremony of a new phase of cooperation with the Government of Japan and the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP). The new agreement is the fifth phase of the project, “Consolidating Peace, Security and Stability in Africa”, which started in 2009.

The ceremony was attended by H.E. Masaki Noke, Ambassador of Japan to the Arab Republic of Egypt, H.E. Ambassador Soha Gendi, Director of the Department of International Cooperation for Development of the Egyptian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Ms. Randa Aboul-Hosn, UNDP Resident Representative a.i., and CCCPA Director General Ashraf Swelam.

In line with the priorities of the Egyptian Chairmanship of the African Union and those of the Tokyo International Conference of Africa’s Development (TICAD), the project aims at enhancing African capacities in conflict prevention and resolution, peacekeeping and peacebuilding. It will also contribute to developing and advancing new approaches to combating human trafficking and smuggling of migrants, preventing radicalization and extremism leading to terrorism, and conducting disarmament demobilization and reintegration in asymmetric environments.

Ambassador Noke reaffirmed that Japan has been supporting the PKO centers in 15 African countries through the TICAD process that was launched in 1993, and especially CCCPA, by contributing funding and technical expertise, since 2008. He stressed that Egypt will play an important role as AU chair in the TICAD 7, held in Japan in August 28-30 where peace and security will be a key theme together with economic transformation and improvements through private investment and innovation, and promotion of resilient and sustainable society for human security.

In her remarks, Ambassador Soha Gendi stated “For my first mission as the Director of the Department of International Cooperation for Development of the Egyptian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, I am happy to start on such a positive note and I am proud of CCCPA’s contribution to peace and security in Africa.”

UNDP Resident Representative a.i., Ms. Randa Aboul-Hosn, expressed UNDP’s appreciation of the valuable and longstanding partnership with the Governments of Egypt and Japan and confirmed UNDP’s commitment to continue to expand this successful cooperation. She also recognized Egypt’s leading role and commitment to peace and security in Africa and the remarkable efforts of CCCPA.

On his side, CCCPA Director General Ashraf Swelam conveyed CCCPA’s gratitude and appreciation to the Government of Japan’s continuous cooperation on addressing peace and security challenges in Africa. “Our partnership, with the Government of Japan, and the UNDP since 2008, has been instrumental to advancing the Egyptian-Japanese bilateral relationship and to the advancement of our mutual cooperation in Africa.”

The Cairo International Center for Conflict Resolution, Peacekeeping, and Peacebuilding (CCCPA) is an AU Center of excellence in training, capacity building, and research, under the suzerainty of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.