The Cairo International Center for Conflict Resolution, Peacekeeping and Peacebuilding (CCCPA) hosted the signing ceremony of the second cooperation project between CCCPA, the Government of Switzerland and the United Nations Development Programme in Egypt titled “Enhancing African Capacities for Combating Human Trafficking and Smuggling of Migrants”, for two years (2023-2025).
The ceremony was attended by H.E. Ambassador Hamdy Shaaban, Assistant Minister, Director of the International Cooperation for Development Department, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, H.E. Ambassador Yvonne Baumann, Ambassador of Switzerland to Egypt and Mr. Alessandro Fracassetti, UNDP Resident Representative in Egypt.
The second project between CCCPA and the Swiss government - the State Secretariat for Migration - aims to build African and Arab capacities to combat transnational threats, and particularly human trafficking and smuggling of migrants within an evolving landscape of peace and security in Africa that results in an unprecendented level of forced displacement, exposing displaced communities to serious threats of trafficking and smuggling during their journey.
H.E. Ambassador Ahmed Abdel-Latif, CCCPA’s Director General expressed his appreciation to the Swiss government, represented by the State Secretariat of Migration, for the continuous fruitful cooperation to kickstart the second project within the context of the excellent relations between the two countries. He highlighted that the scope and content of the new project reflect and address the interconnected nature of challenges facing the African continent, particularly in the Horn of Africa and the Sahel region. The new cooperation envisions to advance holistic responses to transnational threats anchored in context specificity and national ownership, while contributing to sustainable peace and stability in Africa.
Ambassador Abdel-Latif indicated that the new project builds on the success as well as the lessons learned from the implementation of the first project (2019-2021), and marks the commitment of CCCPA and the Swiss government to strengthen African and Arab capacities to address transnational threats. “In the same vein, it draws on Egypt’s national efforts and longstanding experience in combating illicit activities while providing protection to victims in vulnerable situations and particularly women and children”, CCCPA’s Director-General added.
Ambassador Hamdy Shabaan affirmed Ministry of Foreign Affairs’ keenness to support CCCPA’s cooperation with development partners, noting that the new project reflects partners’ confidence in the Center’s approach and capacity to effectively deliver the planned activities.
On her part, Ambassador Yvonne Baumann thanked both UNDP and CCCPA for the fruitful collaboration. She expressed her content to see that the project continues to build on the tangible achievements of the past cooperation. She complimented the Center for their expertise in the field of training and capacity building on the African continent as part of the key role of Egypt in promoting international and regional peace and stability and its extensive efforts in the field of combating human trafficking and migrant smuggling. She highlighted the project’s timely intervention in strengthening border officials' capacity to effectively respond to human trafficking and migrant smuggling.In his remarks, Mr. Alessandro Fracassetti said “Combatting human trafficking and migrant smuggling requires a comprehensive approach. That is why we are supporting CCCPA in strengthening regional capacities. Their integrated approach rallies diverse stakeholders across African governments, empowering them to act on prevention, protect victims, and foster international cooperation.”
