Cairo, Egypt – CCCPA, the Government of Japan and the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) launched a fourth phase of cooperation in support of peace and security in Africa on April 24, 2018. The project signing ceremony was hosted by the Egyptian Ministry of Foreign Affairs. H.E. Ambassador Hany Selim, Assistant Foreign Minister for International Cooperation for Development, Randa Aboul-Hosn, UNDP Egypt Country Director and  Minister Plenipotentiary Ashraf Swelam, CCCPA Director General, signed the project document extending Japanese support to CCCPA for the 11th consecutive year.
 
The project “Consolidating Peace, Security and Stability in Africa–4", funded by the Government of Japan, aims to enhance African capacities in preventing radicalization and extremism leading to terrorism, peacekeeping, conflict prevention and resolution, and combating transnational threats and organized crime.  It will also contribute to developing and advancing new approaches in peacebuilding and bridge emerging capacity gaps, while addressing new and urgent needs in the field.
 
Speaking at the ceremony, Ambassador Selim expressed Egypt’s appreciation of Japan’s support and friendship. “We are celebrating one of the fruits of our partnership with the Government of Japan, which has always been a good friend to Egypt and a staunch supporter of CCCPA.  We appreciate this agreement and look forward to further cooperation,” he said.
 
Randa Aboul-Hosn, expressed UNDP’s appreciation of the valuable and longstanding partnership with the Governments of Egypt and Japan.  “We are proud of the evolution of CCCPA over the last few years, into a center of excellence with global reputation.  We are also pleased to support the expansion of its geographic mandate”, noted Aboul-Hosn.  
 
Minister Plenipotentiary Kenichirou Mukai, Deputy Chief of Mission at the Japanese Embassy in Cairo reiterated Japan’s commitment to supporting the expansion of CCCPA’s activities.  “The activities of CCCPA are very important in strengthening capacity building in the field of peacekeeping and related fields.  The Government of Japan will support the expansion of CCCPA’s activities beyond Africa to the Middle East,”  he stated. He also expressed Japan’s interest in cooperating with the Government of Egypt in the lead-up to the Tokyo International Conference of African Development (TICAD) VII 2019 in Yokohama, Japan.  (Egypt will assume the presidency of the African Union next year.)