Cairo, Egypt - In preparation for the Sixth Tokyo International Conference on African Development (TICAD VI), CCCPA organized a workshop on 13-14 July 2016, entitled “On the Road to Nairobi: Partnerships in Training and Capacity Building in Peacekeeping and Peacebuilding”.

The workshop comes as part of CCCPA’s contribution to the implementation of the Yokohama Action Plan (2013-2017), with particular emphasis on Pillar VI of the action plan aimed at promoting peace, security and stability in Africa.

The event brought together directors and representatives of African peacekeeping training centers and think thanks, as well as representatives of the Egyptian and Japanese governments, the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), the United Nations Integrated Training Services (ITS) and UN/AU peacekeeping missions.

The focus of the workshop was to discuss training and capacity building in Africa, including the implications of the recent strategic reviews of the UN, the challenges facing the African Peace and Security Architecture (APSA), partnerships in training and capacity building in peace and security, and the lessons learned from the Japanese-African cooperation in training, as well as the modalities for future cooperation.

Workshop participants highlighted the need for African institutions to focus on the findings and recommendations of the recent strategic reviews of the UN; the need for African training institutions to engage with the Government of Japan and UNDPKO in identifying and assessing training needs to meet the new training requirements; as well as need to expand the Japanese project cycle for training and capacity building for multiple years. Moreover, participants indicated that funding is heavily focused on peacekeeping rather than peacebuilding, hence, the importance for partners and donors to give attention to peacebuilding as well. Lastly, participants highlighted the gap in coordination and collaboration between African training institutions and emphasized the need for member institutions of the African Peace Support Trainers Association (APSTA) to promote its value and concept. 

The outcome of the discussions resulted in an informal summary. 

Update 28 August 2016: 
TICAD VI Nairobi Declaration