Japan Pitches in $1m for Peace Building

Feb 27 , 2021

The Government of Japan has committed one million dollars toward a peacekeeping project described as the "prevention of extremism and its resurgence amid the COVID-19 pandemic through education in Africa." Funneled through the UNESCO International Institute for Capacity Building in Africa (UNESCO-IICBA), the project targets educators, teachers and youth in 54 African countries. The signing ceremony for the project was attended by Ito Takako, Ambassador of Japan to Ethiopia, and Vera Songwe (PhD), executive secretary of UNECA. Throughout its implementation, 200 trainers of trainers will receive further guidance courses, while 2,000 educators and teachers will be reached in 10 African countries. An additional 44 countries are expected to benefit indirectly. UNESCO-IICBA has been working in teacher development in Africa since 1999, with teacher development for peacebuilding and the prevention of violent extremism in Africa incorporated in its programme since 2017.