Africa-Press – Ethiopia. Addis Ababa February 26/2021 (ENA) The Government of Japan has committed one million USD to a project that aimed at preventing violent extremism and its resurgence amid the COVID-19 pandemic through education.
The financial support would be used to the efforts of African member states including Ethiopia to use education to prevent violent extremism and its resurgence amid the COVID-19 pandemic.
Japanese Ambassador to Ethiopia, Ito Takato and Director of UNESCO International Institute for Capacity Building in Africa (IICBA), Yokozeki Yumiko signed the agreement to finance one million USD to help the implementation of the project.
Ambassador Ito Takato said during the occasion that the prevention and resurgence measures of the project will successfully be incorporated into the tertiary curricula in at least 10 AU member states including Ethiopia.
More specifically, the project will support the development of the action plan for the prevention of violent extremism and conflict in Africa through studies on the negative impact of COVID-19 on violence and conflict in Africa, she added.
Strengthening human resources to curb extremism and its resurgence through the tertiary education and advocacy; and amplify voices of the youth on advocacy in prevention of violent extremism are also some of the objectives of the project, the Ambassador stated.
According to her, a minimum of some 200 trainers of trainers will receive further guidance courses and 2000 educators and teachers will be reached in 10 African countries.
She has also indicated that 44 other African countries are expected to be the indirect beneficial of the project.
Lauding the Government of Japan for its support, UNESCO International Institute for Capacity Building in Africa (IICBA) Director, Yokozeki Yumiko on her part said the project will be implemented in this year to reach member states that are most affected by COVID-19 pandemic.
“Peace is one of African Union’s priorities. Peace is also the reason UNESCO was founded,” the director said.
