UNDP partners with the Government of Japan to build strong institutions for sustaining peace in Guinea-Bissau

March 18, 2021

UNDP partners with the Government of Japan to build strong institutions for sustaining peace in Guinea-Bissau. Photo: UNDP

18 March 2021, Dakar — Building responsive and accountable institutions is central to sustaining peace, encouraging strong citizen engagement, and giving people a sense of ownership over important decisions. Today, the Government of Japan has confirmed its commitment to support Guinea-Bissau in “Building strong institutions for sustaining peace” through a new project of 2,640,000 USD as part of the pledges made under “the New Approach for Peace and Stability in Africa” (NAPSA) adopted at the 7th Tokyo International Conference on African Development, TICAD 7, held in August 2019 in Yokohama, Japan.

The project to be implemented by the UNDP in Guinea-Bissau in collaboration with the People’s National Assembly (ANP) and the Ministry of Justice, is intended to strengthen rule of law and democratic governance in the country through the strengthening of effective institutions as credible guarantors of social cohesion and lasting peace.

According to the UNDP Resident Representative, Mr. Tjark Egenhoff, during the signing of the Exchange of Notes for the financing of the project held at the Japanese Embassy in Dakar, Senegal today, “this initiative intends to support democratic governance reforms by entrenching the rule of law and the legislative power to meet long-term state-building, institutional capacity, and national development priorities. The support foreseen in the implementation of the Women, Peace and Security Agenda and the Youth, Peace, and Security Agenda will ultimately contribute to ensuring the participation of women and youth in the prevention of conflicts and in peace-building initiatives”

In line with the New Approach for Peace and Stability in Africa (NAPSA) principle of Africa’s ownership in conflict prevention and mediation, the project will support the Government of Guinea-Bissau in enhancing the capacity of the State to provide access to justice in the regions, through the building of a new regional House of Justice, and ensure the upholding of the rule of law and in strengthening democratically accountable institutions, in accordance with the Constitution and a National Parliament, which fully assumes its legislative, representative and oversight role. 

“I would like to open a parenthesis here to stress the importance of fostering a peaceful, just, and inclusive society, free from fear and violence for the achievement of sustainable development. The main goal of such a society must be the elimination of poverty in all its forms which would become one of the causes of conflicts. This is precisely what emerges from one of the concepts of NAPSA “New approach for peace and stability in Africa” said Ambassador of Japan.

Mr. Cipriano Cassamá, President of the People’s National Assembly, stressed the importance of the support provided over the years by the UNDP in the functioning of the National Assembly and expressed his deep appreciation for the commitment of Japan to further support the functioning and capacity of the National Assembly to fulfill its role.

The Government of Japan is a longstanding partner of Guinea-Bissau and the UNDP. Recently, it has supported the holding of the Legislative and Presidential elections in 2018/2019 and in 2021 it is also expected to support an additional project of 1,000,000 USD for the COVID-19 response.

To see the full remarks of the UNDP Resident Representative and the Ambassador of Japan, click here.

For additional information, please contact Luana Natali in Guinea-Bissau at luana.natali@undp.org or +245 320-1200

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Signing ceremony, UNDP Guinea-Bissau partnership with the Government of Japan, Dakar