Grant Aid to the Republic of Niger Exchange of Letters on “The Project for Strengthening Community and Regional Capacities for Security Enhancement in Niger”

TOKYO, Japan, December 18, 2014/African Press Organization (APO)/ -- 1. On December 16 (same day local time), an exchange of letters on providing grant aid of 202 million Japanese yen took place in the Republic of Niger's capital of Niamey City between Mr. Hiroshi Kawamura, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of Japan to Niger (concurrently with the Republic of Cote d'Ivoire) and Mr. Fodé Ndiaye, Resident Representative of UNDP Niger.

2. This aid will contribute to enhancing the security capabilities of regional governments by providing the headquarter centers of all the seven Niger's regions excluding the special district of Niamey with wireless communication devices connecting the regional governments with the prefectural bureaus under their jurisdictions, and wireless-equipped vehicles for patrolling outlying locations (desert areas).

3. In 2012, the Government of Niger formulated the “Sahel-Niger Strategy for Development and Security.” The pillars of the strategy include strengthening security measures, strengthening the governance of regional governments, improving service delivery, and job creation, and the Government of Niger is moving ahead with initiatives relating to “peace and stability” and “development” in the region. This aid will contribute to promoting this policy of Niger.

4. At the TICAD V in June 2013, the Government of Japan advocated “Peace and Stability” as one of the three pillars of Yokohama Action Plan. The Government of Japan particularly announced to implement support measures to the Sahel region in such areas as combating terrorism and enhancing security capabilities in the Sahel region in particular, and this assistance constitute a part of those measures.