French Embassy in Nigeria launches new strategy to help CSOs on peace initiatives
Abuja, Nigeria (PANA) – The Embassy of France in Abuja on Tuesday announced the launch of a new strategy, it says, will help Civil Society Organisations (CSOs) work towards peace initiatives in Nigeria.
The new strategy, the Embassy said, is a way to reaffirm the commitment of the French government to support such projects as Nigeria is presently grappling with security challenges in many areas including armed robbery, kidnapping, armed banditry and terrorism.
Speaking at a forum in Abuja on Tuesday on Rural Violence and Insecurity in Zamfara State, the Deputy Chief of Mission, Embassy of France, Mr Guillaume Audren De Kerdrel, said the strategy, which is for the next four years, is aimed at helping the humanitarian-development-peace nexus by providing an integrated response to emergency security situations.
According to him, in Zamfara State in the northwest they are also encouraging the implementation of inclusive approaches for a better understanding and subsequently a more efficient response to a complex situation.
The founder of an NGO, Pastoral Resolve, Mr Abubakar Jauro, said despite the consultative mechanisms adopted by Zamfara State, ”there are so many broader issues that need to be addressed to return the state to the path of sustainable peace and progress”.
He said there is a need for more technical interventions and adoption of multi-dimensional responses to address each of the unique challenges.
Jauro said the issues of dire humanitarian needs, improved quality of services, heightened and violent crimes, high unemployment and poverty, degraded resource base and weak institutions need to be urgently addressed.
There is also the strong need for interventions by experienced national and international peacebuilding organizations, which are grossly underrepresented in the State, he said.
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