Speakers Stress Need to Consult More Closely with Contributors of Peacekeeping Personnel, as Fourth Committee Continues General Debate
Others Reject ‘Robust’ Deployment of Peacekeepers, Their Use in Fighting Terrorism
As peacekeeping operations moved away from traditional military frameworks and towards more multidimensional, dynamic models, consultations with troop- and police-contributing countries must remain at the heart of all aspects of United Nations mission planning, from the earliest stages to the exit strategies and beyond, speakers in the Fourth Committee (Special Political and Decolonization) emphasized today as they continued their comprehensive review of peacekeeping.
Malaysia’s representative, noting that the role of United Nations peacekeeping operations had evolved dramatically over the years, said their new tasks included assisting in political processes, establishing transitional authority, extending humanitarian aid, reintegrating former combatants and preventing human rights violations. Meeting the multidimensional demands faced by peacekeepers today required continuing capacity-building and training, which were key enablers for peacekeepers to maintain the highest standards of professionalism and conduct, he said.
The European Union’s representative noted that the Organization’s peacekeeping operations had moved from traditional military models of ceasefire observation to more proactive, multidimensional models involving civilian and political aspects. However, even the most successful peace operations could not substitute for political processes, she said, stressing that prevention and mediation, full use of good offices and early deployment of special political missions must become a priority.
Norway’s representative welcomed the four strategic shifts recently identified by the High-Level Independent Panel on Peace Operations, saying that political strategies and processes must guide peace operations. Norway supported calls for States to take action on the funding and backstopping of political missions, she said, underlining the importance of aligning mandates with resources. Additionally, operations must be deployed more quickly, effectively and flexibly to support political processes.
Many other speakers also emphasized that political solutions were essential to the design of peacekeeping operations. In that respect, New Zealand’s representative, speaking also on behalf of Australia and Canada, said comprehensive approaches were needed to bring all United Nations conflict-prevention, management and resolution tools to the fore, if practical solutions and sustainable peace were to be achieved. Stressing the importance of local ownership, he went on to encourage initiatives that would bring a greater field focus to United Nations peace operations.
Meanwhile, a number of speakers underscored that, while the complexity of peacekeeping had evolved, its basic principles remained in place. Thousands of men and women around the world faced great risks in defence of peace. In that regard, countries that deployed peacekeeping personnel — both troops and police officers — must be consulted in greater depth and with greater frequency on all relevant aspects.
“We need to find a better balance between the perspectives of the countries drafting the mandate and those implementing it,” said Brazil’s representative. Recalling that his country had deployed more than 46,000 troops and staff in 50 missions since 1948, he expressed support for the institutionalization of consultations between the United Nations Secretariat, the Security Council and troop contributors before the establishment or renewal of peacekeeping mandates.
Guatemala’s representative echoed that sentiment, saying that “valid and effective” consultations must be held with troop- and police-contributing countries during the drafting of mandates. They must also be consulted on all aspects and phases of peacekeeping operations, especially when reconfiguring or changing mandates. In that regard, Guatemala supported better triangular cooperation between troop and police contributors, the Secretariat and the Security Council.
The Russian Federation’s representative said he could not agree with a “flexible” interpretation of the use of force by “Blue Helmets”, but he concurred that using peacekeepers to combat terrorism and violent extremism was unacceptable. It was also unacceptable to use the concept of civilian protection to justify military interference.
Egypt’s representative, addressing the question of “robust” mandates, said every effort must be made to ensure that any use of force was clearly mandated and justified, and in line with the United Nations Charter. The issue of intelligence gathering must also be approached carefully.
Also speaking today were representatives of Ecuador (on behalf of the Community of Latin American and Caribbean States), Indonesia, Sudan, Mexico, Singapore, Peru, Syria, Switzerland, Venezuela, Kenya, South Africa, Cuba, Jordan and Japan.
The Fourth Committee will reconvene at 3 p.m. tomorrow, 4 November, to continue its comprehensive review of the whole question of peacekeeping operations in all its aspects.
Background
As the Fourth Committee continued its comprehensive review of the whole question of peacekeeping operations in all its aspects, members had before them several relevant documents. (See Press Release GA/SPD/594 of 30 October for more information.)
Statements
DIEGO MOREJÓN PAZMIÑO (Ecuador), speaking on behalf of the Community of Latin American and Caribbean States (CELAC), urged strict respect for the Charter principles of sovereignty, territorial integrity, political independence and non-interference in the internal affairs of States, as well as those concerning consent of the parties, impartiality and non-use of force except in self- or mandate-defence. Peacekeeping operations should be provided with political support as well as sufficient human, financial and logistic resources, while exit strategies should consider deadlines for withdrawal. Troop and police contributors must be reimbursed in a timely manner, he emphasized.
The report of the Special Committee for Peacekeeping Operations must remain the guiding instrument for the Secretariat, he said, calling for greater interaction among that body, the Security Council, the Peacebuilding Commission the Fifth Committee (Administrative Financial and Budgetary) and the Secretariat. In that context, he recalled that there had been many requests that the Council improve consultation with troop- and police-contributing countries, whose views must be considered when policy drafting. Additionally, CELAC was committed to the zero-tolerance United Nations policy on sexual exploitation and abuse, he stressed. He concluded by stating that recommendations by the High-level Panel on Peace Operations and the Secretary-General’s implementation report should be considered in the Special Committee.
PHILLIP TAULA (New Zealand), speaking on behalf of Canada, Australia and his own country (CANZ), encouraged the Secretariat and Member States to consider the current parallel peacekeeping reviews in a holistic and comprehensive manner. CANZ recognized that political solutions were central to the design of peace operations, he said. However, comprehensive approaches to bringing all United Nations conflict-prevention, management and resolution tools to the fore were needed if practical solutions and sustainable peace were to be achieved. Emphasizing the importance of local ownership, he also encouraged initiatives that would bring a greater field focus on United Nations peace operations. Responsive support mechanisms to enable flexible and forward-leaning postures were particularly critical, especially for civilian protection missions.
There should also be greater recognition of the particular contribution that women could make to peacekeeping, he said, calling for enhanced recruitment, retention and advancement strategies for female military and police personnel, including those in leadership positions. CANZ condemned in the strongest terms all forms of sexual exploitation and abuse by peacekeepers, and called for full implementation of the zero-tolerance approach. It also supported efforts to address capability and performance requirements, he said, noting that the newly established Strategic Force Generation and Capacity Development Cell could play an important role in that regard. The Group was encouraged by the Secretary-General’s commitment to engage earlier in addressing emerging threats, including in partnership with regional and subregional organizations.
ALEXANDRA DEDU, First Secretary, European Union, noted that, as conflicts changed, so did United Nations means to respond. Operations had moved from traditional military models of ceasefire observation to more proactive, multidimensional models involving civilian and political aspects. However, even the most successful peace operations could not substitute for political processes, she said, emphasizing that prevention and mediation, full use of good offices and early deployment of special political missions must become a priority. Likewise, peacebuilding efforts must be fully synchronized with peacekeeping efforts.
Civilian protection and the prevention of atrocity crimes must be at the core of any peacekeeping mandate, she continued, stressing that changes in mission structure should not curtail the protection of women and children in armed conflict situations. The European Union welcomed the suggestion of mission-wide guidance on engagement with local populations. Peace operations required clear, achievable mandates with a strong human rights component. Pointing out that adequate force generation was a challenge, she said States must match political intent with operational might in order to ensure the success of peace operations. As for training, the European Union viewed the Secretary-General’s initiative to request certificates as of 1 January 2016 as a step in the right direction, she said.
KAMAPRADIPTA ISNOMO (Indonesia), associating himself with the Non-Aligned Movement and the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), urged adherence to peacekeeping principles, since any ambivalence would affect the safety of peacekeepers and civilian populations alike. He expressed his delegation’s support for the renewed focus on prevention and mediation, stronger regional and global partnerships, and new ways to make peacekeeping faster and more responsive. A comprehensive approach must be taken in addressing conflict situations and formulating exit strategies, he said. Stressing that leadership by troop contributors was crucial, he expressed hope that the “well intentioned interface” among Member States would deepen.
CARLOS SERGIO SOBRAL DUARTE (Brazil) welcomed today’s meeting as an opportunity to respond to both the report of the Special Committee on Peacekeeping Operations at its 2015 session and that of the High-level Panel on Peace Operations. Noting that his country had deployed more than 46,000 troops and staff in 50 missions since 1948, he welcomed the High-level Panel’s emphasis on the “primacy of politics” and preventive diplomacy. Brazil was a strong advocate of such approaches, he said, adding that the establishment of a special account for special political missions would alleviate budgetary pressures on other essential activities of the regular budget. Brazil also favoured the institutionalization of consultations among the Secretariat, Security Council and troop contributors before the creation or renewal of peacekeeping mandates. “We need to find a better balance between the perspectives of the countries drafting the mandate and those implementing it,” he stressed. It was necessary to overcome the “illusion of sequencing” between peacekeeping and peacebuilding, and crucial to develop an improved understanding of what was expected of peacekeepers.
OMER DAHAB FADL MOHAMED (Sudan), associating himself with the Non-Aligned Movement, said his country had participated in peacekeeping operations around the world. The African Union-United Nations Hybrid Operation in Darfur (UNAMID) worked closely with the Government of Sudan, he noted, emphasizing that peacekeeping operations were based on the principle of consent by the host State, which must be respected at all times. Any mistrust over strict compliance with that principle would impact negatively on the outcome of a peace operation, he said, stressing that peacekeeping operations must refrain from interfering in the domestic affairs of the host State, or violating its rights of sovereignty and territorial integrity. He went on to note that the adoption of some resolutions falling under Chapter VII of the United Nations Charter had led to violation of the principle of equality of all States. Recalling that the Security Council had called upon all parties to the Darfur question sign on to the Doha Peace Agreement, he said the Government had strengthened its laws and placed sanctions on parties in violation of the accord. Tribal clashes had been reduced as a result of the State’s reconciliation efforts. Indeed, dialogue was the main path to ensuring that all stakeholders in Sudan were able to cooperate and find solutions to the challenges facing them, he said. Tackling the root causes underlying conflicts was the basis of any successful peace operation, he added.
RICARDO ALDAY GONZÁLEZ (Mexico), associating himself with CELAC, emphasized that peacekeeping operations and special political missions could not be subjected to unpredictable funding. Peacekeeping should recognize the growing importance of regional and subregional organizations, as well as the principle of national ownership in peacebuilding work. Welcoming the prominence given by the Secretary-General to prevention and mediation, and to the primacy of political solutions by the Panel, he said the innovative solutions contained in the Secretary-General’s report could not contravene the United Nations Charter. Mexico also supported the Panel’s recommendation that peacekeeping mandates must set aside anti-terrorist activities. A gender perspective must be integrated into all areas, from strategic planning to operational aspects, he said, calling for the use of all means possible to prevent sexual abuse by United Nations personnel, and bring perpetrators to justice.
BERNICE ANG (Singapore), associating herself with the Non-Aligned Movement and ASEAN, said that her country’s armed and police forces had served in 16 peacekeeping and observer missions. In 2014, Singapore had chaired the Maritime Working Group for the United Nations Military Units Manual initiative. It was now finalizing a memorandum of understanding with the Departments of Peacekeeping Operations and Field Support on the joint development of an information management tool that would consolidate all relevant operational information into an interactive map interface. That tool would enable users to search for events, obtain related details, and conduct trend analysis, she said. On sexual exploitation by United Nations peacekeepers, she welcomed the establishment of an external independent review to examine the Organization’s handling of allegations, but stressed the need for further efforts to prevent the recurrence of such abuses.
ANA CRISTINA RODRÍGUEZ PINEDA (Guatemala), associating herself with the Non-Aligned Movement and CELAC, emphasized that the needs and specifics of each particular situation must always be taken into account, adding that greater flexibility was needed on the part of missions. Valid and effective consultations must be held with troop- and police-contributing countries during the drafting of any peacekeeping mandate, and triangular cooperation among the Security Council, troop contributors and the Secretariat was necessary. Troop-contributing countries must be consulted on all aspects and phases of peacekeeping operations, especially in exercises of reconfiguration or changes in the mission’s mandate. Underlining that Charter principles continued to guide missions, she questioned the scope and implications of “robust” peace operations, saying they distorted the basic functions of United Nations peacekeeping. Missions were not equipped or mandated to use force. She concluded by describing poor follow-up on the part of both the Secretariat and Member States in relation to allegations of sexual exploitation and abuse as a “serious flaw” in United Nations peacekeeping. Guatemala therefore called for the creation of rapid response teams to respond to such allegations, with particular regard to collecting and preserving evidence.
MAY-ELIN STENER (Norway) urged “moving quickly” to make the improvements outlined in the Secretary-General’s implementation report, while also ensuring that the longer-term proposals contained in the High-level Panel’s report were carried over to the next Secretary-General. Political strategies and processes must guide peace operations, and Norway supported the call for States to take action on the funding and backstopping of political missions. Mandates must be aligned with resources, and operations must deploy more quickly, effectively and flexibly in support of political processes, she said. Stressing the importance of protecting civilians, she said United Nations police must operate in a unified manner, and women must be included, both as peacekeepers and in all United Nations engagements with host countries. Underscoring the need for a division of labour relating to the use of force, she said regional organizations were often better placed to carry out peace enforcement. Zero tolerance of sexual exploitation and abuse was essential for maintaining credibility, she added.
FRANCISCO TENYA HASEGAWA (Peru), associating himself with CELAC and the Non-Aligned Movement, urged greater cooperation among the Security Council, troop- and police contributing and the Department of Peacekeeping Operations so as to ensure that the views of troop contributors were heard. Mandates must comply with the Charter principles of consent of the parties, impartiality and non-use of force except in self-defence or defence of the mandate. Emphasizing the importance of impartiality, he said mandates tasked with imposing peace, such as that given to the United Nations Organization Stabilization Mission in the Democratic Republic of Congo (MONUSCO), must be carefully assessed, given their impacts on civilian safety. There was a need for a holistic focus that would incorporate a political dimension into peace processes, he said, adding that such efforts did not contradict the need for greater training of uniformed personnel, the provision of equipment and access to new technologies. Accusations against a few “bad apples” underlined the importance of zero tolerance of sexual exploitation and abuse.
IHAB HAMED (Syria) said peacekeeping operations had become one of the major tools available to the United Nations in maintaining international peace and security. The United Nations Charter enshrined the rights of State sovereignty and territorial integrity, he said, emphasizing that all peacekeeping operations must observe those principles strictly, without any interpretation. In addition, peacekeeping missions required the prior consent of the host State. Syria supported efforts to develop peacekeeping operations on all levels, and believed in the substantive evolution of their tasks. Recalling the establishment of the High-level Panel on Peace Operations, he nonetheless stressed that the Special Committee on Peacekeeping Operations was the only appropriate forum to evaluate the issue.
He went on to underline that the basic responsibility for protecting civilians fell on States hosting missions, warning against using the concept of civilian protection as a pretext for interfering in the domestic affairs of States. Noting that peacekeeping operations were meant for short transitional period, he said that in the Middle East, however, their duration was “measured by decades” due to Israel’s intransigent occupation of Arab territories. Syria called upon the United Nations to exert pressure on that country to end its occupation, and stop its aggression against the region’s peoples and States. Expressing grave concern about threats facing peacekeeping personnel, he recalled recent developments in the Syrian Golan that had prompted the United Nations Disengagement Observer Force (UNDOF) temporarily to evacuate some of its personnel. Support by some regimes for terrorist groups in the region exacerbated threats against peacekeepers, he said, calling upon Israel to end its support for terrorism.
JÜRG LAUBER (Switzerland), noting that the most effective way to address conflict was through prevention, expressed his delegation’s support of the strengthening of special political missions, as well as their backstopping and financing. The notion of “sustaining peace” deserved more attention, requiring closer cooperation within the United Nations so that the Organization could draw upon the full range of available instruments, from humanitarian action to development cooperation. Civilian protection had become an essential task, and parties to conflict bore the primary responsibility in that regard, he emphasized. Switzerland supported the enhancement of mission-wide strategies, monitoring and reporting. Formed police units, as well as police reform and institution-building were essential to peace operations, he said, adding that Switzerland planned to increase such contributions in Mali and Liberia. It also advocated zero tolerance of sexual exploitation and abuse.
OLIVIER MARC ZEHNDER (Venezuela) said Member States should reflect on the feasibility of a peacekeeping mission operating in a hostile scenario where there was no peace to preserve, such as the operation in northern Mali. In such situations, peacekeepers were asked to prevent an escalation of violence, contain the conflict, protect civilians and start or restart the peace process. However, that would require the use of force from the very beginning, making peacekeepers part of the conflict. They were also underequipped to fulfill those tasks, he added. He went on to emphasize that peacekeeping missions must not participate in military operations against terrorist organizations, or in operations to impose peace. They must also refrain from taking over residual anti-terrorist or other offensive operations from ad hoc coalitions, regional or subregional forces that had left the ground. Venezuela was not proposing the abandonment of countries in conflict, he stressed. Rather, it was necessary to draw upon the growing potential of regional and subregional organizations in order to preserve peace and security, as established under Chapter VIII of the Charter. He said Somalia had proven a successful example of triangular cooperation, with the African Union providing the forces, the United Nations offering political and logistical assistance and the European Union funding the mission. Unfortunately, the African Union missions in Mali and the Central African Republic had not met similar good fortune because the Security Council had refused to provide logistical and financial support, he noted.
ANTHONY ANDANJE (Kenya) said “development has no worse enemy than war”, adding that his country welcomed measures to build the capacity of peacekeeping and to improve the quality of troops. The political approach, use of the full spectrum of peacekeeping operations, strengthening of partnerships and the importance of being field-focused should be central to efforts aimed at improving peacekeeping. Key focus areas included planning and operational capabilities, supporting rapid deployment and expanding the base of troop and police contributors, he said, noting that the downsizing of peacekeeping missions, with a focus on transitional planning, was equally important. Stressing the importance of mediation, he called for a culture of prevention featuring consultation with partners and regional organizations, as well as non-governmental, civil society and women’s groups. Kenya welcomed the commitment to ensure predictable funding for regional organizations, he added.
EPHRAIM LESHALA MMINELE (South Africa), associating himself with the Non-Aligned Movement, agreed that the search for political solutions must be at the heart of peace operations, and that the United Nations should work with regional and subregional organizations in mediation efforts. Greater focus must be placed on preventive actions to address the root causes of conflicts, he said, urging peacekeepers to support political processes aimed at ending conflict. Civilian protection was first and foremost the responsibility of the host Government, which the United Nations must support in carrying out that task. Upon being given a mandate, peacekeepers must have the ability to adopt a robust posture in implementing it. South Africa supported the call for greater partnerships and burden-sharing, adding that assessed contributions provided the most predictable avenue for United Nations-mandated, African Union peace operations. He said that his country was among the top contributors of women to peace operations and was committed to zero tolerance of sexual violence and abuse.
OSAMA ABDEL KHALEK (Egypt), associating himself with the Non-Aligned Movement, said that, over the past decade, United Nations peacekeeping operations had become increasingly complex, performing multiple tasks in increasingly difficult environments. It was therefore critical to take stock of the challenges facing peacekeeping, and for the international community to recommit itself to strengthening it. Peacekeeping should be approached cautiously, as it was not a goal in itself and should not be used in place of political, social or development tools. Noting the clear need for triangular coordination among troop- and police-contributing countries, the Secretariat and the Security Council, he said the role of regional bodies should be strengthened, including the United Nations-African Union partnership on peacekeeping operations led by the continental body. On the question of “robust” mandates, he said every effort should be made to ensure that any use of force was clearly mandated and justified, and in line with the Charter. The issue of intelligence gathering must also be approached carefully, he added. Furthermore, it was unacceptable that sexual exploitation and abuse crimes went unpunished, he said, emphasizing that in such cases, troop- and police-contributing countries must ensure that their personnel were held accountable in accordance with national legislation.
DAVID FORÉS RODRÍGUEZ (Cuba), associating himself with the Non-Aligned Movement and CELAC, said initiatives aimed at reforming peace operations, including the recommendations contained in the Secretary-General’s and the High-level Panel’s reports, should be considered by the Special Committee. “Broad, fuzzy and complex” mandates, as well as troop indiscipline, among other things, underscored the need for systematic consideration. Peacekeeping must abide by the Charter, as well as the principles of sovereignty, territorial integrity, State independence and non-interference in internal State affairs. Consent of the parties, impartiality and refraining from the use of force except in self-defence were other important principles. Precise mandates with material and financial resources were needed, which would require the Special Committee, the Fifth Committee (Administrative and Budgetary) and the Security Council to act in concert, he said. Cuba supported greater interaction among host Governments, troop contributors, the Security Council and the Secretariat, he said, emphasizing that troop commitments must be established and resources provided before operations were initiated. The United Nations could not use the protection of civilians as a pretext to ignore the Charter, modify peacekeeping principles or overthrow Governments, he stressed.
RAMLAN BIN IBRAHIM (Malaysia), associating himself with ASEAN, said that over the years, the role of United Nations peacekeeping operations had evolved dramatically into more complex missions, including assisting in political processes, establishing transitional authority, extending humanitarian aid, reintegrating former combatants, and preventing human rights violations. Malaysia had participated in 35 United Nations peacekeeping missions since 1960, having deployed some 29,000 military and police personnel. While remaining steadfast in its adherence to the ideals of United Nations peace operations, Malaysia continued to identify avenues to make further contributions, he said. At the recent Peacekeeping Summit held on the margins of the general debate of the General Assembly’s seventieth session, Prime Minister Najib Razak had announced a number of new commitments, including hundreds of police officers, an infantry battalion battle group and an engineering unit to assist peacekeeping missions, he recalled. Meeting the multidimensional demands faced by peacekeepers today required continuing capacity-building and training, which were key enablers for peacekeepers to maintain the highest standards of professionalism and conduct.
SONIA ISHAQ AHMAD SUGHAYAR (Jordan), associating herself with the Non-Aligned Movement, said peacekeeping operations were at the forefront of United Nations priorities due to the increasing frequency of conflicts around the world, which were outpacing the Organization’s ability to respond. Focusing on the High-level Panel’s four main recommendations, she said peacekeeping operations were not a substitute for national political solutions; they only “bridged the gaps”. She emphasized the need to design and improve peacekeeping operations so that they could respond quickly and effectively to conflict, an outcome that required specialized training for peacekeepers. Jordan also stressed the need for early-warning machinery and taking measures at an early stages with a view to saving financial and human resources. Fostering partnerships with regional and subregional organizations was also crucial, she said, adding in that regard, that her country wished to see the strengthening cooperation between the United Nations and the League of Arab States. Jordan called on Member States not to “condone or turn a blind eye” to crimes that contravened ethics or international law, including crimes of sexual exploitation and abuse by peacekeepers, she said, adding that she looked forward to the guidelines on norms and measures for dealing with such crimes, to be issued in 2016.
PETR V. ILIICHEV (Russian Federation) agreed with the High-level Panel that political dialogue should be the primary instrument for resolving conflicts, and on the need to bolster regional mechanisms. Formats should be developed for inter-governmental cooperation, engagement with regional and subregional organizations, and the provision of resources. He encouraged cooperation between the United Nations and the Collective Security Treaty Organization (CSTO). Emphasizing that he could not agree with a “flexible” interpretation of the use of force by “Blue Helmets”, he concurred, however that using peacekeepers to combat terrorism and violent extremism was unacceptable. It was also unacceptable to use the concept of civilian protection to justify military interference, he stressed. A United Nations presence must be a subsidiary one, providing assistance to host Governments on the basis of national priorities, a precondition for which was daily cooperation between peacekeepers and local authorities. Additionally, the use of unmanned aerial vehicles had raised political, legal and budgetary questions, he said, advocating agreement by all interested sides. A more balanced approach was needed on human rights and gender issues. The Russian Federation agreed that dialogue was needed between the Council and troop contributors, he said, noting that the timeliness of exit strategies would prevent the integration of peacekeepers into internal political structures.
TAKESHI AKAHORI (Japan) said the roles and responsibilities of United Nations peacekeeping operations continued to expand, and the challenge now was to make them sustainable with the limited available financial and human resources, while maintaining their functionality. The best configuration of tools was important, he said, pointing out that the Organization’s toolbox included peacekeeping operations, special political missions, United Nations country teams, as well as regional and bilateral support functions. “We need to take into consideration the strengths and weaknesses of each tool, and use a combination of tools which best corresponds to the varied situations on the ground,” he said. Mandates should be tailored to the reality of the changing situation and needs on the ground, and in that regard, dialogue among the Security Council, the Secretariat and troop-contributing countries was critical. Human resources should be enhanced, he added, noting that highly qualified personnel were necessary for modern peacekeeping operations. Training was indispensable in securing qualified peacekeepers. Japan and the Department of Field Support had jointly launched a pioneering project with a financial contribution of approximately $40 million from Japan, he said, adding that the project had completed its first training in Nairobi, Kenya, last month.