Advocate.ng Latest news update on politics, entertainment, sport and more
The United States has announced that it has invested $15 million in Community Initiatives to Promote Peace (CIPP) programs over the past five years.
Through the US Agency for International Development (USAID), the initiative has trained more than 46,000 community members, including traditional leaders, women, men, and youth, in six states: Benue, Kaduna, Kano, Katsina, Kogi, and Plateau.
According to a statement by the US, the CIPP program has helped mitigate violent conflict in at-risk communities and engaged women and youth in peace processes.
After four years of implementation, a study revealed that only 29 percent of CIPP treatment communities experienced violent incidents, compared to 55 percent in control communities, with a difference of 26 percent.
This indicates a significant reduction in violence in the areas where the program has been implemented.
USAID Mission Director, Melissa Jones, highlighted the importance of investing in peace, stating that individuals trained in conflict mediation skills across Nigeria’s Middle Belt helped resolve hundreds of disputes before they escalated further.
The program’s success in conflict mitigation has been attributed to the timely investment in peace and the training provided to community members.
As part of its closeout plan, USAID will transfer some of the CIPP’s community structures, such as Conflict Mitigation Regional Councils and Women Peace Councils, to its new Peace Action for Rapid and Transformative Nigerian Early Response (PARTNER) activity.
This will ensure continuity and sustained progress in the shared mission to promote peace and security in the northern and middle-belt regions.
The US’s investment in peace programs in Nigeria demonstrates its commitment to addressing and mitigating the drivers of conflict in the region, including ethnic, regional, and sectarian tensions across communities.
This initiative is a crucial step towards fostering a more peaceful and secure environment in Nigeria’s northern and middle-belt areas.
Subscribe to the Advocate News letter and receive news updates daily in your inbox.
