UN peacebuilding funding approved for Côte d'Ivoire, Sierra Leone
17 July 2008 - New projects and financing from the United Nations Peacebuilding Fund (PBF) - which seeks to help countries emerging
from conflict to avoid slipping back into war - have been approved for both Côte d'Ivoire and Sierra Leone, it was
announced today.
Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon has endorsed the additional allocation of $5 million from the Fund for reintegration
projects in Côte d'Ivoire, UN spokesperson Marie Okabe told reporters in New York.
The money will also be put towards supporting facilitation efforts under last year's Ouagadougou Agreement, which was
reached to end the protracted political stand-off in the West African country between the Government and the rebel
Forces Nouvelles.
Ms. Okabe said that most of the funds will most be used to support reintegration efforts, including counselling, income
generation, micro-projects for former combatants and centres for skills training.
The PBF Steering Committee for Sierra Leone has approved seven new projects worth nearly $17 million to support the
empowerment of women and children, reforms, rehabilitation of the corrections system and bolstering prisoners' living
conditions.
The further funding brings the total value of PBF projects approved to $32 million.
ENDS