UNDP and Japan joins efforts for preventing violent extremism in Central Asia
The United Nations Development Programme and the Government of Japan have agreed to assist Central Asia in taking preventive measures against the emergence and spread of extremism.
Recently in Astana, the UNDP representative and Ambassador of Japan to Kazakhstan Ichiro Kawabata signed the Exchange Note for the financing by the Government of Japan of the regional project “Strengthening Community Resilience and Regional Cooperation for Prevention of Violent Extremism in Central Asia” worth over US $ 6 million.
The main objective of the project is to prevent the emergence of anti-social attitudes among young people through the creation of long-term employment opportunities and the full participation of this group of population in economic activities.
The programme of the two-year project (2018-2020) includes a number of regional activities aimed at establishing youth networks and exchanging knowledge and experience among Turkmenistan, Kazakhstan Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan in the field of preventing radicalism.
According to the project, in Turkmenistan in six target cities – in Ashgabat, Tejen, Turkmenabad, Mary, Turkmenbashi and Dashoguz, as well as in the surrounding settlements – it is planned to start the work on engaging the young people in entrepreneurship and providing employment.
The project objectives covers assessment of the needs of the young generation, the introduction of networking to build confidence and support among peers, conducting trainings on conflict mediation, and consulting in equipping youth networks.
In January this year, on the basis of the state committee for sport, Turkmenistan opened the ministry for sports and youth policy, which coordinates activities for the bringing up patriotic, educated, broad-minded young generation. In addition, the state program on youth policy for the period of 2015-2020 is being implemented in the country, aimed at ensuring the most favorable conditions for the comprehensive participation of young people in all spheres of public and social life.
