EU launches 30-month project to support provision of specialised equipment for CBRN risk mitigation in Eastern and Central Africa

Lack of detection, analytical equipment, and personal protective equipment (PPE) are limiting factors in CBRN risk mitigation. When a CBRN event occurs, the scarcity of appropriate specialised equipment for preparedness and response can lead to losses of lives, destruction of the environment and create economic disruption. Since CBRN events are not necessarily accidental, non-state actors can take advantage of a country’s lack of capacity to detect chemical, biological, and nuclear weapons, to cause mass casualties.

To contribute to addressing trans-regional threats to peace, international security, and stability, it is therefore fundamental to enhancing CBRN risk detection and mitigation by ensuring the availability of state-of-the-art specialised equipment in all countries and regions.

Equipment for East and Central Africa

As part of its mission to advance CBRN risk mitigation and strengthen security and safety worldwide, the European Union has launched a new project that will support the provision of specialised equipment for CBRN risk mitigation in Eastern and Central Africa.

Established in the context of the EU CBRN CoE Initiative, the two and a half years project (January 2024 – June 2026) will support the procurement, delivery, and installation of specialised equipment dedicated to CBRN preparedness and response to countries in the Eastern and Central Africa region.

Eleven partner countries of the EU CBRN CoE Regional Secretariat for Eastern and Central Africa will participate in the project, namely: Burundi, Democratic Republic of Congo, Ethiopia, Ghana, Kenya, Malawi, Rwanda, Seychelles, Tanzania, Uganda and Zambia. Additionally, selected equipment to support CBRN training exercises will be delivered to EU CBRN CoE partner countries in North and West Africa.

Funded by the European Union, the project will be implemented by the United Nations Office for Project Services (UNOPS). UNOPS provides infrastructure, procurement and project management services to help build the future around the world.

Visit the project’s page for a complete overview of its context, scope, or major activities.

EU CBRN Risk Mitigation: Building a safer and more secure world

The European Union funds the project ‘Provision of specialised equipment to the EU CBRN COE Partner Countries in Africa’ within the framework of the European Union Chemical, Biological, Radiological, and Nuclear Risk Mitigation Centres of Excellence EU CBRN CoE. Supported through the NDICI – Global Europe instrument, the Initiative represents the EU’s largest civilian external security programme.

Funded and implemented by the European Union, with the support of UNICRI, the EU CBRN CoE is working to build a safer and more secure world.

The EU CBRN CoE brings together 64 Partner Countries across 8 regions that cooperate at regional and international level to strengthen CBRN risk mitigation and to promote a global culture of safety and security. Since the Initiative’s inception in 2010, more than 100 EU-funded projects have been implemented to support the mitigation of and preparedness to CBRN risks.

Visit the EU CBRN Risk Mitigation page to learn more about the EU CBRN CoE and other EU flagship initiatives strengthening CBRN safety and security worldwide.