UNITED NATIONS, July 18 (UPI) -- The United Nations has authorized new funds for Ivory Coast and Sierra Leone in an initiative to prevent the countries from backsliding into violence.

The United Nations announced the approval of $5 million from the U.N. Peacebuilding Fund for new reintegration projects including various reforms and the rehabilitation of the corrections system for the two West African nations.

The U.N. Peacebuilding Fund is designed to finance projects and other measures in an effort to prevent countries fresh out of violent conflicts from returning to war, the United Nations reported.

"Most of the funds will be used to support reintegration efforts, including counseling, income generation, micro-projects for former combatants and centers for skills training," the release said.

The announcement prompted an official endorsement of support from U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon.