The European Commission has pledged an additional €35 million in EU support for Côte d’Ivoire, to be allocated to reforms, vocational training and economic development.
The extra funding was announced on Friday at a meeting between European Commissioner for International Cooperation and Development Neven Mimica and Côte d’Ivoire’s Minister for Foreign Affairs Marcel Amon-Tanoh, held to coincide with the mid-term review of the National Indicative Programme. The programme was signed for the period between 2014 and 2020 and outlines the priorities and focal points of EU support for Côte d’Ivoire.
The new funding will consist of €29.3 million towards the Good Governance and Development Contract; €5 million for the interim Economic Partnership Agreement; and €700,000 for “flanking measures”. It will augment the initial provision of EU support for Côte d’Ivoire, drawing on the European Development Fund, which totalled €273 million for the 2014 to 2020 period. The initial funding was spread over three main priorities: €60 million for state and peace building; €60 million towards developing and encouraging agriculture; and €139 million for energy generation and provision, with particular emphasis on increasing the country’s electricity facilities. The funding announced last week will bring the total funding provided to Côte d’Ivoire by EU bodies to €308 million.
Commissioner Mimica said: “The extra €35 million reflects the good results achieved by Côte d’Ivoire in implementing its Development Programme. We want to back the continuation of key reforms in the country, especially in the sectors of public finance management, improving the business environment and trade. This support is what the Africa–Europe Alliance for Sustainable Investment and Jobs is all about.”
EU support for Côte d’Ivoire is geared towards promoting peace building and good governance, improving socioeconomic infrastructure and, on a more practical level, regenerating the provision of social services. EU-funded programmes in the region are expected to focus on building, repairing and improving the facilities available for healthcare, water and sanitation.
