Brussels, 20 June 2014/ EC/ ACP: A total of more than €4.6 billion of EU support was committed towards national development strategies in 16 ACP countries, in the margins of the ACP-EU Joint Council of Ministers on 19-20 June in Nairobi, Kenya.

Ministers from 15 African states (Botswana, Côte d'Ivoire, Djibouti, Ethiopia, Gabon, Ghana, Kenya, Mauritania, Niger, Sao Tome & Principe, Sierra Leone, Somalia, Swaziland, and Tanzania) and one Caribbean (Suriname) co-signed the first National Indicative Programmes (NIPs) under the 11th European Development Fund for the period 2014-2020, with European Commissioner for Development Andris Piebalgs.

The NIPs outline the strategies and priorities of how EU aid will be applied in a country. Up to three sectors per country are supported. Each NIP is a result of close collaboration between the EU and the partner country to reflect the government’s own policies and needs, as well as ensuring support for national priorities where the EU has a value added.

“Europe remains ACP's main development partner, and it's determined to help its partners exploit their potential to the full on the way forward… The benefits of our relationship are clear. Since 2004, thanks to EU support, 14 million new pupils enrolled in Primary Education, over 18 million children have been immunised against measles, and 70 million people have been connected to improved drinking water,” said a statement by Commissioner Piebalgs.

“Building on the strong relationship that already exists between us in the coming years will also mean getting better at what we are doing.”

The NIPs for the remaining ACP states are scheduled to be finalised and signed by early 2015.

The financial allocation available for ACP countries under the 11th EDF (covering 2014-2020) amounts to more than €31.5 billion. This is divided into grants (approximately €24.3 billion for national and regional indicative programmes; €3.5 billion for intra-ACP and inter-regional cooperation; €1.1 billion for the Investment Facility managed by the European Investment Bank; and €2.5 billion to the European Investment Bank for loans with reduced interest rates, which are mainly be used to promote the public sector in ACP states.



Table: National Indicative Programmes signed on 19 June 2014. Source: European Commission

Country

Bilateral EU funding under the 11th EDF

Focal sectors

Botswana

EUR 33 million

Education; Public sector reform; measures in favour of civil society

Djibouti

EUR 105 million

Water and sanitation; food & nutrition security

Ethiopia

EUR 745 million

Health; sustainable agriculture and food & nutrition security; infrastructure and energy

Gabon

EUR 13 million

Education

Ghana

EUR 323 million

Employment and social protection; governance; sustainable agriculture

Côte d'Ivoire

EUR 273 million

Governance and peace building; agriculture; energy

Kenya

EUR 435 million

Food Security and Resilience to climate shocks; Sustainable Infrastructure ; accountability of public institutions

Mauritania

EUR 195 million

Rule of law; health; sustainable agriculture and food security

Niger

EUR 596 million

Social policies; Security and governance; food security; infrastructure

Nigeria

EUR 512 million

Governance; health and nutrition; sustainable energy

Sao Tome e Principe

EUR 28 million

Water and sanitation; sustainable agriculture

Sierra Leone

EUR 376 million

State building; education; sustainable agriculture; infrastructure

Somalia

EUR 286 million

State building; education; food security

Swaziland

EUR 62 million

Social protection; sustainable agriculture and food security

Tanzania

EUR 626 million

Good governance and development; sustainable agriculture; energy

Surinam

EUR 13.8 million

Sustainable agriculture

– ACP Press