Farnesina –
The Joint Committee for Development Cooperation met again today under the presidency of the Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs delegated to International Cooperation, Hon. Edmondo Cirielli. This is the fifth meeting since the beginning of the year.
The Committee first established, for the 2024 Programming, to increase the share of Cooperation resources allocated to bilateral initiatives up to 60%. The remaining component will be allocated to emergency (25%) and multilateral (15%) interventions.
Also for this edition, in coherence with the “Mattei Plan” launched by Prime Minister Meloni, the directives of the Vice President of the Council and Minister of Foreign Affairs Antonio Tajani and the Vice-Minister Edmondo Cirielli confirm Africa as the main recipient of the interventions development supported by the Italian Cooperation, with particular focus on income-generating sectors, such as support for startups and SMEs, energy transition and professional training. In particular, the Committee approved the allocation of over €300 million in gift contributions (in Egypt, Sudan, Kenya, Mali, Niger, Somalia and the Central African Republic) and aid credits (in Ethiopia), as well as a voluntary contribution to favor of the OECD for the purpose of creating an investment observatory for the continent.
Of particular importance, then, was the approval of a loan of €180 million, aimed at the adoption of a tender in two lots – to be published over the next few weeks – for the presentation of initiatives promoted respectively by civil society organizations and by local authorities. Also in this case, it is expected that 85% of the resources will be used for projects in Africa.
On another front, within the framework of Italy’s strong support for Ukraine, a contribution has been approved which will contribute to strengthening that country’s macroeconomic management and supporting its path to joining the European Union and the OECD.
Also noteworthy is the approval of a contribution to the Fund for the transformation of food systems launched on the occasion of the United Nations Summit on Food Systems +2 hosted by Italy last July, and the contribution intended for the International Organization for Migrations (IOM) to encourage the Organization’s action in combating trafficking in human beings and in assisting victims of trafficking, in promoting activities aimed at facilitating reception and social integration, in assisting voluntary repatriation of migrants and refugees in their areas of origin.
Finally, the Joint Committee expressed a favorable opinion on the refinancing by Cassa Depositi e Prestiti of two credit lines opened with as many multilateral development banks in Africa for an amount of up to 300 million euros.
