EU steps up support for the development of the Sahel

The EU has announced new funding totaling EUR 125 million for the Sahel countries at the coordination conference of the G5 Sahel partners and donors, which took place in Nouakchott, Mauritania.

The fresh injection of EUR 125 million will be used for the swift launch of new initiatives, which are in line with the priorities set by the G5 Sahel to enhance development and security. The measures will focus on boosting the resilience and social cohesion of the most vulnerable groups in the cross-border regions.

European Commissioner for International Cooperation and Development, Neven Mimica, said: “Ten months after the Brussels Conference on the Sahel, which mobilised the international community around the G5 Joint Force, we are now focusing on the incontrovertible need to complement our security initiatives with development projects. The additional EUR 125 million announced by the European Union will focus on development projects in the most vulnerable areas, with an immediate impact on the living conditions of local communities.”

The new envelope comprises:

– A contribution of EUR 70 million to help improve living conditions for people in cross-border areas, by improving the quality of basic services and boosting their resilience. The programme will be implemented by several partners of the Sahel Alliance.

– Other initiatives worth EUR 55 million will aim to strengthen the capacities of the G5 Sahel institutions in the area of justice, security and defence of human rights, and to combat human trafficking and give young people a proper voice in the public debate.

These additional funds come on top of the EUR 672.7 million already available to support ongoing activities from the priorities identified by the G5 Sahel. Development cooperation support from the European Union and its Member States to the G5 Sahel countries amounts to a total of EUR 8 billion for the period 2014-2020.

Original source: European Commission 
Published on 6 December 2018