The European Union is stepping up cooperation with Mali and the implementation of structural reforms to improve security, governance and access to basic services in the country.
This additional support of €50 million was formally agreed by Neven Mimica, the European Commissioner for International Cooperation and Development, and Kamissa Camara, Mali’s Minister for Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, in Nouakchott (Mauritania), on the fringes of the Partner-Donor Coordination Conference organised by the G5 Sahel.
Commissioner Mimica said: “These extra €50 million reaffirm the EU’s continuing commitment to peace and development in Mali and to its people. The purpose of these additional funds is to support the progress that the Malian authorities have undertaken to deliver to the people of Mali, in implementing structural reforms.”
The extra amount will increase the resources allocated to the budget support programmes under way in Mali aimed at implementing reforms in strategic sectors in the short term.
These reforms will make it possible to strengthen security in Mali, fight against corruption, improve access to elementary education, in particular for girls, improve access to a fair justice system, increase the provision of professional training, and reduce food and nutrition insecurity.
Several contracts have been signed under the European Development Fund including an additional €40 million to support state reform and consolidation, an additional €30 million for the contract for sectoral reform of food security, nutrition and agricultural development, a justice support programme worth €7 million, and a programme for access to drinking water and sanitation worth €11.5 million.
