Joint Committee for Development Cooperation approves a package of interventions for a total of nearly 53 million euros

“We have approved a package of projects, programmes and tenders for about 53 million euros, which further proves the Government’s constant commitment in the field of development cooperation – a pillar of our foreign policy that represents a strategic investment of growing importance, ” said the Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, Angelino Alfano, commenting on today’s meeting of the Joint Committee for Development Cooperation.Alfano underlined in particular the encouraging prospects for the Country Programme for Ethiopia 2017-2019. “It is an ambitious programme that confirms and consolidates our partnership with Ethiopian authorities in strategic sectors that we together identified with a view to countering the root causes of the migration phenomenon.”Minister Alfano also said that he was “especially happy for the approval of cooperation initiatives addressed to Sudan and Tunisia, which are among Italy’s priority partners.” Moreover, the minister called attention to a new project which is financed through the “Fund for Africa” with a contribution of 3.5 million euros. It is a regional initiative to support the protection of minors, who were victims of human rights violations in Senegal, Mali, Gambia, Guinea Conakry, Guinea Bissau and Niger.Italy’s commitment in Iraq, Lebanon and Palestine continues via interventions dedicated to assisting refugees and supporting local SMEs.