Today, 19 July, Italian Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, Edmondo Cirielli, chaired the fourth meeting of the 2023 Joint Committee for Development Cooperation.
The Committee, which is responsible for approving the funding of the Italian Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation for development initiatives, adopted the resolution concerning the 2023 planning agenda, which, in line with the Mattei Plan, places Africa at the forefront, allocating over 60% of bilateral and emergency resources and a significant share of multilateral contributions to the continent.
Of particular relevance within the 2023 planning agenda is the scheduled adoption in the coming months of four calls for the financing of development and emergency interventions.
In particular, three calls will be devoted to cooperation initiatives to be implemented in Africa for at least 85% of the amount and will be open to the participation of civil society organisations (EUR 100 million), local authorities (EUR 60 million) and private sector companies and start-ups (EUR 6 million). The size of the sums allocated is intended to encourage large-scale projects with a long-term impact, so as to make development initiatives sustainable, stimulate real economic growth and provide concrete employment opportunities directly connected to training activities.
The fourth call, also aimed at civil society organisations (EUR 30 million), will be for emergency initiatives in Ukraine and neighbouring countries.
The agenda for 2023 also provides for the strengthening of the “Partnership for Knowledge” initiative (EUR 6 million). The initiative, which has already had considerable success in the past, is aimed at granting scholarships to participate in advanced training programmes for ministerial officials, teachers, researchers and university students from priority countries at local and Italian universities, as well as creating partnerships between universities.
The Committee also approved the allocation of over EUR 100 million in contributions and loans, most of which directed to the African continent. In particular, the following were approved:
– a major EUR 50 million loan to Tunisia, for the development of the energy sector, in line with Italy’s commitment to the ELMED power interconnection project and as part of Italy’s and the European Union’s support for the country;
– in favour of Tunisia, a training project for young Tunisians was also approved. The project is aimed at creating local employment, with the involvement of Italian civil society organisations.
Also in favour of Africa, the following were approved:
– two initiatives in Ethiopia, one in support of the environmental rehabilitation and sustainable development of the city of Jimma, the other with UNIDO for the start-up of public-private partnerships for the development of micro-small and medium-sized enterprises in support of young people and women;
– a project in Egypt to improve medical and nursing care, in partnership with the Italian University of Sassari;
– a project in Kenya to eliminate violence and gender discrimination and to facilitate access, particularly for women, to economic and natural resources.
Voluntary contributions were also approved for international organisations, including UNICEF, UNDP, the International Committee of the Red Cross and the World Bank, for development programmes in the fields of humanitarian aid, maritime security, training and research, and sustainable agriculture.
The Joint Committee also gave a favourable opinion on three initiatives presented by Cassa Depositi e Prestiti in Africa and the Balkans and saw the presentation of guidelines on the humanitarian-development-peace nexus.
