The Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, Edmondo Cirielli, today chaired the third meeting of the Joint Committee for Development Cooperation 2025 at the Farnesina. The Committee approved a package of projects and programmes amounting to approximately EUR 120 million. This allocation is in line with the 2025 Programming approved during the previous meeting of the Committee, chaired by Minister Antonio Tajani on 2 April.
Of particular relevance are the measures in support of Kyiv, especially in view of the upcoming International Conference on the Recovery of Ukraine, scheduled for July. In this context, the Joint Committee approved a comprehensive programme for the restoration and conservation of the cultural heritage of the city of Odesa.
The Committee also approved the first initiative to be implemented through Development+, a financial instrument funded by the Italian Revolving Fund for Development Cooperation and managed by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation (MAECI) in coordination with the Ministry of Economy and Finance (MEF), with operational support from AICS and CDP. The instrument has a budget of EUR 70 million for medium- and long-term loans to Italian, European or developing country-based companies with at least a secondary office in Italy.
Among the initiatives launched for Africa are: a project supporting the fishing industry in Somalia; an intervention promoting organic farming in Tunisia; and a training programme in Ghana.
The Committee also approved Italy’s multi-annual commitments within the G7 and multilateral frameworks, including voluntary contributions to UNICEF and UNFPA in support of programmes aimed at eliminating female genital mutilation and ending early and forced marriages. Finally, voluntary contributions were approved for international organisations headquartered in Italy, including the FAO, CIHEAM Bari, the World Food Programme, UNICRI, TWAS and the United Nations Staff College in Turin.
