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European Union in Sierra LeoneThe European Union is the developing world's main partner, providing 55 % of all international official assistance, and is by far its biggest trader and foreign investor. The lynchpin of the EUs development policy is the Cotonou Agreement which binds it with African, Caribbean and Pacific (ACP) countries and is the most ambitious and comprehensive agreement between developed and developing countries. It sets out an integrated and comprehensive approach to development, poverty eradication, trade and a political dialogue that includes conflict prevention, human rights and democratization and issues of mutual concern such as migration. |
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The European Commission remains a strong development partner of Sierra Leone; in 2006 they gave over 60m USD, with more than a fifth coming through budget support (table 1). The European Commission supported a wide range of activities in all the pillars, as well as other cross-pillar programmes. They gave the highest proportion towards food security, infrastructure and decreasing unemployment and supported several projects through the SLRA to improve and rehabilitate the roads in Sierra Leone. Table 1: European Commission support by pillar
Taking into account the post-conflict context of the country, and referring to its interim Poverty Reduction Strategy, the Commission’s 2003-2007 support strategy particularly focuses on support to the Government’s efforts to rehabilitate the country’s basic infrastructure, as shown by the large proportion of aid given to pillar 2 in 2006 (table 1). The majority of European Commission aid (68%) goes through government ministries and departments with the smallest proportion of its development assistance being given through the UN (Table 2). The European Commission has estimated that it will increase development assistance to Sierra Leone to approximately 80m USD in 2007, although assistance in 2008 is likely to decrease slightly from the current level. Table 2: European Commission support by channel
Under the 9th EDF, an amount of € 220.0 M has been allocated to Sierra Leone. The corresponding 2003-2007 Country Strategy Paper and National Indicative Programme was signed in Freetown, on 2 July 2003.
© DACO/SLIS August 2008 |
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