…€7.5 million earmarked for Nigeria
The European Commission has allocated €600 million from the European Development Fund to finance immediate humanitarian food aid, food production and resilience of food systems in the most vulnerable countries in Africa, the Caribbean and the Pacific (ACP). This will help partner countries and vulnerable people to cope with the unjust consequences of Russia’s war of aggression against Ukraine, notably the current food security crisis and related economic shock.
Commissioner for International Partnerships Jutta Urpilainen stated: “The EU’s swift and comprehensive response to the current food insecurity in several vulnerable partner countries of the African, Caribbean and Pacific area demonstrates our strong solidarity towards our partners, in particular in Africa. It helps shoulder the consequences felt worldwide of Russia’s war of aggression against Ukraine. In the short-term we are helping families with food and nutrition assistance and helping countries to buy the food they need; as part of the Global Gateway strategy, we also work on solutions to address current and future risks by investing in local sustainable food systems to enhance resilience.”
Commissioner for Crisis Management Janez Lenarčič added: “Global food insecurity is our utmost concern. Data shows that tens of millions more people are facing food shortages compared to an already difficult last year. The Russian invasion of Ukraine dramatically exacerbated the situation for the most vulnerable worldwide who already face the effects of armed conflicts, climate change and the COVID-19 pandemic. Just now famine is knocking on the door in Somalia. The newly allocated funds will help those in dire situations meet their emergency food needs. The EU remains committed to supporting the most vulnerable. However, humanitarian aid cannot substitute for efforts needed to increase the resilience of most vulnerable populations. Sustainable development-oriented solutions to end hunger are crucial.”
The decision to swiftly redirect €600 million to food security in ACPs from de-committed funds from the 10th and 11th European Development Fund was announced by President Von der Leyen in June 2022 and the allocation received the green light from the Member States in September.
As part of Team Europe’s Response to Global Food Insecurity, the funding will support people in African, Caribbean and Pacific countries, where the humanitarian needs are the highest and where programmes to sustainably enhance food security and resilience were identified. More precisely, the funding will be allocated as follows:
West and Central Africa: for food production and resilience €20 million for Cameroon, €10 million for Chad, €10 million for Ivory Coast, €10 million for Ghana, €12 million for Mauritania, €25 million for Niger, €15 million for Senegal, €10 million for Togo. For emergency food assistance €6.5 million for Burkina Faso, €6.5 million for Cameroon, €6 million for the Central African Republic, €7.5 million for Chad, €6 million for Mali, €1 million for Mauritania, €6 million for Niger, €7.5 million for Nigeria, €1.5 million for the region.
Eastern Africa/Great Lakes: for food production and resilience €25 million for DRC, €10 million for Kenya, €10 million for Rwanda, €20 million for Somalia and €10 million for Uganda. For emergency food assistance €16 million for DRC, €2 million for the Burundi refugee crisis, €2.5 million for the Horn of Africa, €8 million for Ethiopia, €8 million for Somalia, €29 million for Sudan, €5.5 million for South Sudan.
Southern Africa: €10 million for Madagascar, €15 million for Malawi, €15 million for Mozambique and €20 million for Zambia. For emergency food assistance €4 million for Madagascar, €8 million for Mozambique, €4 million for Zimbabwe, and €0.5 million for the Southern Africa region.
Caribbean: €27 million for food production and resilience. For emergency food assistance €6.5 million for Haiti and €3 million for Caribbean countries such as the Dominican Republic.
Pacific: €10 million for resilience and food systems
A €52,5 million transversal component will ensure coordination between the different programmes and amplify their impact at the continental and regional levels. This will be done by focusing on sustainable finance and investments for sustainable agriculture and agri-value chains.
A further €100 million component will provide macroeconomic support to African, Caribbean and Pacific Low-Income Countries by leveraging, via a contribution to the International Monetary Fund’s Poverty and Reduction Trust, concessional loans thereby creating fiscal space to help these countries address the food crisis situation.
