Ethiopia- development cooperation 2013-2015
The new Country Programme 2013-2015 is in line with the Ethiopian Government program (Growth and Transformation Plan - GTP), which is the medium-term strategic document, and fits year pilot JP (Joint Programming) between the European Members, in view of the pursuit of the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) and in respect of principles of Paris / Accra.
The Growth and Transformation Plan (GTP), which succeeds the Five Year Plan for Accelerated and Sustainable Development to End Poverty, is inspired by the desire of bringing Ethiopia into the category of middle-income economies, thanks to a modern agricultural system and to a driving industrial sector. Ambitious targets for the period, which include the maintenance of annual growth between 11 and 14%, the achievement of the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) and the construction of a democratic stable state oriented to sustainable development.
In addition to investment in agricultural field and Industrial, the Ethiopian Government aims to consolidate the infrastructure (transport and energy), by increasing availability and quality of basic services (education and health) and the improvement of public administration system (governance and justice). The assessment of UNDP for Ethiopia's progress towards the MDGs is positive, the country has made significant steps forward social sectors (education and health), while is still on a uphill road towards achieving the goals related to gender equality, environment and integration in the global market.
The start of cooperation relations between Italy and Ethiopia dates back to 1976, when it was signed the first bilateral arrangement for the realization of development projects. Since the second half of the eighties, Ethiopia is a priority country in the strategy of the Italian Cooperation and recipients a relevant Italian support, mainly through bilateral and multi-bilateral channels, in second instance multilateral and NGO promoted. Over the past 30 years, they were paid a total nearly 800 million of contributions in donations.
Italian commitment can be easily understood in the light of historical and economic ties and Ethiopia's strategic importance in the geopolitics of the Horn of Africa, where is an important factor of regional stabilization.
In the 30th May 2013 it was signed a new Country Programme 2013-2015, with which they were provided assistance for a total amount of 98.9 million euros (in the programming funds have more than doubled compared to Previous Country Programme), especially in the areas of rural development, education and health.
The Growth and Transformation Plan (GTP), which succeeds the Five Year Plan for Accelerated and Sustainable Development to End Poverty, is inspired by the desire of bringing Ethiopia into the category of middle-income economies, thanks to a modern agricultural system and to a driving industrial sector. Ambitious targets for the period, which include the maintenance of annual growth between 11 and 14%, the achievement of the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) and the construction of a democratic stable state oriented to sustainable development.
With the new Country Programme 2013-2015, which was signed in Addis Ababa May 30, 2013, Italy intends to fund programs for a total of 99 million euro, of which 65 million euros in credit and 34 million Euro in donations. To this amount must be added grants for technical assistance, to coordinate and monitoring Italian Cooperation the initiatives.
The resources will be divided into the following macro-areas: rural development and the private sector 48.2 mln; health and basic services 23.8 mln; education and gender 8.4 mln. WASH (water supply) 18.5 mln, with the purpose of contributing to the resilience in the pastoral areas more exposed to recurrent humanitarian crises related to the drought (six districts of the Afar region); to allow access to water for urban population (estimated 250,000); the improvement of learning conditions in primary and secondary schools and institution building to help the improvement of learning results; the enhancement of quality and coverage of basic health services thus contributing to improving the health of the population.
Also because of the limited financial resources in the gift, the new Country Program includes a significant component to aid credit on very favorable conditions (grace period 30 years, concessionality rate of 70 percent).