Brussels, 17/10/2012 (Agence Europe) - On Wednesday 17 October, Andris Piebalgs, the EU Commissioner for Development, and the President of Malawi, Joyce Banda, signed two agreements which will help Malawi to assist the most vulnerable sections of society in this ACP country, which is linked to the European Union through the Cotonou agreement. The signing ceremony took place in Brussels during the 7th edition of the European Development Days (EDD) event.
The first contribution to the new government programme is designed to strengthen agricultural productivity and expand the area under irrigation. With this programme, Malawi aims to increase its maize yield by two thirds and almost double household incomes in agriculture.
The second EU contribution focuses on a social pilot programme set up in 2006 to fund cash transfers to extremely poor households to help them out of poverty and hunger. It will make families more resistant to shocks like high food prices, but also improve school enrolment and health. This EU support is expected to provide benefits to a total of 83,000 households.
Over the period 2008-2013, EU support to Malawi from the 10th European Development Fund amounts to a total of €551.1 million. This cooperation focuses on agriculture, food, nutrition security and road transport. Other sectors, in which the EU provides funding include governance, trade, HIV/Aids, gender, sugar, water, energy and cooperation with non-state actors. (AN/trans.fl)