Brussels, 07/11/2013 (Agence Europe) - For the period 2014-2020, Chad, a member of the ACP group of countries (Africa/Caribbean/Pacific), will be able to count on European Union aid amounting to €442 million under the 11th European Development Fund (EDF). Andris Piebalgs, European Development Commissioner, announced this on Thursday 7 November during his first official visit to this country, which is one of the poorest in the world, bringing his trip to the Sahel region to an end. Funding will mainly finance reforms concerning food and nutritional security, the rule of law and sustainable management of resources, according to the priorities jointly defined with the Chadian authorities in full accordance with the national development plan.
The aid allocation is part of the €5 billion earmarked for the Sahel region (Chad, Mali, Niger, Burkina Faso, Senegal and Mauritania) over the same period, 2014-2020.
Piebalgs also announced funding of €8 million, via the Global Alliance for Resilience Initiative (AGIR) to support the country's efforts to adapt and thus improve resilience and the living conditions of some 2 million people.
For the current financial period 2008-2013 (10th EDF), the €368 million destined for Chad have focused on good central and local governance and on sustainable development (infrastructure and the rural sector). The EU's support has allowed 4,700 wells to be drilled providing access to water in eight regions; the building, refurbishment and equipping of 18 hospitals and more than 50 operating theatres; and the asphalting of 839 km of roads, the European Commission underlines.
During the visit, the commissioner, who was accompanied by the EU special representative for the Sahel, Michel Reveyrand de Menthon, was to meet the president of the Republic, Idris Deby Itno.
Chad's progress in meeting the Millennium Development Goals (MDG) has been very limited, except for access to drinking water, which has more than doubled in the past ten years (to 46% in 2011 from 21% in 2000). However, in 2009 45% of the population was still living below the absolute poverty line (less than US$1 per day) and the rates of child malnutrition remain alarming (30% are underweight and 39% suffer stunted growth). (AN/transl.jl)