During an official visit to Harare by European Commissioner for International Cooperation and Development Neven Mimica, the European Commission announced on Monday 9 April that two aid programmes for the people of Zimbabwe are to be launched, which will be financed by the EU by a maximum of €23 million.
The programmes are intended to increase Zimbabweans' access to health services and to enhance their livelihoods. They were approved with a view to encouraging the holding of democratic elections, planned in mid-April, and reforms. This is indeed the choice the EU has made to move ahead with the gradual and cautious increase in its support during the period of transition in Zimbabwe (see EUROPE 11957, 11944).
A sum of €20.6 million will finance fair access for women and children to quality health services to reduce the maternal mortality rate and that of under-five year olds, to improve sexual and reproductive health, to fight AIDS, malaria and other so-called poverty diseases. The aid will be implemented by United Nations agencies (Unicef and UNFPA).
Another €2.8 million will finance a resource generation programme which is to be implemented by Save the Children and local associations in order to help some 15,000 men and women find a job.
The EU has already provided €11 million to help the preparation of the electoral process in Zimbabwe. (Original version in French by Aminata Niang)