By Mabinty M. Kamara
In an effort to ensure the implementation of the Sierra Leone-European Union Multi-Annual Indicative Programme (MIP) that spans from 2021-2027, the EU Ambassador to Sierra Leone Manuel Muller has said two hundred and forty-five million Euro (245 Million Euro) has already been committed for its implementation.
Speaking at the EU Press lunch in Freetown on Wednesday 16th February this year, Muller said the amount will cover up to 2024 and pointed out that the second phase of the project implementation will be determined by the “quality and performance of the partnership during this first period.”
The priority intervention areas highlighted under the MIP include the Green Economy; improving agriculture for sustainable livelihood, Human Development through the Basic and Secondary Education and the Technical and Vocational Education, Democratic and Inclusive Governance and Human Rights, Gender Equality and Women Empowerment, all of which Muller explained will remain a cross-cutting, horizontal priority of the EU partnership and cooperation with Sierra Leone in the next years. ‘’The EU will also continue to support the work of Civil Society Organisations in the country,” he stated.
These priority areas, the Ambassador said align Sierra Leone’s Medium-Term National Development Plan for 2019-2023 and that the government also formally agreed to the priority areas set at the Annual high-level Political Dialogue held in July of 2021.
He reaffirmed the EU’s commitment to supporting Sierra Leone, noting that they have a strong partnership with the country that is built on shared values.
Ambassador Muller added that the EU has a regular political and policy dialogue with the government of Sierra Leone in which they address issues of common interest, and deepen the partnership. Such engagements he said include the Annual high-level Political Dialogue which was last held in July of 2021. The meeting he said addressed several issues including investment, human Rights, or electoral reforms.
President Julius Maada Bio last week joined other African leaders at the 6th European Union-Africa Union Summit in Brussels. The Summit according to EU officials addressed issues of health, and economic recovery, in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic, investment and growth financing, private sector support and economic integration, climate change, and energy transition. Digital and transport connectivity and infrastructure, climate change and energy transition, education and vocational training, agriculture, peace, security, and governance were among the other issues discussed.
One of the important elements of the summit they say is the ‘Africa Gateway Africa-Europe initiative’ which was proposed by the EU after the November 2017 EU-AU summit in Abidjan aimed at renewing the EU and Africa partnership.
Ambassador Muller said that the EU activities in Sierra Leone have already contributed to the goals and priorities of the Global gateway and in the framework of the Medium Term indicative programme 2021/2027.
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