The European Union (EU) and Malawi government have signed an agreement for future cooperation amounting to €560 million.
The so-called National Indicative Programme (NIP), financed from the 11th European Development Fund, covers the period until 2020.
EU-Malawi cooperation in the coming years will focus on three main sectors: governance, sustainable agriculture and secondary education and vocational training.
Commissioner for International Development and Cooperation Neven Mimica described the signing of the agreement as another milestone and an important step forward in the strong partnership between the EU and Malawi.
“We will continue working closely with the Malawian government, the private sector and civil society to strengthen the country’s capacities and long term development.
“The substantial EU funding combined with necessary reforms and political dialogue will help Malawi to move towards sustainable economic growth and poverty reduction,”
Mimica said.
The NIP signed Friday pursues the following main objectives:
Governance (€120 million): The objective is to contribute to Malawi’s poverty reduction efforts by strengthening democratic governance, accountability and the rule of law.
Sustainable Agriculture (€250 million): To stimulate sustainable development, support will be provided to transform agriculture from a sector largely based on low-value and subsistence production to a competitive, sustainable, and private sector driven inclusive agriculture bringing economic growth, improved livelihoods, decent jobs, and food and nutrition security, whilst reducing vulnerability to climate change and natural disasters.
Secondary education and vocational training (€160 million): The aim is to empower the education sector and foster its capacity to satisfy the economy’s need for skilled professionals through expansion and improvement of equitable and gender-balanced secondary education and vocational Training.
