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International Partnerships

Côte d'Ivoire

Overview

Côte d’Ivoire is a West African country on the Gulf of Guinea with a population of close to 30 million (2024). It is the second biggest economy in West Africa after Nigeria and has the highest GDP per capita in the region after Cabo Verde. 

As the world’s top exporter of cocoa and raw cashew nuts, Côte d’Ivoire has one of the biggest development and growth potential in the region. The country is increasingly exposed to risks linked to the instability and insecurity of its neighbouring countries (Mali and Burkina Faso).

Our partnership

Côte d’Ivoire is a key partner for the European Union in the Western Africa region. Shared values, ideals and common interests are the foundations of our ambitious political, economic and development partnership, which includes poverty eradication, sustainable and inclusive development, peace and stability among its main objectives. 

Our actions build on the country’s climate commitments to become economically, socially and environmentally sustainable, in line with the National Development Plan 2021-2025 and the Global Gateway Strategy.

Team Europe in Côte d’Ivoire brings together the EU, the EU Member States (Belgium, Finland, France, Germany, Italy, Spain, and the Netherlands) and their financial and development institutions including the European Investment Bank. 

Together, we implement a range of initiatives with the aim of boosting sustainable energy and transport, transforming the cocoa value chain, combating extremism, promoting the digital sector and stimulating trade. The high-level partnership between the EU and Côte d’Ivoire is based on several agreements, Economic Partnership AgreementSustainable Fisheries Partnership Agreement and Voluntary Partnership Agreement on Forest Law Enforcement, Governance and Trade (FLEGT).

Côte d’Ivoire is a major beneficiary of various EU funding programmes, notably from the Neighbourhood, Development and International Cooperation Instrument – Global Europe. The national envelope of €381 million for Côte d’Ivoire for the period 2021-2027 has been largely complemented by regional programmes, grants, blending and guarantees as well as thematic programmes and other instruments.

The EU’s partnership with Côte d’Ivoire is guided by the multi-annual indicative programme for 2021-2027 and focuses on 3 priority areas:

  • Human capital with actions on technical and vocational education and training with a focus on skills creation for better access to the Ivorian job market, as well as on promoting legal migration/mobility; social protection and migration,
  • Sustainable and inclusive growth with actions on business environment, agriculture, and low-carbon transition,
  • Democratic governance, peace and security and digital governance.

In that framework, Team Europe focuses its action on three key initiatives in Côte d’Ivoire supporting the Global Gateway strategy.

Our flagship initiatives

Sustainable cocoa

Supporting the economic, social and environmental sustainability of cocoa production in Côte d’Ivoire, under the EU Sustainable Cocoa Initiative. The initiative contributes to the implementation of the national strategy for sustainable cocoa and aims to:

  • Improve the living conditions of farmers.
  • Combat deforestation and contribute to reforestation.
  • Combat child labour.
  • Foster the compliance of the value chain with the EU regulations.
Low carbon transition

Supporting Ivorian climate mitigation actions through:

  • Increased production and access to more electricity from renewable energy sources. This includes: 
    • The provision of support to the construction of the first on-grid 37.5 MWp solar power plant in Boundiali in the North of the country (functional since the summer 2023 and inaugurated in April 2024)
    • The construction of the solar power plant in Sérébou of 33 MWp and battery energy storage system with a capacity of 14 MW
    • The planned construction of further solar power plants and the rehabilitation of dams and hydroelectric plants
    • The construction of the 400kv Eastern backbone transmission line from the North of Abidjan to Ferkessédougou at the borders with Mali and Burkina Faso.
  • Alternative or less polluting cooking energy solutions.
  • Energy efficiency notably in the industry and building sectors.
  • Promotion of cleaner and better structured public and private transport modes.

Furthermore, the development of strategic transport corridors, to improve transport infrastructure and trade facilitation, with Côte d’Ivoire at the heart of the Abidjan-Lagos, Praia-Abidjan and Abidjan-Ouagadougou corridors as well as digitalisation are key regional priorities/flagships.

Peace and stability

Contributing to peace and stability in the North of Côte d'Ivoire focussing on security, resilience and social cohesion issues in a crisis and conflict prevention perspective, including the spill over of insecurity from the Sahel.

Our actions include:

  • Combating money laundering, organised crime and terrorism, including through the “Académie Internationale de Lutte contre le Terrorisme” in Jacqueville.
  • Providing socio-economic support, food and non-food assistance as well as conflict prevention actions to strengthen the resilience of the local population, refugees and IDPs.
  • Fostering the long-term development of the Northern regions, e.g. through infrastructure and the management of the Comoé National Park.
  • Strengthening the security and management of border areas, in line with the EU Security and Defence Initiative Gulf of Guinea.