Côte d'Ivoire is the second biggest economy in West Africa after Nigeria. The country is the main supplier of cocoa in the world. It also exports oil, tropical fruits and tuna.
Serious challenges remain in terms of improving the business climate and poverty reduction. Human development indicators remain relatively weak and unemployment is high.
Our priorities
In the aftermath of a high-risk electoral sequence and at the end of the cycle of the National Plan for Development (2016-2020), Côte d'Ivoire today seems to be evolving.
However, the strong growth experienced in recent years should not obscure the fact that the country still requires profound changes to see its economic performance sustained and the fruits of shared growth converted into lasting peace and development.
The basis of programming is a joint framework document between the EU and its Member States present in the country.
The three proposed priority areas for the MIP are the following:
Develop human capital
This area will focus on:
- Vocational training: contributing to the employability of young people, including girls, and meeting skill needs.
- Social Protection: contributing to the reduction of social and health vulnerabilities.
- Migration as a development opportunity.
Foster inclusive, sustainable, and digital growth
This area has the following priorities:
- Business climate and sustainability of investments: aligning economic interests and development.
- Agriculture and Food System Sustainability: supporting a transformation system for agriculture and food so that it is fair.
- Low-carbon transition: supporting sustained economic growth by limiting its climate impacts.
Strengthen the rule of law and democratic governance, maintain the peace and stability
This area aims at advancing:
- Democracy and human rights: deepening the bedrock of common values between the EU and Côte d'Ivoire and the commitment to a multilateral world.
- Peace, stability, and social cohesion: preserving Côte d'Ivoire as a pole of stability in West Africa.
- Digital governance: supporting the digital transformation of Côte d'Ivoire through inclusive, safe, and human-centred digital governance.
Our programmes
The Multiannual Indicative Programme (MIP) for Côte d’Ivoire for 2021-2024 amounts to €228 million.
Priority area 1: ‘’Develop human capital’’ promotes three key sectors:
- Professional training to set up a professional training system oriented by the demand from the private sector.
- Social Protection contributes to the reduction of social and health vulnerabilities.
- Migration promotes a driver of the country's economic development. Migration management capacities are strengthened and returning migrants can be sustainably reintegrated.
Priority area 2: ‘’Foster inclusive, sustainable and digital growth’’ targets the following issues:
- Supporting transformations through the evolution of the business climate so that it is conducive to the creation of decent jobs, and sustainable investments.
- The structural transformation, towards sustainability, of the agricultural and food system country.
- Support for the transition of Côte d'Ivoire towards sustained economic growth compatible with its climate commitments.
Priority area 3: ‘’Strengthen the rule of law and democratic governance, maintain the peace and stability’’ has the following goals:
- Democracy and human rights promotes democracy, strengthens governance and the rule of law by establishing accountable and transparent institutions and mechanisms that consider human rights.
- Peace, stability, and social cohesion to preserve Côte d'Ivoire as a pole of stability in West Africa, while ensuring the increase in the participation of women in all matters relating to peace and stability.
- Digital governance to support the digital transformation of Côte d'Ivoire through an inclusive, secure, and human-centric digital governance.
Support measures
Strengthening democratic processes and improving governance requires a qualitative involvement of civil society actors. This is the expectation reiterated by the Technical and Financial Partners and African public authorities and consolidated through several reference frameworks, such as the Paris Declaration, the Accra Accord, and the Busan Declaration.
Within this framework, and in accordance with the priorities identified by the European Consensus for Development, the European Union and its Member States recognize the importance of civil society as a powerful vector of change and a fully-fledged actor in the development of the country and will continue its structural reinforcement, in order to create the conditions, legal and systemic, to make civil society organizations legitimate and competent.