Overview
Guinea-Bissau is a West African nation with a population of around 2 million. It has experienced political instability and institutional and economic fragility since gaining independence in 1974. The country is vulnerable to the impact of climate change. Guinea-Bissau’s coastal location presents opportunities to develop its fisheries sector, a cornerstone of its economy. In addition, it has the potential to develop tourism, thanks to its biodiversity, cultural heritage, and historical sites.
Our partnership
The EU supports Guinea-Bissau in its efforts to reduce poverty and inequality and to address persistent governance challenges. This support aligns with the country’s National Development Plan “Terra Ranka 2025” and the EU’s Global Gateway strategy.
Team Europe in Guinea-Bissau comprises the EU, the European Investment Bank, France, Portugal, and Spain. We work together to promote human development, green and inclusive economic growth, and good governance and stability.
Our partnership focuses on improving health services, especially for women and children; diversifying the economy and creating jobs in agriculture, fisheries, infrastructure, and vocational training; as well as strengthening governance and democratic stability by supporting electoral processes, public administration reform, and the rule of law.
The EU has allocated €155 million in grant funding for the Guinea-Bissau partnership over the period 2021-2027. The country also benefits from various multi-country and globally-supported EU initiatives.
EU-Guinea-Bissau partnership programming documents can be found in the 'Related documents' section below.
Our key initiatives
- Health
Health is at the heart of the EU’s cooperation with Guinea-Bissau, particularly in improving maternal and child health. The EU is expanding its efforts to help achieve universal health coverage and more equitable access to services, especially for vulnerable populations. Key initiatives include:
- Cutting maternal and under-five mortality rates by improving equitable access to reproductive, maternal, newborn and child healthcare.
- Upgrading health infrastructure by strengthening water, sanitation, and hygiene facilities and integrating renewable energy solutions, such as solar panels in health centres, to ensure a reliable supply of electricity.
- Improving health governance, bysupporting supply chains for essential medicines, training healthcare workers, and strengthening national health institutions.
- Education and vocational training
Education and skills development are key to ensuring young people can find jobs and to empowering women. Now The EU supports Guinea-Bissau on:
- Enhancing vocational training aligned with labour market demands, including sectors like agriculture, fisheries, and renewable energy, and empowering young people with skills for self-employment and entrepreneurship.
- Strengthening education governance and data systems by developing national platforms to better monitor school performance, enabling evidence-based policymaking.
- Agriculture and fisheries
Agriculture and fisheries are pillars of Guinea-Bissau’s economy, providing food, jobs, and income for most of the population. The EU aims to make these sectors more sustainable and competitive by:
- Strengthening value chains in key products like cashew nuts, rice, tropical fruits and fish, through investments in processing, storage, logistics, and access to markets.
- Promoting sustainable and climate-resilient practices, including the use of renewable energy and agro-ecological techniques to safeguard food security and environmental protection.
- Supporting inclusive economic growth through initiatives like Ianda Guiné!, helping to develop rural livelihoods and foster resilience.
- Supporting sustainable marine resource management by implementing the EU-Guinea-Bissau Sustainable Fisheries Partnership Agreement, enabling fair and regulated fishing activities while safeguarding marine biodiversity.
- Sustainable infrastructure
The EU is contributing to Guinea-Bissau’s regional integration and economic development by:
- Upgrading transport corridors such as the strategic Bissau-Ziguinchor road, linking Guinea-Bissau to Senegal, enhancing cross-border trade and providing people with access to essential services and economic opportunities.
- Investing in clean and renewable energy, such as solar plants, especially in rural and remote areas, to reduce energy poverty and support green growth.
- Improving urban services, including water access and waste management, to enhance quality of life and promote environmentally sustainable cities.
- Justice, security and governance
The EU collaborates with Guinea-Bissau to strengthen the rule of law, improve justice services, enhance national security, and strengthen democratic governance. Key initiatives include:
- Improving justice services by reinforcing the judicial sector, ensuring service quality, and increased access, in particular to the most vulnerable.
- Strengthening internal security forces and regional cooperation to combat organised crime, illicit trafficking, and maritime insecurity.
- Fighting illicit financial flows by countering money laundering, terrorism financing, and improving financial stability.
- Enhancing economic governance and public financial management (PFM) reform to ensure sound management of public resources, by promoting accountability, transparency, and budget oversight.
- Supporting transparent and credible elections, strengthening electoral management and ensuring civic participation and engagement.
- Empowering civil society and youth to participate meaningfully in governance, protect human rights and advocate for vulnerable groups such as Talibé children.