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International Partnerships

South Africa

South Africa, situated at the southernmost point of the African continent and spanning from the Atlantic to the Indian Ocean, has a population of 62 million (2024).

South Africa, an upper-middle-income country, holds the rank of the third-largest economy in Africa. Among the European Union's 10 bilateral strategic partnerships with nations worldwide, South Africa is the sole African partner. As South Africa's foremost trading ally and the primary source of direct foreign investments, the EU is dedicated to fostering this relationship. This commitment aims to support economic growth, create jobs, promote human rights, and advance a just, green, and sustainable future.

Our partnership

Our action is in line with South Africa’s National Development Plan 2030 and the EU’s Global Gateway Strategy. The EU and South Africa are collaborating in a wide range of areas amongst others, economic, trade and investment relations, energy, research and innovation and good governance.

The strategic partnership is being taken forward in a Team Europe approach, bringing together Member States and the EIB.

The EU adopted a Multi-Annual Indicative Programme for the period 2021-2027 under the Neighbourhood, Development, and International Cooperation Instrument (NDICI-Global Europe). Under this framework the EU, allocated €129 million in grant funding towards its partnership with South Africa for 2021-2024. South Africa also benefits from several multi-country EU programmes.

8 MARCH 2022
Multiannual Indicative Programme 2021-2027 for South Africa - annex
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(1.22 MB - PDF)
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15 DECEMBER 2023
Annual action plan 2023 for South Africa
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(550.19 KB - ZIP)
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15 DECEMBER 2022
Annual action plan 2022 for South Africa
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(1.84 MB - ZIP)
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16 DECEMBER 2021
Annual action plan 2021 for South Africa
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(1.6 MB - ZIP)
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13 AUGUST 2014
Programming documents 2014-2020 for South Africa
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(10.76 MB - ZIP)
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Our flagship initiatives

Team Europe in South Africa focuses its action on several key sectors:

  • Energy – to support South Africa in the decarbonisation of its economy under the frame of the Just Energy Transition Partnership (JETP) signed by South Africa and partners (EU, Germany, France, the Netherlands, Denmark, UK and US,) in November 2021. EU supports this ambition by increasing renewable energy generation, developing sustainable green hydrogen and critical raw materials value chains, upgrading transport and logistic networks, greening service delivery in municipalities, transferring expertise to government institutions, and providing technical and vocational training.
  • Local vaccine manufacturing – to support South Africa’s ambition in becoming a vaccine manufacturing hub. Team Europe supports the expansion of Aspen’s manufacturing capacity to produce COVID-19 vaccines, the production of mRNA vaccines by Biovac, South Africa’s regulatory authorities with capacity building and the establishment of the first mRNA technology transfer hub in Africa.
  • Infrastructure – The EU is actively engaged in infrastructure development in South Africa through projects such as the Infrastructure Investment Programme for South Africa (IIPSA). IIPSA supports the implementation of the government's infrastructure programme and contributes to addressing the constraints to infrastructure development in South Africa and in the Southern Africa Development Community Region. Efforts are directed towards upgrading roads, railways, and ports to enhance connectivity, facilitate trade, and foster economic growth.
  • Education and Research – to support establishing a skilled workforce by improving:
    • TVET and Science Technology and Innovation – to modernise and reform higher education institutions, develop new curricula and improve governance. Through Erasmus+, South African university students can participate in a mobility programme with European universities. South Africa also participates in the EU’s Horizon Europe programme, fostering research and development.
    • Investment climate, innovative  finance and support to SMEs in accessing finance  to improve the investment climate and business environment and support SMEs in accessing finance. As of February 2023, about 5,115 SMEs have received EU investments in the form of grants of blended finance, creating 2,000 direct jobs in areas such as Agriculture (Cotton, Deciduous and Essential Oils), Green Economy, ICT and health, agribusiness, IT or automotive.
  • Governance – to improve, in partnership with South Africa, public services in rural areas (Asivikelane), to strengthen local authorities (Enhancing Accountability Program), and to ensure equitable access to essential services, thereby contributing to more effective and accountable governance (Legislature Oversight Program).
  • Social Sectors, Women and Youth: the partnership between South Africa and the EU places a great focus on youth, women and entrepreneurship. Collaborative programmes such as EDSE and GEWE aim to create economic and social opportunities to empower young businesses and aspiring entrepreneurs by providing access to finance, technical assistance, and mentorship opportunities. The EU is also actively engaged with South African public and private stakeholders in the fight against gender-based violence (GBV) and femicide.

Through these initiatives, we strive to contribute meaningfully to the ongoing efforts to create a greener, just and safer society for all.

2 FEBRUARY 2024
EU-South Africa country projects
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