Health, education and a decent standard of living are the key elements to ensure human development. The EU works with partners countries to support health systems and infrastructures, education policies, social protection and to reduce inequalities.
Programmes
The BRiCE Programme was set up by the EU to help 72 million children living in crisis-affected countries who are in need educational support.
The DEAR Programme supports projects that engage Europeans in global issues related to social, economic and environmental development.
Transcultura Programme seeks to harness diversity, build bridges between people and cultures of different linguistic areas, and foster the role of culture, heritage and creativity.
The programme's objective isto boost the competitiveness of cultural and creative industries in he African, Caribbean and Pacific (ACP) countries.
The Africa-Europe Youth Academy (AEYA) is a flagship initiative that empowers young people to become leaders and agents of change. It focuses on equipping them with the skills, opportunities, and networks needed to shape their future and strengthen ties between Africa and Europe.
Launched in April 2024 under the Global Gateway strategy, the Team Europe Initiative on Opportunity-driven Skills and Vocational Education and Training in Africa (TEI OP-VET) aims to equip young people in the region with the right skills to seize investment-driven job opportunities.
Latest news
During his two-day mission to Addis Ababa, Commissioner Jozef Síkela opened the EU-Ethiopia Business Forum and announced a new major investments package. This will strengthen the partnership between the European Union and Ethiopia and advance the European Global Gateway investments strategy.
The European Union (EU) has reaffirmed its commitment to deepening economic and developmental partnership with Ethiopia, as announced today by Jozef Síkela, EU Commissioner for International Partnerships, during his keynote address at the Ethiopia Business Forum.
European Commissioner for International Partnerships Jozef Síkela will visit Ethiopia on 20 and 21 April 2026, opening the EU-Ethiopia Business Forum in Addis Ababa and meeting with government, business and international partners.
Related stories
With EU support, Ma Khine, a woman leading a local organisation in Myanmar, has been able to strengthen her knowledge on climate change. She has used her newly acquired skills to educate communities by proposing collective actions and solutions to address these issues.
Many women in Eastern Uganda have undergone female genital mutilation. Communication for Development Foundation Uganda advocates for ending this harmful practice. The work of the activists is supported by the Spotlight Initiative, a strategic partnership between the EU and the UN.
Activists in Mozambique are making an effort to ensure girls have the right to continue their studies to protect them from child marriage. This is done in the framework of Spotlight Initiative, a strategic partnership between the EU and the UN.