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Emergency Trust Fund for Africa: new support for the Horn of Africa worth €134 million

Attachments

Brussels, 12 December 2018

The European Commission has adopted eleven new programmes for the Horn of Africa under the EU Emergency Trust Fund for Africa.

Commissioner for International Cooperation and Development Neven Mimica said: "These new EU programmes, worth over €134 million in all, will help to create lasting solutions for refugees and internally displaced people, as well as support vulnerable host communities in a region that hosts the largest number of refugees in Africa – 4.5 million. Our existing programmes have already yielded substantial results, but the Trust Fund's resources are quickly depleting. If we want to keep delivering, its resources have to be replenished."

Six programmes, worth €65 million, have been approved to support the Comprehensive Refugee Response Framework of the United Nations High Commission for Refugees. This initiative is being piloted by several countries in the region; it helps refugee populations become self-sufficient and supports host communities.

  • In Djibouti, an €8 million programme will help integrate refugees into the country's social protection systems, which cover health, education and employment rights.

  • In Kenya, a €17.8 million programme will boost asylum management, bolster economic self-reliance among refugees and host communities in Garissa County, and further support the development of the Kalobeyei settlement.

  • A €10 million programme in Sudan will fund educational support for refugee children, most of whom come from South Sudan.

  • A second programme, worth €3 million, will provide assistance to South Sudanese refugees in the Democratic Republic of the Congo.

  • In Uganda, an €18 million programme will improve people's access to reliable information, training and to the justice system, including legal aid, counselling services and mobile courts.

  • In Ethiopia and Uganda, an €8.2 million Urban Displacement Pilot will encourage regional exchanges of experience and expertise to tackle the rising challenge of urban displacement.

Four national programmes have also been approved.

  • A new programme in Ethiopia worth €33.5 million will make households, communities and local authorities better equipped to manage, respond and adapt to disasters like drought and conflict.

  • In Sudan we are working to link humanitarian and development activities closer together to respond better to protracted crises. A €10 million programme will support forcibly displaced people and host communities in West Kordofan, building on the Commission's existing humanitarian activities

  • Another €15 million programme will address nutrition and food security issues in Sudan's Red Sea State.

  • In South Sudan, a €5 million programme will contribute towards building lasting peace and reconciliation in the country.

Last but not least, a new €5 million regional programme will make better use of financial investigation and anti-money laundering tools to disrupt human trafficking and smuggling networks.

Two existing programmes have received additional funds: The Research and Evidence Facility will receive an additional €2.5 million, and an extra €3 million will be channelled into budget support for Somalia.

The total number of programmes adopted since December 2015 for the Horn of Africa region now comes to 69, with an overall value of €1.28 billion.

Background

The EU Emergency Trust Fund for Africa was established in 2015 to address the root causes of instability, irregular migration and forced displacement. EU institutions, EU Member States and other donors have so far allocated €4.1 billion to the Trust Fund.

With today's 11 new programmes, the Trust Fund's operational committees have now approved 182 programmes, including 4 cross-window programmes, worth €3 460 million in all, across the Trust Fund's three regions (the North of Africa, the Sahel and Lake Chad region, and the Horn of Africa). This funding is divided up as follows: Sahel/Lake Chad €1 715 million (92 programmes); Horn of Africa €1 282 million (71 programmes); and North of Africa €467.1 million (19 programmes).

Previous sets of actions approved

  • Seventh package of actions in the Horn of Africa under the EU Trust Fund for a total amount of €294 million approved in May 2018

  • Joint operational Committee for the Sahel and Lake Chad, North of Africa and Horn of Africa windows approves a package for a total amount of €150 million in February 2018

  • Fifth package of actions in the Horn of Africa under the EU Trust Fund for a total package of €59 million approved in April 2017

  • Fourth package of actions in the Horn of Africa under the EU Trust Fund for a total package of €170 million approved in December 2016

  • Third package of actions in the Horn of Africa under the EU Trust Fund for a total package of €66.5 million approved in October 2016

  • Second package of actions in the Horn of Africa under the EU Trust Fund for a total package of €117 million approved in April 2016

  • First package of actions in the Horn of Africa under the EU Trust Fund for a total amount of €253 million approved in December 2015

For More Information

EU Emergency Trust Fund for Africa

IP/18/6729

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