Brussels round-table bears fruits

27 Mar 2015

Brussels round-table bears fruits

25 March 2015 - International development partners pledged today over 1 billion Euros to support Guinea-Bissau's social and economic development. The funding will support the Government's Development Strategy Plan, Terra Ranka (meaning a fresh start), which aims to ensure long-term sustainable development, consolidate peace and stability, and increase economic growth.

In a round-table co-organized by the Government of Guinea-Bissau, the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and the European Union (EU), support and financial resources were mobilized for the implementation of the Strategic and Operational Development Plan of the Government of Guinea-Bissau for the next five years.

International partners such as the World Bank, the Africa development Bank, the African Union (AU), the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), and the Community of Portuguese Language Countries (CPLP) also contributed to organize the conference. The meeting was attended by key bilateral partners of Guinea Bissau such as the USA, Brazil, the UK, France, Spain, Portugal, Canada or China, multilateral organizations such as Global partnership for Education, global funds such as the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria (GFATM) took part in the conference.

"This strategy draws first and foremost on a shared vision of the society we wish to build over the next ten years" said Jose Mario Vaz, President of the Republic of Guinea-Bissau. "By 2025, our country will be on its way to becoming a prosperous and inclusive society that fosters rising living standards based on the sustainable development of our country's exceptional land and marine biodiversity", he added.

"The United Nations will continue to support the Government and people of Guinea-Bissau through the UN Development Action Framework, elaborated jointly with the Government and estimated at USD 300 million, and through the United Nations Integrated Peace-Building Office in Guinea-Bissau," Special Representative of Secretary General of United Nations in Guinea-Bissau, Miguel dos Anjos Trovoada said.

The European Union (EU) announced it will resume cooperation and provide new funding to Guinea-Bissau of ⬠160 million.

UNDP and EU have been partners during Guinea-Bissau's transition to a constitutional order. During the 2014 general elections, both institutions provided electoral support to the country.

"UNDP will continue strengthening state institutions, including defense, security and justice to consolidate stability and rule of law, democratic participation and access to equal opportunities for all," said Ruby Sandhu-Rojon, Deputy Regional Director of UNDP's Regional Bureau for Africa.

According to 2014 UNDP's Human Development Index, Guinea-Bissau is ranked 177 out of 187 countries. Nearly half of its 1.7 million people live in extreme poverty.

Since 2014, the democratically elected government has committed to consolidating democracy, justice reform and the provision of basic services such as electricity and water. The new Government's Strategic and Operational Plan for 2015-2020 defines a vision aimed at a politically and stable country through inclusive development, good governance and preservation of biodiversity by developing infrastructures, tourism and agro-industry, amongst others.

The opening ceremony was chaired by the President of the Republic of Guinea Bissau, Jose Maria Vaz, President of the Republic of Senegal, Macky Sall and Under-Secretary-General and Head of the UN Department of Political Affairs Jeffrey Feltman, who delivered a statement on behalf of the UN Secretary General, and Neven Mimiça, European Commissioner for International Cooperation and Development.

Source: UNDP