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EU Trust Fund for Africa: new actions worth €174.4 million to support refugees and foster stability in the Horn of Africa

Attachments

European Commission - Press release

Brussels, 12 December 2017

The European Commission has announced today 13 new actions worth €174.4 million under the EU Emergency Trust Fund for Africa to support refugees and host communities in the Horn of Africa region.

At this occasion, Commissioner for International Cooperation and Development Neven Mimica said: "The European Union stands by refugees and local populations in the Horn of Africa. With today's new actions worth €174.4 million, we are stepping up our support – to protect vulnerable migrants, to create economic opportunities on the ground and to foster stability in the region."

The Trust Fund was established in 2015 in order to address the root causes of irregular migration and forced displacement. A total of 13 new actions have been approved today, each of them tailored to the specific needs on the ground.

In Ethiopia, three new projects will focus on creating employment opportunities and providing energy access to refugees and local populations (total of €38.05 million). In Uganda, the EU will support local authorities to deliver basic social services in the refugee-hosting districts (€20 million). The EU will support Djibouti in managing the effects of increased migration, and enable them to better respond to the needs of refugees and other vulnerable migrants (€15 million). Three new projects in Sudan will focus on protecting vulnerable people along migratory routes, provide employment opportunities, and support smallholder farmers (total of €20 million). In South Sudan, three new actions will help to provide education in emergencies, as well as promote the use of new agricultural technologies and better nutrition to strengthen smallholders' resilience to drought, flooding and other catastrophes. A technical cooperation fund will be set up to enable feasibility studies, support the preparation of projects, and provide training for local institutions involved in project implementation (total of €31.4 million). In Somalia, the EU will support the rule of law and contribute to building resilience in Northern Somalia (total of €50 million).

These actions build on previous packages of actions, worth €665 million, aimed at providing regional sustainable solutions to irregular migration and forced displacement under the EU Emergency Trust Fund for Africa.

Background

The European Commission launched an “Emergency Trust Fund for stability and addressing root causes of irregular migration and displaced persons in Africa” (EUTF) at the Valletta migration summit in November 2015.

Resources currently allocated to the EUTF are €3.3 billion: over €2.9 billion from the European Development Fund (EDF) and EU financial instruments, and €375 million from EU Member States and other donors (Switzerland and Norway).