The Spanish government has reaffirmed its commitment to the development of Africa through its new Plan Director de la Cooperación Española para el Desarrollo Sostenible y la Solidaridad Global 2024-2027. This plan prioritizes seven countries in Sub-Saharan Africa, including Equatorial Guinea, and seven countries in North Africa and the Middle East. The plan aims to address the major challenges facing the African continent, including poverty, hunger, violence, and the effects of climate change.
Africa is home to the majority of countries with the lowest Human Development Index scores globally. The Spanish cooperation plan recognizes the importance of addressing the development challenges in this region. The plan focuses on several key areas, including agriculture, renewable energy, and gender equality. The Spanish Agency for International Development Cooperation (AECID) will work with regional organizations such as the African Union and the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) to implement these initiatives.
In Sub-Saharan Africa, AECID will prioritize countries such as Cape Verde, Senegal, Mali, Niger, Ethiopia, Guinea Ecuatorial, and Mozambique. The agency will focus on sectors such as agriculture, rural development, food security, health, gender equality, governance, and access to renewable energy. The plan also emphasizes the importance of regional integration and cooperation, with AECID working closely with ECOWAS and the African Union to support policy implementation and capacity building.
The plan also prioritizes North Africa and the Middle East, with a focus on countries such as Morocco, Mauritania, Tunisia, Egypt, Jordan, Palestine, and Lebanon. These countries face common challenges such as climate change, desertification, and economic development. AECID will work with these countries to support sustainable development and create opportunities for employment and economic growth.
AECID's program Masar al'an/ Masar ahora aims to support the social, ecological, and economic transition in the Arab world. The program focuses on creating opportunities for decent employment, particularly for youth and women, through training, knowledge exchange, and capacity building. The agency's humanitarian strategy also plays a critical role in responding to crises in the region, including the Syrian crisis and the Palestinian situation.
The new cooperation plan is aligned with Spain's new Law on Cooperation for Sustainable Development and Global Solidarity. The law emphasizes the importance of Africa, particularly Sub-Saharan Africa, as a priority region for Spanish cooperation. The plan also reflects Spain's commitment to the United Nations' Sustainable Development Goals and its role in promoting global solidarity.
The implementation of the plan will involve close collaboration with various stakeholders, including civil society organizations, local governments, and international organizations. AECID will also work to mobilize resources and funding to support the implementation of the plan. The agency's efforts will focus on achieving tangible results and impact in the regions and countries prioritized by the plan.
Key points
- Spain prioritizes seven African countries, including Equatorial Guinea, in its new cooperation plan.
- The plan focuses on sustainable development and solidarity, with an emphasis on agriculture, renewable energy, and gender equality.
- AECID will work with regional organizations such as the African Union and ECOWAS to implement the plan.
