The EU is supporting IGAD’s effort to mitigate the impact of COVID-19 pandemic in the IGAD region. The EU launched this action last year, as an immediate gesture of solidarity to respond to the call for international support made by IGAD Heads of States, Health and Finance Ministers to help to mitigate the impact of the pandemic in the Horn of Africa.
It is part of the joint efforts of Team Europe (EU and EU member states) to take a comprehensive and decisive action to support partner countries to face the pandemic and its consequences. The programme addresses a very real and critical need in the IGAD sub-region, and promotes regional cooperation and a collaborative response to shared concerns caused by the pandemic, especially to the most vulnerable populations in cross-border areas. This project aims not to leave one behind and focuses on vulnerable groups, including migrants, refugees, internally displaced persons and cross-border communities through a variety of short and long-term interventions. It also aims at increasing access to health, specifically in cross border areas and establishing safe trading areas at border crossings to support the continuation of critical supply chains.
To this aim, the European Union has allocated 60Million Euro in the context of the European Union – Regional Indicative Programme 2014-2020 for Eastern Africa, Southern Africa and the Indian Ocean.