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Monrovia, Liberia

The agreements, signed yesterday, will see the EU support projects in sectors such as electricity and institutional capacity building in aid management. The EU also confirmed an additional $34m in grant funding as part of its ongoing budget support programme with Liberia.

“The EU recognises that Liberia’s public finances are under severe strain,” said Tiina Intelmann, the EU’s ambassador to Liberia.

“While this additional support will not prevent the need for budget cuts, we hope it will contribute to achieving the government’s agreed objectives under the programme: improved economic governance; macro-economic stability; and provision and accountability of health, justice and security services.”

The projects the funds are earmarked for include an ongoing budget support programme that hopes to improve the management of public funds and budget execution.

It will work to strengthen public institutions and improve efficiency and accountability, especially in the health sector.

Another project, worth a total of €55m over five years, will work to increase access to renewable energy services and affordable power in Liberia’s capital Monrovia, improving the environmental and socio-economic conditions of those living in the city through access to sustainable and affordable energy.

Meanwhile, the EU announced also a disbursement of KES7.2bn ($91m) for Kenya, to help the east African country deal with drought, support its energy and transport sectors and provide technical assistance.

Three grant agreements were signed by the EU ambassador to Kenya Stefano Dejak and Henry Rotich, Kenya’s cabinet secretary for the National Treasury, today. They form part of the EU’s support to Kenya through the 2014-20 spending period, which totals KES50bn ($628m).