Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs in charge of International Cooperation, Edmondo Cirielli, yesterday chaired the third meeting of the Joint Committee for Development Cooperation 2025 at the Farnesina. During the meeting, a package of initiatives and programs was approved, with a total value of approximately 120 million euros. This allocation is consistent with the 2025 Programming approved during the last Committee meeting, chaired by Minister Antonio Tajani on April 2.
Of particular significance are the initiatives in support of Kyiv, especially in light of the upcoming International Conference on Ukraine’s Recovery, scheduled to take place in Rome on July 10 and 11. In this context, the Joint Committee approved a comprehensive program of interventions aimed at the restoration and preservation of the cultural heritage of the city of Odesa.
The Committee also approved the first operation to be carried out through Sviluppo+, a financial instrument funded by the Revolving Fund for Development Cooperation and managed by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation (MAECI) in coordination with the Ministry of Economy and Finance (MEF), with operational support from AICS and CDP. The instrument has 70 million euros available for medium- and long-term financing to Italian, European, or developing country-based companies with either a main or secondary office in Italy.
Among the initiatives launched for Africa are: a project supporting the fisheries value chain in Somalia, an initiative promoting organic farming in Tunisia, and a training program in Ghana.
The Committee also approved the multi-year commitments undertaken by the Italian government within the G7 and multilateral frameworks, including voluntary contributions to UNICEF and UNFPA in support of programs aimed at eliminating female genital mutilation and ending early and forced marriages. Finally, voluntary contributions were approved for international organizations headquartered in Italy, including FAO, CIHEAM Bari, the World Food Programme, UNICRI, TWAS, and the United Nations Staff College in Turin.