EU gives Burkina Faso EUR 48m
(OUAGADOUGOU) - The European Union has given Burkina Faso general budget support worth 31.5 billion CFA francs (48 million euros, 61 million dollars) to fight poverty, the EU delegation here said Tuesday.
The finance, in the form of a donation, was made available on August 25, the delegation said in a statement sent to AFP. A further 3.5 billion CFA francs (5.3 million euros) is planned by the end of the year.
The aid is intended to support the efforts of the west African country to reduce poverty and attain the Millennium Development Goals (MDG) of the United Nations, particularly in the health sector and basic education.
Impoverished and heavily indebted Burkina Faso in 2009 signed an MDG contract with the EU totalling 320 million euros to cover "budget aid for growth and poverty reduction", spanning the six years between 2009 and 2014.
During this period, Burkina Faso can benefit from annual assistance worth 35 billion CFA francs in the shape of general budget support, according to the contract.
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