‘Investing in People (2007 2013)’ is the main thematic instrument of the European Commission for support of programmes in the area of human and social development, on top of country programmes that form the corner stone for the implementation of the EC activities in this area.
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Driven by the ambition to help the EC’s partner countries to achieve the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs), the ‘Investing in people’ programme supports activities under four main pillars:
- good health for all
- education, knowledge and skills
- gender equality
- other aspects of human and social development: employment and social cohesion, children, youth and culture
Health
Under the health pillar, the thematic programme focuses on the human resources crisis in health-care systems, poverty-related diseases (HIV/AIDS, malaria and tuberculosis), access to public goods, neglected or emerging diseases and promoting sexual and reproductive health and rights.
Education, knowledge, skills
In the area of education, knowledge and skills, the programme focuses on promotion of universal access to quality primary education and has access to vocational and skills training.
Gender equality
The gender equality pillar has a focus on empowerment of women and improvement of literacy among adult women, and on activities in the other three areas, where gender should be part of the relevant thematic action.
Other aspects of human and social development
The fourth pillar of the thematic programme other aspects of human and social development covers employment, decent work and social cohesion in the EC’s partner countries and creates a platform to support initiatives on youth, children’s rights and prevention of all forms of child labour, trafficking, violence and other forms of exploitation. This pillar also includes support for activities to protect and promote cultural diversity.
Source: European Commission
