The European Union (EU) has adopted a seven-year funding scheme for its interventions in Nigeria, following the conclusion of consultations with local authorities and other key stakeholders. The Multiannual Indicative Programme (MIP) for Nigeria 2021-27 focuses on three broad priority areas, namely: (i) Green and Digital Economy (ii) Governance, Peace and Migration (iii) Human Development.

Under the Programme, the EU will provide €508 million to fund projects that reinforce its bilateral cooperation with Nigeria for the period 2021-24. Financial allocation for the period 2025-2027 will be determined after a review in 2024. 

With this strategic document, the EU commits to provide support for the priorities defined in consultation with the Nigeria authorities and its Member States. Other key stakeholders, in particular Civil Society Organisations, including women and youth groups, representatives of the private sector, the UN and other partners, were consulted. 

The EU will work with its Member States, the European Investment Bank (EIB) and other EU Development Finance Institutions (DFIs) in the implementation of the agreed priorities, under the Team Europe approach. Two Team Europe Initiatives (TEI) have been prepared for Nigeria, one on Green Economy and the other one on Peace and Governance.

The agreed priorities are in line with UN’s 2030 Agenda and the Paris Agreement.

The adoption of the MIP is an important step in reinforcing and concretising the EU’s cooperation with Nigeria. It will enable the EU and Nigeria to continue working together on programmes and projects that are built on shared objectives, principles and values.

Already three new projects have been signed under this new programming:

-             EU Support to Democratic Governance (€39 million)

-             EU Support for Innovation and Jobs for Youth in Nigeria (€55 million)

-             EU-Nigeria Cooperation Facility (€21.4 million)

Through the defined priorities and related actions, which will be further developed, the EU reaffirms its place as a key partner of Nigeria.

The EU is also the largest contributor to the 500 million COVID-19 vaccine doses donated to Africa under the COVAX facility.  

Background

About Multiannual Indicative Programmes (MIPs)

The Multiannual Indicative Programmes help secure financing for projects of common interest on a multi-annual basis in the context of Global Europe.

The Global Europe programming, officially launched in November 2020, addresses the overarching Commission priorities, promotes the post-Covid-19 green, digital, inclusive and sustainable recovery and fully respects the commitments contained in the new instrument, particularly on climate action, social inclusion and human development, migration and forced displacement, and gender equality.

The country and regional Multiannual Indicative Programmes are adopted by the Commission after consultation with the partner country/regional organisations, EU Member States and all relevant stakeholders. These documents establish the main priority areas for cooperation, specific objectives, expected results as well as the indicative allocations for the EU cooperation with partner countries and regions covered by Global Europe, i.e. the Neighbourhood, Sub-Saharan Africa, Asia and the Pacific, and the Americas and the Caribbean. These Multiannual Indicative Programmes therefore constitute the long-term plans for the implementation of Global Europe in these countries and regions.

Global Europe and its Multiannual Indicative Programmes are implemented through a Team Europe approach. Team Europe brings together the EU, Member States with their respective financial and development institutions, including the European Investment Bank, and the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development, and seek to mobilise the private sector in order to leverage investments for a greater impact. By pooling experience, expertise and resources from partners, it provides an opportunity to combine the most appropriate mix of implementing modalities to achieve objectives and obtain maximum results in programming, including through Team Europe Initiatives that underpin the implementation of Global Gateway strategy.

About Global Europe

Worth €79.5 billion, Global Europe is the new main financing instrument for the EU’s external action for 2021-27. Global Europe covers partnerships with all third countries, except for the pre-accession countries and the overseas countries and territories.

The instrument will be used for international partnerships on sustainable development, climate change, democracy, governance, human rights, peace and security in EU’s neighbouring countries and beyond.

The total allocation for Global Europe for 2021-2027 is divided as follows:

• €60.38 billion for geographic programmes (at least €19.32 billion for the Neighbourhood, at least €29.18 billion for Sub-Saharan Africa, €8.48 billion for Asia and the Pacific, and €3.39 billion for the Americas and the Caribbean);
• €6.36 billion for thematic programmes (Human Rights and Democracy; Civil Society Organisations; Peace, Stability and Conflict Prevention; and Global Challenges);
• €3.18 billion for rapid response actions.

A “cushion” of unallocated funds of €9.53 billion will top-up any of the above-mentioned programmes and rapid response mechanism, to address unforeseen circumstances, new needs or emerging challenges and promote new priorities.

Global Europe has replaced several external financing instruments and for the first time it unifies grants, blending and guarantees to promote both public and private investment worldwide in support to sustainable development through the European Fund for Sustainable Development Plus (EFSD+). Investments will be backed by an up to €53.45 billion External Action Guarantee, which will also cover the pre-accession countries.

About Global Gateway

Global Gateway stands for sustainable and trusted connections that work for people and the planet, while tackling most pressing global challenges. The strategy aims to boost smart, clean and secure links in digital, energy, and transport and strengthen health, education and research systems through partnerships across the world. It is about increasing investments promoting democratic values and high standards, good governance and transparency, equal partnerships, green and clean, secure infrastructures and that catalyse private sector investment. These priorities and principles are integral part of the EU’s programming of international cooperation.

More info

Global Europe - Programming | International Partnerships (europa.eu)

Global Europe: Neighbourhood, Development and International Cooperation Instrument-Global Europe | International Partnerships (europa.eu)

Global Gateway | European Commission (europa.eu)

Under the current funding cycle, the EU’s development assistance to Nigeria targets three key sectors:

• In the social sector, improving access to quality primary health care, the fight against malnutrition, and measures to strengthen resilience and promote social protection. Included here are support for routine and polio immunization campaigns, activities to improve access to clean water and sanitation, and reinforce livelihoods and revenue generation in rural populations through food and nutrition security.
• In the economic sector, increasing access to sustainable electricity, supporting efforts to improve conditions for economic growth with a focus on improving competitiveness and diversification, development of renewable energy and energy efficiency measures, and strengthening public finance systems at state and federal levels to create a stable environment for trade and investment activities.
• In the governance sector, continued support to action to strengthen democracy in Nigeria, the fight against corruption, the fight against trafficking of human beings, drugs and small arms, the reform of the justice system, measures to manage migration more efficiently and effectively, and capacity building for civil society organisations. 

Fraud involving EU funds has a particularly negative impact on the reputation of the EU institutions and the implementation of the EU policies.  On 24 June 2011, the Commission adopted its Anti-fraud Strategy1 (CAFS), its overall objective being to improve prevention, detection and  the conditions for  investigations of fraud, to achieve adequate reparation and deterrence, especially by introducing anti-fraud strategies  at Commission Service level. Building on actions taken in 2011 and in order to prepare for a new generation of spending programmes in  the Multiannual Financial Framework (MFF) 2021-2027, the Commission updated its CAFS on 29 April 2019.

Following the requirements and recommendations in the CAFS, the Anti-fraud Strategy of DG INTPA (AFS) applies to fraud-related risks and  measures in relation to funding activities through the EU Budget and the European Development Funds, which are the responsibility of DG INTPA.

The definitions as per the INTPA Anti Fraud Strategy are as follows

• Definitions:
  • “Irregularity” is any infringement of a provision of Community law resulting from an act or omission by an economic operator, which has, or would have, the effect of prejudicing the general budget of the Communities or budgets managed by them either by reducing or losing revenue accruing from own resources collected directly on behalf of the Communities, or by an unjustified item of expenditure.
  • “Passive corruption” consists of the deliberate action of an official who, directly or through an intermediary, requests or receives advantages of any kind whatsoever, for himself or for a third party, or accepts a promise of such an advantage, to act or refrain from acting in accordance with his duty or in the exercise of his functions in breach of his official duties in a way which damages or is likely to damage the European Communities’ financial interests.
  • “Active corruption” consists of the deliberate action of whosoever promises or gives, directly or through an intermediary, an advantage of any kind whatsoever to an official, for himself or for a third party for him to act or refrain from acting in accordance with his duty or in the exercise of his functions in breach of his official duties in a way which damages or is likely to damage the European Communities’ financial interests.
  • “Fraud” in respect of expenditure, consists of any intentional act or omission relating to:
    • the use or presentation of false, incorrect or incomplete statements or documents, which has as its effect the misappropriation or wrongful retention of funds from the general budget of the European Communities or budgets managed by, or on behalf of, the European Communities,
    • non-disclosure of information in violation of a specific obligation, with the same effect,
    • the misapplication of such funds for purposes other than those for which they were originally granted.
  • "Conflict of interest" occurs when the impartial and objective exercise of the functions of the Contracting Authority, or observance of the principles of competition, non-discrimination against or equality of treatment of candidates, tenderers, applicants and contractors, is compromised for reasons involving family, emotional life, political or national affinity, economic interest or any other shared interest with a beneficiary of EU-funded programmes.

-             a link to the OLAF homepage: https://ec.europa.eu/anti-fraud/home_en   

-             a link to the reporting form to notify OLAF of potential fraud or corruption: https://ec.europa.eu/anti-fraud/home_en