ABIDJAN, March 26 (Xinhua) -- Cote d'Ivoire and the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) on Wednesday launched their 2026-2030 Cooperation Programme worth 56 billion CFA francs (around 99.4 million U.S. dollars), aimed at supporting the country's goal to become an upper-middle-income economy by 2030.
Speaking at the launch ceremony, UNDP Resident Representative in Cote d'Ivoire Blerta Cela described the programme as a new phase in the long-standing partnership between the two sides, which has spanned more than 65 years.
The programme is aligned with Cote d'Ivoire's national development priorities, focusing on inclusive governance, institutional modernization, youth and women's employment, and entrepreneurship, as well as the development of the digital, green and blue economies.
Within this framework, the UNDP has set quantitative targets, including the creation of more than 100,000 green and blue jobs, expanded access to clean energy, protection of over 10 million people from climate-related risks, and mobilization of more than 100 million U.S. dollars in climate finance.
Ivorian Minister of Planning and Development Souleymane Diarrassouba said the country's economy has remained resilient, recording an average growth rate of 6.5 percent between 2021 and 2025, with improvements in human development indicators. However, challenges remain in ensuring equitable access to basic services, economic opportunities and social protection.
Diarrassouba urged national and international stakeholders to keep their actions closely aligned with the government's sectoral priorities to ensure the effectiveness and impact of the programme. ■