Sudan, France sign agreement to combat poverty
June 17, 2006 (KHARTOUM) — A cooperation protocol of the Social Development Fund, which amounted two million euros, was signed Saturday at Ministry of International Cooperation between the government of Sudan and France for the eradication of poverty.
The Minister of International Cooperation, Al-Tagani Salah Fadail signed on the behalf of Sudan government, while the French Ambassador to Sudan signed for the French government.
The Social Development Fund aims to fund small-scale projects at the cost of not less than 10.000 euros for the social sector to control poverty, according to the implementation of the Comprehensive Peace Agreement, in the southern states and the States of western states of Kordofan and Darfur, besides Kassala state.
The projects implementation is to be conducted through the civilian organizations and local societies.
An advisory committee for implementation of these projects was established under chairmanship of the French party and the membership of the Ministries of International Cooperation and Foreign Affairs, Finance and National Economy and Social Welfare and Women and Children Affairs, besides the European Union Mission, the Attaché for Development at the Swiss Embassy, organizations operating in the field of poverty combating and the civil society organizations.
Fadail appreciated the progress in the Sudanese – French relations and called for more cooperation and support, hoping that these projects will contribute to supporting the peace agreement.
On her part, the French envoy affirmed her country’s keenness to consolidate its cooperation with Sudan, particularly in the fields of the poverty eradication, improvement of refugees’ situation at the war-affected areas by establishing small-scale projects and providing materials to combat poverty, besides organizing training workshops in the field of carpentering in Wau, Juba and Malakal in south Sudan.
(ST)