The European Commission has announced the mobilization of €84.26 million in support of the response to the COVID-19 pandemic in four African countries: Benin, Central African Republic, Liberia, and Sierra Leone.

Commissioner for International Partnerships, Jutta Urpilainen, declared that: “Our comprehensive response to the coronavirus is to offer urgent support to our partner countries in their efforts to respond to the health and socio-economic impact of the crisis. Beyond that, it involves planning the recovery in the long term so that together we can build a greener, fairer and more sustainable world for future generations. I am convinced that Europe’s engagement towards our African partners will make it possible to achieve these two key objectives.”

The emergency budget support worth €8.7 million has also been mobilized in support of Liberia’s response to the COVID-19 pandemic. This follows a previous emergency transfer of €6.25 million disbursed in May 2020 as well as actions involving training, awareness raising and the provision of personal protective equipment worth almost €2 million.

The release noted that, in total, the EU’s response to Liberia’s socioeconomic recovery efforts is worth upwards of €14.95 million in the form of budget support. This emergency funding, which will be transferred to the State Treasury account, will give Liberia greater fiscal leeway to address the coronavirus pandemic in line with the priorities identified in the health, education, trade and industry, agriculture and infrastructure sectors.

The new EU funds will benefit the fight against coronavirus in the following countries: Benin (€46.56 million), Central African Republic (€14 million), Liberia (€8.7 million), and Sierra Leone (€15 million). These countries, which are all long-standing partners of the European Union, will be able to provide their populations with increased health and social protection support in 2021 at the same time as support to their business sector during this difficult period.