Concentration sectors
- to improve access to education in the basic education cycle (primary and middle education) and the quality of teaching;
- to improve living conditions for urban populations that are the most underprivileged, by opening up quarters and access to basic social services in districts with dilapidated housing;
- to support the fight against AIDS (by improving testing and access to ARV treatment).
The Education For All in Djibouti (EFAD) project was approved in late 2006 for a sizeable total amount of 8 million euros. This is in continuity of the Support Project to the Djibouti Education Master Plan (PASDED) initially implemented by the SCAC, with an additional €1.5M of AFD financing. Completion is scheduled for late 2007. The EFAD project is currently active and will help the Ministry of Education implement its Education Action Plan (EAP 2006-2008). This Plan was validated by the Group of Education Partners (GEP) which thus made Djibouti eligible for the Fast-Track Initiative (FTI). Its specific aims are:
- to improve education quality by supporting initial and continuous training for teachers and inspectors, drafting teaching aids and school textbooks and controlling assessments,
- to increase intake capacity in basic education,
- to contribute to strengthening the administration and management of the education system,
- to contribute to diversifying basic education supply by boosting vocational training for young people,
- to improve the coordination of cooperation actions with other donors in order to reach the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) in this sector.
The PK12 urban development project which is nearing completion in this outlying deprived district benefited from a €3.5M grant. It is considered a model project for several reasons and particularly due to:
- the participative process used during project design,
- its cross-cutting features which gather several ministries and administrations via its steering committee,
- community mobilization via the operating of the Community Development Fund (CDF) management committee set up within the framework of the project,
- sound coordination with other structures or donors operating in the district: UNICEF, WHO etc.
The decision was therefore taken to reproduce the main characteristics of the project for a new project in another precarious housing district. This project may be very similar to the project content of PK12. It was identified in February 2005 and should concern the West area of Balbala district. A feasibility study was carried out during the second half of 2006 and was completed in late 2007. This led to the appraisal of the new project in October 2007. The grant financing decision is scheduled for March 2008 for an amount totalling €5.5M and start-up for works is planned during the second half of 2008.
A 3-year project to combat AIDS was launched in December 2005. The project is scheduled to be pursued, with project content still to be defined. It aims to reduce HIV/AIDS transmission and improve the life span and quality of life of persons living with HIV/AIDS in Djibouti and areas bordering Ethiopia and Somaliland. It includes two major components:
- transfusion security, testing and the biological supervision of patients;
- healthcare for hospitalized AIDS patients, specifically ARV treatment;
- healthcare for AIDS-tuberculosis coinfection.