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Map courtesy of the FCO | |
Cote d’Ivoire
Côte d'Ivoire was ranked 163 out of 177 countries on the UN Human Development Index in 2005. In 2002 adult literacy was 49% and life expectancy was 41.2 years.
Political and Economic Situation
Since an attempted coup against the Government of President Laurent Gbagbo on 19 September 2002, Cote d’Ivoire has been divided, with rebel groups controlling the north and part of the west of the country. The Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) negotiated a ceasefire in October 2002, signed in May 2003, and deployed a peace-monitoring force, later replaced by a UN mission (UNOCI). Elections (planned for October 2006) have been delayed. However, there has been recent progress at resolving the crisis, with both sides signing a peace accord on 4 March.
Côte d'Ivoire is the most developed country in francophone West Africa, but there is a strong north/south imbalance. Economic activity is concentrated in the south and south-west and is based on the export of cash crops, such as cocoa and coffee, which employ large numbers. Economic development has been undermined by the civil war and the country is now suffering negative growth. Some 8,000 French nationals left in November 2004, leading to the closure of businesses and unemployment, and many foreign firms have moved their production facilities elsewhere. The country remains important to the regional economy because migrant labour from the Sahelian states of Burkina Faso, Mali and Niger send significant remittances home. At least 25% of the population are migrants.
Performance against the MDGs
Achievement of most MDGs is seriously off track and poverty is a growing problem. The World Bank estimated that, in 2003, households living in poverty had risen to 37% from 32% in 1993, and social services have deteriorated. The Government's Poverty Reduction Strategy and its application for HIPC status have both been put on hold since the outbreak of the civil war in 2002. HIV/AIDS is endemic, especially in war affected areas, and is estimated to affect 7% of the population, one of the highest rates in West Africa.
DFID Development Programme
DFID does not have a bilateral development programme with Côte d'Ivoire.
Humanitarian Assistance
From the start of the crisis in September 2002 up to March 2006, DFID has provided over £4.2 million in humanitarian assistance, focused on helping to meet basic needs in public health and protection, and on contingency planning for meeting more extensive needs should the security situation deteriorate.
Our priorities are:
- Continued support to public services (health, water) in the north and west of the country with a focus on lifesaving initiatives such as immunisation and primary health;
- Increasing the number of humanitarian partners (especially those with an emergency response capability) and to increase the strategic geographical area covered;
- Support to primary health and secondary health structures, such as hospitals, where war-wounded may be treated;
- Protection of the civilian population;
- Better coordination and contingency planning.
In 2006/07 we provided the following assistance:
- £400,000 to the MSF-H (Medecins Sans Frontieres - Holland) project supporting basic health care in the Danane and Zouan Hounien Departments in the west of the country;
- £200,000 to MSF-B (Medecins Sans Frontieres – Belgium) for the provision of health care and basic nutrition in the west of the country;
- £300,000 to help support the World Food Programme (WFP) Air Operations service covering Cote d’Ivoire and other countries in the region;
- £400,000 to ICRC (International Committee for the Red Cross) for protection and tracing activities, water and sanitation, and basic health.
We are currently reviewing our programme and allocation for 2007/08.
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Last updated: 19 April 2007
