The UN Secretary-General declared Côte d’Ivoire eligible to receive support from the Peacebuilding Fund on 19 June 2008. Since that time, the PBF provided a total allocation of $11.5 million (out of which $3 million are to be transferred shortly for an IRF supporting the reestablishment of security, State authority and social cohesion) to support the political dialogue – implementation of the Ouagadougou Political Agreement – and the reintegration of former combatants and militias as well as youth at risk – the “mille micro-projects.”
Previous engagement (2008 – 2010)
The financial support to the Burkinabé facilitation led to successful talks between the Government and the armed opposition, the Forces Nouvelles, paving the way to the presidential elections held in November 2010. Due to the evolving pre-electoral context it was considered helpful and thus received one-time emergency additional funding. A total of $3.5 million was allocated to the support of the office of the Facilitator’s Special Representative.
Officially launched on 14 August 2008 in Bouaké, the “mille micro-projets” aimed at demobilizing, disarming and facilitating the (re)integration of ex-combatants, militiamen and youth at risk into the civilian society. This initiative aimed to provide quick peace dividends to disgruntled groups that could pose a threat prior to the official launch of the DDR process. The first phase of the “mille micro-projets” initiative was completed in early 2010, with 539 projects providing reinsertion opportunities for 3,720 beneficiaries, including 877 women. A second phase of the programme started in September 2010 but was suspended due to the post-electoral crisis. The programme targeted over 1,200 former Forces Nouvelles combatants, militia members, communities and vulnerable groups affected by the conflict, and youths at risk. A total of $5 million was allocated for the “mille-micro projects.”
Also in 2010, prior to the elections and building on the UNOCI Technical Assessment Mission of April, a process to draft a Peacebuilding Priority Plan was initiated for additional funding through the Peacebuilding and Recovery Facility. The addressed the following areas: a) documentation of citizenship; b) land conflict – in particular contributing to community mechanisms to address current land conflict in some regions, while seeking to strengthen UN support for partnerships around land reform; c) rule of law and security institutions; d) youth engagement / employment. Development of the Plan was put on hold, however, during the post-electoral crisis.
Post-electoral crisis phase
The United Nations in Côte d’Ivoire, in collaboration with the Government of Côte d’Ivoire, submitted a request for financial assistance under PBF’s Immediate Response Facility (IRF) in July 2011. The PBF has recently approved to contribute $3 million to an IRF supporting the reestablishment of security, State authority and social cohesion in the western part of the country.
The review of the Priority Plan was launched in 2011 in alignment with the ISF review process pursuant to the recommendations of the Assessment Mission (AM) that visited Côte d’Ivoire in May 2011, and which served as the basis of the observations and recommendations outlined in the Secretary General’s twenty-eighth report on the UN. The Priority Plan is also aligned with the Government’s six-month workplan – Programme de Travail – adopted on 12 July 2011, as well as the PRSP currently being revised.
The Priority Plan is a UNCT/UNOCI joint proposal for peace consolidation in Côte d’Ivoire and is based on comprehensive consultations with the Government. It was adopted by the Joint Steering Committee on 14 July during its inaugural meeting that was co-chaired by the Minister of Planning and Development DSRSG/RC/HC Nkogwey. Several working sessions were held within the established working groups co-chaired by UNOCI and UNCT as well as extensive consultations with the relevant Ministries. On 6 September, the JSC submitted a Plan for $28 million.
In this regard, PBSO has conditionally approved to contribute $ 7.5 million of catalytic support for the Peacebuilding Priority Plan– out of which $6.5 million is new.
Quarterly reports for each project are available on the MPTF-O Gateway site
