EUROPEAN COMMISSION Brussels, 16.12.2021 SWD(2021) 388 final COMMISSION STAFF WORKING DOCUMENT Accompanying the document REPORT FROM THE COMMISSION TO THE EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT AND THE COUNCIL 2021 Annual Report





on the implementation of the European Union's External Action Instruments





in 2020 {COM(2021) 816 final}



Table of Contents 0. Introduction: EU response to world developments in 2020 0.1. International Cooperation 0.2. European Neighbourhood Policy 0.3. Humanitarian aid and civil protection 0.4. EU enlargement 0.5. Security and defence 0.6. Crisis response and preparedness 0.7. Human rights and democracy 1. Team Europe Approach: COVID-19 Response and Recovery 2. Delivering On Global Commitments: Fostering Sustainable Development 2.1. Implementing the 2030 Agenda comprehensively and coherently 2.2. Means of implementation of the new agenda 2.3. New instruments and aid modalities 2.4. Working better together with Member States 2.5. Policy Coherence for Development 2.6. Development effectiveness 3. International Partnerships – Thematic Overview Working together towards the SDGs and results achieved with EU support

3.1. Human Development SDG #1 No Poverty SDG #3 Good Health and Well-being SDG #4 Quality Education SDG #5 Gender Equality SDG #6 Clean Water and Sanitation SDG #10 Reduced Inequality Selected results 2018-2020 3.2. Green Deal SDG #2 Zero Hunger SDG #7 Affordable and Clean Energy SDG #11 Sustainable Cities and Communities SDG #12 Responsible Consumption and Production SDG #13 Climate Action SDG #14 Life below Water SDG #15 Life on Land Selected results 2018-2020 3.3. Sustainable Growth and Jobs SDG #8 Decent Work and Economic Growth SDG #17 Partnerships to achieve the Goal

Selected results 2018-2020 3.4. Science, Technology, Innovation and Digitalisation SDG #9 Industry, Innovation and Infrastructure Selected results 2018-2020 3.5. Migration and assistance to refugees and displaced persons Selected results 2018-2020 3.6. Governance, Peace and Security SDG #16 Peace, justice and strong institutions Selected results 2018-2020 4. Geographic Overview 4.1. Sub-Saharan Africa 4.1.1. Introduction (Policy developments) 4.1.2. Working towards the SDGs 4.1.3. Implementation 4.1.4. Humanitarian aid and civil protection – responding to the emergency needs of people affected by conflicts and disasters 4.1.5. Crisis response and preparedness 4.2. Latin America and the Caribbean 4.2.1. Latin America 4.2.2. The Caribbean 4.3. Asia, Central Asia, Middle East/Gulf and Pacific

4.3.1. Asia 4.3.2. Central Asia 4.3.3. Middle East/Gulf region 4.3.4. The Pacific 4.4. Enlargement 4.4.1. Introduction (Policy developments) 4.4.2. Working towards the SDGs 4.4.3. Implementation 4.4.4. Humanitarian aid and civil protection – responding to the emergency needs of people affected by conflicts and disasters 4.4.5. Crisis response and preparedness 4.4.6. The Instrument for Pre-Accession Assistance (IPA) priorities 4.4.7. IPA Performance Framework. Aim and coverage of the IPA PF. Overview of key results reported against the IPA PF 4.5. European Neighbourhood 4.5.1. European Neighbourhood East 4.5.2. European Neighbourhood South 4.6. Overseas Countries and Territories (OCTs) 4.6.1. Introduction (Policy developments) 4.6.2. Working towards the SDGs 4.6.3. Implementation 4.6.4. Humanitarian aid and civil protection – responding to the emergency needs of people affected by conflicts and disasters

5. Managing Aid 5.1. Monitoring Systems 5.1.1. New reporting system on SDGs 5.1.2. Evaluation: review of the work programme 5.1.3. Lessons learned 5.2. Aid delivery modalities 5.2.1. Budget Support 5.2.2. Blending 5.2.3. EU budget Guarantees 5.2.4. Technical Assistance: TAIEX and Twinning 5.3. Improving ways of working 5.3.1. Simplification of procedures 5.4. Communication & transparency 5.4.1. Communication 5.4.2. Transparency 5.4.3. Learning 0.Introduction: EU response to world developments in 2020 The coronavirus pandemic was the all-consuming topic dominating world affairs – and subsequently the EU’s external action – in 2020. In response to the crisis, the EU and its Member States developed the ‘Team Europe approach’ and mobilised more than EUR 40 billion in support of fighting COVID-19 in our partner countries. The Team Europe approach was a major innovation in terms of how the EU, Member States, their implementing agencies and European Development Finance Institutions work together, in particular with regard to projecting a united image vis-à-vis Third Countries. Following the logic that ‘no one is safe until everyone is safe’, the EU has committed to make the COVID-19 vaccines a global public good. To this end, the EU and its Member States have contributed over EUR 3 billion to the COVAX mechanism, making it one of the top donors. The goal is to provide vaccine doses for low and middle-income countries in Africa, Asia, Latin America, the Caribbean and Pacific, as well as in Europe’s southern and eastern neighbourhood. Furthermore, in a unique repatriation effort, the EU assisted in bringing home more than 600 000 EU citizens who found themselves stranded abroad because of the pandemic. While mitigating the impact of COVID-19 in the most vulnerable countries was the immediate priority, the EU also laid the ground for supporting an economically, socially and environmentally sustainable global recovery aligned with the implementation of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). The EU provided debt relief to vulnerable low-income countries via the IMF Catastrophe Containment and Relief Trust (CCRT) with a contribution of EUR 183 million making it the largest contributor. New financial guarantees were signed under the European External Investment Plan to help boost investment in countries neighbouring the EU and in Africa. Moreover, the EU successfully advanced two major structural negotiations: the Neighbourhood, Development and International Cooperation Instrument for 2021-27 and the post-Cotonou framework for the EU’s relations with the African, Caribbean and Pacific countries.

Regarding enlargement, the EU took an historic step by deciding to open accession negotiations with North Macedonia and Albania. In addition, it launched an ambitious Economic and Investment Plan for the Western Balkans, accompanied by the Green Agenda for the Western Balkans, to spur the long-term post-pandemic recovery. The plan is designed to boost economic growth, promoting both digital and green transitions and support the reforms required to advance the Western Balkan countries on their EU path. 2020 also saw an increased momentum in relations with Africa, as reflected by the Joint Communication ‘Towards a Comprehensive Strategy with Africa’. Throughout 2020, the EU continued to give priority to the geopolitical developments of its bordering countries and regions by pulling together all its tools in support of conflict management and resolution. This included, among others, initiatives to support Ukraine's sovereignty and territorial unity, strengthen the healthcare system in Libya and support civil society in Syria. The EU’s efforts to promote peace and stability extends to the Sahel region (Niger, Mali, Burkina Faso, Chad and Mauritania) and is a good example of the EU mobilising diplomacy, civilian and military missions, humanitarian, stabilisation and development aid in an integrated approach. A joint communication on the post-2020 Eastern Partnership policy framework was adopted in March, focusing on strengthening resilience of the partners. After the Presidential elections in Belarus on 9 August and the ensuing protests, the EU took a position in support of the country’s democratic aspirations, including through sanctions against those responsible for electoral fraud and the subsequent violence, but also by stepping up support to civil society, youth and independent media. In the Eastern Mediterranean, the tensions with Turkey continued to rise throughout the year. The EU remains committed to defending its interests and those of its Member States as well as to upholding regional stability. It also remains interested in a cooperative and mutually beneficial relationship with Turkey. This includes the full commitment to the 2016 EU-Turkey Statement, which continued to be implemented, including after increased migratory pressure at the EU border with Turkey during February and March 2020. On EU-US relations, the outcome of the November presidential elections presented a fresh opportunity to move the transatlantic agenda towards closer cooperation. This partnership, presented in the Joint Communication ‘A new EU - US agenda for global change’, will allow Europe and the United States to work together on several strategic issues, including climate change, health, and the implementation of the 2030 Agenda on sustainable development. The EU furthermore sought to consolidate its partnership with China, working to establish a relationship based on the promotion of our values and greater reciprocity and a level playing field in economic, science, technology and innovation (STI), trade and investment relations. The promotion and protection of human rights is a cornerstone of EU external action, reaffirmed through its Action Plan on Human Rights and Democracy 2020-2024. The adoption of the EU Global Human Rights Sanctions Regime on 7 December and subsequent listings in March 2021 are tangible examples of the EU’s determination to defend human rights globally, and has equipped the EU with a framework that allows it to target those responsible for, involved in or associated with serious human rights violations and abuses worldwide. While the concept of multilateralism has been challenged in recent years, the EU has remained a staunch supporter of an international rules-based order, with the United Nations (UN) at its core. In 2020, when the UN celebrated its 75th anniversary, the EU strongly supported the conviction that multilateralism remains the best method to address ever increasing global challenges, including through the implementation of universally agreed frameworks for action, such as the SDGs and the Paris agreement. It was a key year for multilateralism as the worldwide impact of the pandemic demonstrated the need for intensified international cooperation between scientists, economists and policymakers at the UN, International Monetary Fund (IMF) and within the G7 and G20 and other international fora. In particular, the EU strongly engaged in promoting global health cooperation as the most effective response to the pandemic. This Annual Report covers the following financing instruments managed by Commission departments during 2020: the European Development Fund (EDF) and all instruments funded by Budget Heading IV (Europe in the World), namely: the Development Cooperation Instrument (DCI), the European Neighbourhood Instrument (ENI), the Instrument for Pre-Accession (IPA), the Instrument contributing to Stability and Peace (IcSP), the Common Foreign and Security Policy (CFSP), the European Instrument for Democracy and Human Rights (EIDHR), the Partnership Instrument (PI), Humanitarian Aid, the Instrument for Nuclear Safety Cooperation (INSC) and the Instrument for Greenland. 0.1. International Cooperation In relation to international partnerships, action in 2020 has focused on promoting EU priorities externally, notably green alliances. At the same time, 2020 has been a particularly challenging year due to the pandemic, which wreaked havoc worldwide. Yet, it was the year in which nations saw that the way forward to rebuild a post COVID-19 world was through solid collaboration and partnerships and by investing in a renewed type of multilateralism. The pandemic forced the EU to revisit its objectives and design a new era of international cooperation, in a manner that truly balances economic, social and environmental progress as envisioned by the 2030 Agenda and its SDGs. In 2020, the EU proved to be a reliable partner in tackling the COVID-19 crisis globally. The EU was at the forefront in aligning the COVID-19 response and recovery efforts with the SDGs to help address today’s challenges while also building more inclusive economies within sustainable and resilient societies, in line with the Joint Communication on the Global EU response to COVID-19. In doing so, the EU contributed through its actions to poverty eradication and to sustainable development while promoting European values and interests, namely peace, security, democracy, good governance, rule of law and respect of human rights. The EU embraced a multilateral approach in the COVID-19 response in Europe and outside. Working together in a ‘Team Europe approach’, the European Union, the European Investment Bank, the EU Member States and the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development mobilised over EUR 40 billion. The commitment was to support partner countries with their emergency response, to strengthen health, water and sanitation systems and to help mitigate the socio-economic impact. The EU, together with its partners, is working to deliver a global recovery that seeks to reduce inequalities and promote a just transition at the global level. At the High-Level Event on Financing for Development in the COVID-19 Era and Beyond in May 2020, President von der Leyen proposed a Global Recovery Initiative that links debt relief and investment to the SDGs with the aim of supporting a sustainable recovery that is green, digital, just, inclusive and resilient. Inter-institutional discussions intensified throughout 2020 to finalise the EU Multiannual Financial Framework for 2021-2027. The new Neighbourhood, Development and International Cooperation Instrument (NDICI) will be the main tool to fund external cooperation, covering the entire world except for pre-accession countries and EU overseas countries and territories. Work continued in parallel to prepare the next programming exercise. The guidelines for drafting multiannual indicative programmes were published in November, setting out how to implement the NDICI at country, regional, and thematic levels including through specifying the contribution to EU priorities and to the SDGs. The EU continued to be actively engaged in development-related UN processes and strongly promote the 2030 Agenda and the Paris Climate Agreement, such as the High-Level Political Forum on sustainable development and the Conferences of the Parties of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC). In the margins of the virtual UN General Assembly, the EU also participated in several related events, such as the SDGs Business Forum. The EU also organised a side-event on Team Europe in the margins of the Special Session of the General Assembly. The EU also continued to reinforce its partnerships with the International Financial Institutions, in particular with the World Bank Group and the IMF, to cooperate in the pursuit of these universal commitments and shared priorities. The EU’s relationship with Africa remained a key priority for Commission departments. In March, the EU launched its vision for strengthening the EU’s partnership with Africa in a Joint Communication ‘Towards a Comprehensive Strategy with Africa’, which proposes to deepen EU-Africa cooperation through partnerships in five key areas closely related to EU political priorities and to the implementation of the SDGs as a shared agenda: green transition; digital transformation; sustainable growth and jobs; peace and governance; and migration and mobility. Negotiations continued towards a new Partnership Agreement with the 79 members of the Organisation of African, Caribbean and Pacific States. 0.2. European Neighbourhood Policy In 2020, the EU continued to implement its European Neighbourhood Policy (ENP) to advance reforms and build resilience and prosperity in the EU’s neighbourhood. Throughout the year, despite delays in implementation caused by the pandemic, the ENP mobilised significant support for its four priorities, in line with the principles of differentiation, shared ownership and an incentive-based approach. The EU continued to drive forward programmes to assist Neighbourhood countries in tackling the causes of instability, including through a sustained focus on health and economic and social consequences of the COVID-19 pandemic, as well as good governance, the rule of law and human rights. Funds committed by the EU and its Member States in 2020 for COVID-19 support in the Neighbourhood region amounted to more than EUR 12.1 billion (see Table 1 in Chapter 1), out of which over EUR 5.7 billion came from the Commission. Significant efforts at bilateral and regional levels continued to increase the capacity of civil society across the region in terms of policy shaping to support human rights defenders and freedom, as well as the accountability of states to their citizens. In the Eastern Neighbourhood, the 20 Deliverables for 2020 reform agenda continued to deliver tangible results across the region. Following the structured consultation on the future of the Eastern Partnership carried out in 2019, the EU adopted a new Joint Communication ‘Eastern Partnership policy beyond 2020: Reinforcing Resilience - an Eastern Partnership that delivers for all’ in March 2020. The Joint Communication sets out five long-term policy objectives under an overarching framework of resilience. These objectives are: resilient, sustainable and integrated economies; accountable institutions, the rule of law and security; environmental and climate resilience; a resilient digital transformation; and resilient, fair and inclusive societies. Based on this Joint Communication, the EU has been developing, in close cooperation with all stakeholders, a successor reform agenda to the 20 Deliverables for 2020, with a new set of Eastern Partnership targets and specific measures for post-Covid recovery. The work on shaping the post-2020 reform priorities continued in 2021 in view of endorsement at the sixth Eastern Partnership Summit. In addition to the multilateral dimension of the Eastern Partnership, the EU supported cross-regional cooperation such as the Black Sea Synergy and Northern Dimension policies. In 2020, the situation in the Southern Neighbourhood remained challenging and was aggravated by the pandemic. Developments in the region varied between countries. Crises continued in Syria and Libya, although the conflict intensity decreased. Prospects of conflict settlements between Israel and Palestine* remained weak, despite a series of normalisation agreements between Israel and some Arab countries. The dramatic socio-economic situation in Lebanon was aggravated by the Beirut port blast in August 2020 and plunged more of the population into poverty. The situation in several countries remained politically stable, and new cooperation initiatives, in particular with Morocco (on a green partnership and security cooperation), were developed. In general, the economic situation remained high priority in most partner countries. Moreover, the human rights situation and space left to civil society and independent media continued to deteriorate in many countries. The issue of migration and mobility remained high on the political agenda between the EU and the Southern Neighbourhood. The 25th Anniversary of the Barcelona Declaration in November 2020 was an opportunity to reflect on the priorities of the EU partnership with the Southern Neighbourhood, especially in the context of a post-COVID recovery, leading to a Joint Communication on a renewed partnership with the Southern Mediterranean adopted on 9 February 2021. The Joint Communication proposes a new, ambitious and innovative Agenda for the Mediterranean, drawing on the full EU toolbox and the opportunities of the twin green and digital transitions to relaunch our cooperation and realise the untapped potential of our shared region. It sets the key directions for our partnership and a range of actions along five key policy areas. These are: Human development, good governance and the rule of law; Resilience, prosperity and the digital transformation; Peace and security; Migration and mobility; and Green transition, climate resilience, energy and environment. The new Agenda will guide the EU’s bilateral, regional and cross-regional cooperation under the Neighbourhood, Development and International Cooperation Instrument (NDICI).

0.3. Humanitarian aid and civil protection The EU together with its Member States is the world's leading donor for humanitarian assistance and is consistently at the forefront of the response to humanitarian crises and disasters, acting on the basis of the Humanitarian Aid Regulation and the Union Civil Protection Mechanism. Activities in 2020 were largely driven by COVID-19: a global health emergency that required an unprecedented response both within and outside the EU. In this particularly challenging context, the EU provided a clear example of solidarity in action at home and around the world. Humanitarian needs were at an all-time high, driven by a resurgence in state-based conflicts, combined with the impact of climate change, environmental degradation, global population growth and failed governance. The EU delivered a strong and coordinated response in Europe and beyond and was a key player in responding to the COVID-19 crisis globally. The Commission departments funded humanitarian organisations in a wide range of crises in more than 80 countries and regions including Syria, Turkey, Yemen, South Sudan, Venezuela, Afghanistan, the Sahel region and Ukraine. The larger part of EU humanitarian funding was dedicated to addressing needs arising from protracted crises. Conflict and COVID-19 were the main drivers of humanitarian needs, while natural disasters also triggered significant emergency aid. In response to unprecedented humanitarian needs, the EU's final humanitarian aid budget for 2020 amounted to EUR 2 138 million. In addition to being a key donor, the EU played an important role in developing thematic policies, supporting multilateral action, and coordinating approaches with the Member States. To enable Member States and humanitarian partners to transport humanitarian staff and supplies to fight the COVID-19 pandemic, and to maintain the flow of humanitarian assistance and personnel, Commission departments put in place the EU Humanitarian Air Bridge (HAB) offering air transport to and from various destinations worldwide. The EU HAB operations focused on the most critical humanitarian emergencies with access difficulties, mainly in Africa, but also in Asia, Latin America and the Middle East. A total of 67 flights supporting the distribution of more than 1 150 tonnes of supplies were delivered to over 20 countries. In total, the Union Civil Protection Mechanism was activated 102 times in 2020 for a variety of natural and human-induced disasters with 45 requests for assistance from within Europe, 55 requests from non-EU Participating States and 2 from international organisations. 0.4. EU enlargement In 2020, major developments took place on the EU enlargement agenda. In February 2020, the Commission adopted proposals to enhance the accession process , and in March, the members of the European Council endorsed the General Affairs Council’s decision to open accession negotiations with the Republic of Albania and with the Republic of North Macedonia. At the EU-Western Balkans Summit on 6 May 2020, the EU leaders reaffirmed the Union’s determination to intensify further its engagement with the region. 2020 was marked by the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic. The EU, while being seriously affected itself by this crisis, has provided extensive support to the efforts of the governments, in particular in the Western Balkans, to address those challenges. The EU reallocated EU financial assistance in view of the urgencies faced by the region due to the crisis, both in terms of health and socio-economic needs. The Commission has mobilised a package of over EUR 1.6 billion to the benefit of Western Balkans citizens and businesses, while Turkey chose not to request the redirection of EU grant funding and the Commission mobilised around EUR 100 million in contingencies and savings under existing financial commitments for Turkey. Support from the EU and its Member States for the Western Balkans and Turkey amounted to more than EUR 5.2 billion (see Table 1 in Chapter 1). The annual enlargement package was adopted on 6 October, in parallel with the Economic and Investment Plan for the Western Balkans accompanied by the Guidelines on the implementation of the Green Agenda for the Western Balkans. The Economic and Investment Plan aims to mobilise up to EUR 9 billion of IPA III funding for the period 2021-2027 to spur the long-term post-pandemic recovery, boost economic growth, encompassing the dual digital and green transition, and support reforms required for accession, including bringing the Western Balkans closer to the EU Single Market. It aims to unleash the untapped economic potential of the region and the significant scope for increased intraregional economic cooperation and trade. The investment capacity of the region will also be boosted by the mobilisation of a new Western Balkans Guarantee facility, with the ambition to potentially raise investments of up to EUR 20 billion. The Berlin Process summit in Sofia in November 2020 under the joint chairmanship of Bulgaria and North Macedonia was an opportunity to kick-start the implementation of the Plan, with the Commission bringing to the table a package of six priority investment projects in connectivity worth EUR 120 million. The EU’s political dialogue with the Western Balkans continued. Provisions under the Stabilisation and Association Agreements continued to be broadly implemented and the meetings of the joint bodies under the agreements took place at regular intervals. In 2020, EU–Turkey relations witnessed an all-time-low due to Turkey’s increasingly assertive foreign policy actions in the Eastern Mediterranean and the Aegean Sea, developments in Cyprus, its unilateral military action in Syria, regression on reform, its obligations under the Customs Union, and on migration cooperation. The EU continued to express serious concerns over the continued deterioration of democracy, the rule of law, fundamental rights and the systemic lack of judicial independence in Turkey. The Council conclusions of June 2018 and June 2019, concluding that Turkey’s accession negotiations have effectively come to a standstill and no further chapters can be considered for opening or closing and no further work towards modernising the EU–Turkey Customs Union is foreseen, remained in place. In response to Turkey's unauthorised drilling activities in the Eastern Mediterranean, in February 2020, the Council decided to place two persons under restrictive measures. The December 2020 European Council invited the Council to adopt additional listings under the sanctions regime in view of Turkey’s unauthorised drilling activities in the Eastern Mediterranean and offered a positive EU-Turkey agenda, provided Turkey shows readiness to promote a genuine partnership with the EU and its Member States and to resolve differences through dialogue and in accordance with international law. The Facility for Refugees in Turkey is a key component of the 2016 EU–Turkey Statement. It continued to coordinate existing EU assistance instruments to ensure that the needs of refugees and host communities in Turkey were addressed swiftly and effectively. By the end of 2020, the Facility’s operational funding allocation of EUR 6 billion had been fully contracted, and more than EUR 4 billion of this disbursed, supporting refugee needs in the areas of education, health, livelihoods, protection, municipal infrastructure and socio-economic support. 0.5. Security and defence The COVID-19 pandemic has exacerbated an already challenging security environment. The EU adopted a collaborative crisis management approach to ensure the best possible handling of the crisis in view of the severity of the coronavirus pandemic. In particular, civilian-military cooperation in support of civil protection and for humanitarian assistance purposes has been made more relevant by the COVID-19 pandemic, as recourse to military assets and capabilities became needed. An ad-hoc European External Action Service (EEAS)/EU Military Staff Task Force was created and worked together with Commission departments on military support and assistance to civilian authorities during the first wave of the pandemic. The Task Force allowed information exchanges on national military support and assistance to civilian authorities, including EU efforts in the field of civil protection and humanitarian assistance. Military assistance in support of civilian authorities in emergency situations will be also taken up in the framework of the Strategic Compass. Furthermore, in an unprecedented effort, the EEAS supported Member States with their consular assistance to EU citizens stranded abroad due to the COVID-19 pandemic, notably through its network of local consular correspondents in the 143 EU Delegations and a dedicated Task Force in Brussels. EU Delegations, working with Member State consular networks, provided practical information to EU citizens in third countries on their options and organised their repatriation to the EU. More than 625 000 EU citizens were repatriated to Europe from countries all over the world. This massive operation, the first-ever of this magnitude, took place from late January to July 2020. It mobilised around 2 600 commercial flights and 408 special flights funded by the European Union Civil Protection Mechanism (EUCPM), which brought back home around 90 000 EU citizens. Special attention was also given to EU citizens stranded on cruise ships and EU seafarers. On a longer-term strand of work, preparations for an EU Strategic Compass started in 2020. This forward-looking document will aim to give the EU a common strategic direction in the area of security and defence and enhance the implementation of the EU’s ambitions in this field. As an initial step, the first ever threat analysis based on inputs coming from the intelligence services of all EU Member States was conducted. This threat analysis will be translated into a comprehensive strategy to respond to the growing threats and challenges faced by the EU on the international stage. Regarding Common Security and Defence Policy (CSDP) missions and operations, Operation Irini (named after the Greek goddess for peace) was launched on 31 March 2020, with the mandate to support the implementation of the arms embargo on Libya under the relevant UN Security Council resolutions. The operation also has secondary tasks including monitoring illegal oil trafficking from Libya, contributing to countering human trafficking and smuggling activities and contributing to the training of the Libyan Coast Guard and Navy. Special on-line training courses have been rolled-out to raise awareness on COVID-19 and how to mitigate the limitations imposed by the current COVID-19 pandemic in continuing activities. Support continued to the G5 Sahel countries, especially through the provision of security training tailored to the needs of the countries and to help foster their cross-border security cooperation. In the context of the holistic and coordinated strategic review of CSDP engagement in Somalia and the Horn of Africa, the mandate of Operation ATALANTA, the EU’s executive military maritime operation, and of the two civilian missions (EUTM Somalia and EUCAP Somalia) was extended to 31 December 2022. Furthermore, the EU’s civilian crisis management abilities, in particular through civilian CSDP missions, remains crucial. In 2020, eleven civilian CSDP Missions (in Ukraine, Georgia, Kosovo *, Libya, the Palestinian Territories (Ramallah and Rafah), Niger, Mali, Somalia, Iraq and the Central African Republic) worked to increase human security. Around 2 000 staff work in the field, and around 100 at headquarters. The total cost of the civilian CSDP Missions is currently around EUR 281 million/year, out of which civilian missions returned EUR 40 million in unused funding to the Commission in 2020 due an average 80 % budget implementation rate.

In line with the negotiations for the next EU Multiannual Financial Framework, advances were made in relation to the new EU’s external instruments toolbox. A provisional agreement was reached between the Council Presidency and European Parliament on a regulation setting up the Neighbourhood, Development and International Cooperation Instrument (NDICI), which will support actions for crisis management, conflict prevention, stability and peace building. Furthermore, a political agreement was reached on the establishment of the European Peace Facility (EPF), the new global off-budget instrument that will finance actions having military or defence implications, under the Common Foreign and Security Policy, with the aim of preventing conflict, preserving peace and strengthening international security and stability. The 16 June 2020 Council conclusions on EU External Action for Preventing and Countering Terrorism and Violent Extremism emphasised the need for the EU to maintain focus on the EU’s closest Neighbourhood and a more structured cooperation on counter terrorism and preventing or countering violent extremism. 0.6. Crisis response and preparedness While the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic dominated 2020, the EU continued to implement its integrated approach to conflicts and crises through timely crisis response interventions under the Instrument contributing to Stability and Peace (IcSP) and through common foreign and security policy actions across the world. Through its actions, the EU contributed to: ·conflict prevention; ·mediation, dialogue and peace building; ·stabilisation and human security; ·strengthening the rule of law; ·the fight against violent extremism, stigmatisation and disinformation; and ·security sector reforms. The EU remains one of few actors with a global presence and a complete policy toolbox. The significant steps made in security and defence show that the EU is taking greater responsibility for its defence and in assisting partners in peace and security. Political agreements have been reached on the European Defence Fund and the European Peace Facility. Under the Common Security and Defence Policy (CSDP), the EU operates civilian and military missions worldwide. These missions carry out a variety of tasks, ranging from supporting management of borders to training local police. The EU is prioritising early warning and conflict analysis and, wherever possible, a focus on conflict prevention, for example in connection to electoral processes or the risk of tensions between migrants and host communities. Reforms in the area of the rule of law and anti-corruption are key for sustainable governance systems. Inspired by the EU strategic framework on Security Sector Reform (SSR), support to SSR activities remains important in contexts affected by, or at risk of, conflict. The IcSP and several CSDP missions support SSR-related actions with a continued emphasis on capacity building, training, promoting good governance and respect for universal human rights, and compliance with international humanitarian law. The EU’s engagement with international organisations continues to reflect its strong commitment to the rule-based multilateral order. Work to coordinate international efforts in conflict and post-conflict settings continued with the UN and other international organisations. In addition to continued support to the UN peace architecture, this also includes regular operational dialogues and working-level exchanges with the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE) and its Conflict Prevention Centre on topics such as mediation, gender, and the inclusion of women and youth in peace processes. The EU also continued to pursue its strategic interests through fostering dialogue on values and global challenges with key partners across the world and through economic cooperation, trade and investments. Human rights and gender equality, as well as support for women, peace and security, are central to all EU policies. The EU seeks to broaden conversations, defend and promote European values, build new cross-regional alliances and project influence, contributing in this way to the security of the EU and its citizens. Also of importance are the EU’s dialogues on non-proliferation and disarmament, cyber security, maritime security and on the internal/external security nexus including in the area of counterterrorism. 0.7. Human rights and democracy In a context of shrinking civic and democratic space, worsened by the current COVID crisis, the need for transparency and accountability over government actions is more important than ever. The EU re-affirmed its unconditional support to Human Rights and Democracy worldwide and the European Instrument for Democracy and Human Rights (EIDHR) remained the symbol of EU global leadership on these topics. Among key democracy support actions this year, a highlight is the Global Monitor of COVID-19’s Impact on Democracy and Human Rights a one-stop online global monitoring platform (tracker of trackers). Independent journalists and media outlets were supported to counter disinformation efforts and travel restrictions and restrictive measures taken by governments. The EU’s service for Foreign Policy Instruments (FPI) deployed 17 electoral missions and remote desk reviews and supported 14 electoral processes involving around 350 staff on the ground, with the objective to provide a comprehensive, independent and impartial assessment of electoral processes and enhance transparency and accountability. The European Endowment for Democracy (EED) further extended its operations in the Neighbourhood, Turkey and the Western Balkans with 320 new grants in 2020, and almost 40 % of funding going in support of journalists, independent media and social media platforms. In Belarus, for instance, EU4Belarus: Solidarity with the People of Belarus was launched in support of the unprecedented grassroots activism and mass protests. Support to human rights defenders remained a priority with ProtectDefenders and the Emergency Fund for human rights defenders at risk providing life-saving support to thousands of defenders. In total, the EIDHR provided support to 1 711 human rights defenders and family members. Throughout the year, civil society was a key partner in our democracy support. The EIDHR piloted an initiative empowering civil society to demand systemic change and to address accountability and anti-corruption deficits in 16 countries (SANCUS project). The EED, through an emergency small grants scheme, continued to support civil society organisations (CSOs), human rights activists and independent media. And, to respond to increasing levels of negligence and violence against children, a EUR 10 million project partnering with a consortium of CSOs was put in place to strengthen national child protection systems and raise children’s voices in five African countries. At country level, the EU supported 196 new initiatives led by CSOs, in particular local organisations, totalling some EUR 123 million in over 82 partner countries. For instance, regional civil society projects such as Majalat or Med Dialogue for Rights and Equality continued their regional capacity building and policy dialogue with civil society related to Human Rights and Democracy at large. At multilateral level, support continued for organisations such as the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights, the International Criminal Court and the Global Campus of Human Rights, a unique network of one hundred universities around the world playing a leading role in education, research and advocacy in human rights and democratisation. 200 students graduated in 2020 from one of its seven regional master programmes. Implementation of joint programmes continued focusing on human rights in the context of our strategic partnership with the Council of Europe in the Western Balkans and Turkey, and the Eastern and the Southern Neighbourhood regions through the Instrument for Pre-Accession assistance (IPA) and the European Neighbourhood Instrument (ENI). Overall, the EU continued to support reforms aimed at strengthening democratic institutions and reinforcing the protection of human rights.

In November 2020, the Council adopted conclusions on the Action Plan on Human Rights and Democracy 2020-2024. The Action Plan sets out the EU's level of ambition and priorities in this field in its relations with all third countries and will guide the programming of the EIDHR successor programme under the 2021-2027 Multiannual Financial Framework. In a digital age plagued by disinformation, this Action Plan also promotes enhancement of democracy and transparency through media literacy.



1. Team Europe Approach: COVID-19 Response and Recovery The COVID-19 pandemic has created extraordinary and unprecedented challenges in Europe and across the world, deepening inequalities within countries and regions, and between them. Against a backdrop of heightened geopolitical rivalries, disinformation and ‘battle of narratives’, the European Union has demonstrated its leadership and responsibility by putting together a collective, coordinated and coherent global response to the pandemic, bringing together the EU, its Member States, their diplomatic network, finance institutions including national development banks and implementing agencies, as well as the European Investment Bank (EIB) and the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) in a Team Europe approach. The Team Europe approach sent a strong message of European solidarity with partner countries in all regions and set out the EU’s resolve to exercise global leadership for a sustainable recovery, aligned with the SDGs. Strategic joint communication at all levels and extensive use of the visual identity of Team Europe by all its members helped to further strengthen this message in 2020. The Council conclusions on Team Europe Response to COVID-19set out the Team Europe approach in support of partner countries and multilateralism with a focus on three priorities: emergency response; support to health, water/sanitation and nutrition systems; and support to socio-economic recovery to help partner countries ‘build back better and greener’. The total Team Europe response amounted to over EUR 40 billion as of 1 January 2021, 65 % of which has already been disbursed. See Table 1 below. Table 1. Team Europe approach and COVID-19 response and recovery Under the emergency response, existing or planned humanitarian operations were adapted to factor in the COVID-19 situation and resulting needs. New funding was mobilised from the Emergency Aid Reserve, for example to support the World Health Organisation to enhance pandemic response and preparedness in the most effected African and Asian countries. In the first wave of the pandemic, the EU set up an EU Humanitarian Air Bridge (EU HAB) to ensure continuity of humanitarian and medical supplies and personnel to third countries. In this context, 67 flights were organised to deliver more than 1 150 tons of medical and humanitarian equipment and to transport over 1 700 medical and humanitarian staff and other passengers. Overall, more than 90 000 stranded EU citizens were repatriated on 408 flights, facilitated by the Union Civil Protection Mechanism. The EU also provided material assistance through the EU Civil Protection Mechanism, facilitating the delivery of over 18 million items of critical personal protective and medical equipment, including over 3 million items from rescEU stockpiles established in 2020. The Team Europe approach emphasises the importance of cooperation between the EU and its Member States in response to the COVID-19 global crisis with coordination within multilateral institutions, in particular the United Nations system, and with regard to International Financial Institutions, the G7 and G20. In the UN Financing for Development High Level Event in September 2020, President von der Leyen called for a Global Recovery Initiative that links investment and debt relief to the SDGs and aims at a sustainable recovery that breaks the vicious circle created by the COVID crisis. Through the Instrument contributing to Stability and Peace (IcSP), the response focused on the impact on people in conflict or in crisis-affected contexts mainly to prevent the aggravation of conflicts where specific groups were excluded from national response efforts or stigmatised; to counter dangerous disinformation and promote access to conflict-sensitive, accurate and reliable information; and to support the UN Secretary-General’s call for a global ceasefire. Support to crisis and conflict-prone countries helped them to plan for their recovery. In cooperation with the UN and the World Bank, the methodology of the Post-Disaster Needs Assessment (PDNA) and the Recovery and Peace Building Assessments (RPBA) were adapted to include COVID-19 Recovery Needs Assessments (CRNA). Such assessments were conducted in El Salvador, Ecuador, and the Dominican Republic. Under the Partnership Instrument, activities focused on leveraging the EU’s role as policy maker and standard-setter to address the impact of COVID-19 on global health and in socio-economic terms. The response aimed to enhance cooperation with international and non-EU partners in addressing the adaptation to and mitigation of the pandemic and sharing of best practices. In the same vein, the EU has been a firm supporter of the Access to COVID-19 Tools (ACT) Accelerator. The 4 May Coronavirus Global Response pledging conference, co-convened by the Commission, raised EUR 15.9 billion to ensure the collaborative development and universal deployment of vaccines, diagnostics and therapeutics against COVID-19. More than 70 % of these pledges came from the EU and its Member States. Moreover, the EU announced a EUR 500 million contribution to the COVID-19 Vaccines Global Access (COVAX) initiative comprising EUR 100 million in grants (included in the global COVID response) and EUR 400 million in guarantees to ensure safe and effective vaccines for low and middle-income countries. This has been instrumental in achieving COVAX's target to deliver 1.3 billion doses for 92 low- and middle-income countries by the end of 2021. The EU and its Member States were among the lead contributors to COVAX in 2020 with over EUR 850 million. Furthermore, as part of its global COVID response, the European Commission adopted on 28 December 2020 a package of EUR 70 million under the Instrument for Pre-Accession (IPA II) to help fund the early access of Western Balkans partners to COVID-19 vaccines procured by EU Member States. The success of this collective response to COVID-19 has since been made a more stable feature of the EU’s external action. It should help position the EU in a changing geopolitical landscape that increasingly requires collective, swift and decisive action at multilateral and country level. The EU, together with Member States and European Development Financing Institutions are in the process of elaborating Team Europe Initiatives as part of the next programming cycle 2021-27. Drawing on the best mix of funding and support modalities, tools and partners, and using the wealth of the collective experience, expertise and resources, Team Europe Initiatives should contribute by delivering substantive results for partner countries, making the EU and its Member States the partner of reference in this priority area.



2. Delivering On Global Commitments: Fostering Sustainable Development

2.1. Implementing the 2030 Agenda comprehensively and coherently The broad and interconnected impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic is a reminder that full implementation of the United Nations’ 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development is crucial to strengthen resilience and prepare the world for future shocks. In 2020, the Commission presented its comprehensive approach to deliver on the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) for the years ahead. The Staff Working Document ‘Delivering on the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals – A comprehensive approach’ reaffirms the EU’s commitment to the 2030 Agenda and explains how the SDGs are at the heart of the EU’s policymaking and implementation. The SDGs are an intrinsic part of the political programme of Commission President von der Leyen and have been integrated into the main EU proposals, policies and strategies. An array of transformative policies has been presented throughout 2020, in conjunction with the European Green Deal. The Eurostat 2020 SDG report contained for the first time a visual presentation of the status and progress of the Member States towards the SDGs. Through its external action, the EU continues to contribute to the implementation of the SDGs globally. At the start of the UN Decade for Action, the SDGs have kept the EU focused on a sustainable growth path compatible with planetary boundaries, on wellbeing, inclusion and equity. The COVID-19 pandemic has reversed some of the global progress made towards the SDGs. At the same time, it also represents an opportunity to accelerate decisive joint action and gear investments towards the achievement of the SDG goals and targets. The EU’s commitment on the 2030 Agenda and its SDGs has even greater relevance by providing an impetus to ‘building back better’ after the pandemic towards a more inclusive, sustainable, just and resilient future for all, based on the 2030 Agenda that leaves no one behind. In May 2020, President von der Leyen proposed a global recovery plan linking investment and debt relief to the SDGs. The purpose is to ensure a sustainable recovery that is green, digital, just, inclusive and resilient and brings countries closer to achieving the SDGs and the Paris Agreement. At the UN High-Level Political Forum in New York in July 2020, Commissioner Urpilainen invited partners to join the global recovery initiative in a global effort to ‘build back better’ together. This will require more international partnerships and more multilateralism. In 2020, the EU has made progress to support developing countries’ implementation of the SDGs through its cooperation programmes, financial flows and trade. During negotiations preparing the new Neighbourhood, Development and International Cooperation Instrument (NDICI) and the Instrument for Pre-accession Assistance (IPA III), the objective of supporting the implementation of the SDGs through external action has been fully integrated and made operational. Under NDICI, for the next programming period, geographic and thematic multiannual indicative programmes will include, among others, the context and justification of the priority areas, in relation to the relevant SDGs, in addition to EU policy objectives and mutual interests. In accordance with the European Consensus on Development, the Commission is continuously updating reporting systems, including its results framework, to show better how EU actions contribute to the implementation of the 2030 Agenda. To this end, EU institutions’ headquarters and delegations are working closely with Member States for greater impact at country level through joint programming, joint implementation and joint results frameworks. 2.2. Means of implementation of the new agenda A mix of financial and non-financial resources are required to implement the 2030 Agenda, especially in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic. In line with the Addis Ababa Action Agenda, the EU has a comprehensive and integrated approach to mobilising financing from all available sources (public and private, domestic and international) as well as promoting other means of implementation, including the establishment of good policies and policy coherence for sustainable development, to meet the SDGs. The EU is helping partner countries make the most of the diverse financing sources available to support SDG implementation. In 2020, thanks to EU support, integrated national financing frameworks (INFFs) have been firmly established as a means to map the landscape for financing for sustainable development at country level and to develop country-led financing strategies to reach the SDGs. So far, 68 countries have confirmed their willingness to engage in an INFF (up from 16 in 2019). Together with partners at the UN, the EU has supported countries as they took first steps towards INFFs, including through missions in Indonesia, Cabo Verde and Kyrgyzstan. The EU was also instrumental in bringing together multilateral (including the IMF) and bilateral actors around this initiative. In May 2020, at the initiative of the Group of Friends of Financing the SDGs, the UN convened a High-Level event on Financing for Development in the Era of COVID and beyond to consider how the world should respond to and recover from the COVID-19 crisis. At this High-Level Event, President von der Leyen called for a Global Recovery Initiative, linking debt relief and investment to the SDGs, and promoting a green, digital, just and resilient recovery. In the follow-up process, six discussion groups were established. The EU actively participated and was the co-chair of the Discussion Group II on Recovering Better for Sustainability to promote the objectives set out by the President. Other more specific EU achievements in 2020 include bringing together aid, investment, trade, domestic resource mobilisation and policies designed to unlock the full potential of all financial flows. Support for mobilisation of domestic resources is helping to improve the transparency, fairness, effectiveness and efficiency of tax systems in partner countries. The EU adapted and further developed its financial instruments and aid modalities for investments outside the EU in order to deliver on its ambitious commitments to sustainable development and the implementation of the SDGs. In 2020, the European Fund for Sustainable Development (EFSD) guarantees were refocused to help countries respond to the COVID-19 pandemic, supporting investments in Africa and in the EU Neighbourhood. The private sector is duly acknowledged as a major contributor to sustainable and inclusive growth and the creation of decent jobs and a key actor for the success of the SDGs. The EU has taken measures to promote local private sector development in partner countries, notably through entrepreneurship and access to finance support. Attractive investment climates and regulatory frameworks are also of paramount importance for the private sector and accordingly, the EU promotes public-private dialogue processes and events and has stepped up its assistance to investment climate reforms. The EU is also facilitating the development of the total official support for sustainable development (TOSSD) statistical measure to help identify available means of implementation for the SDGs (e.g. global public goods, private mobilised resources, south–south and triangular cooperation). In 2020, the first TOSSD reporting cycle was launched and the European Commission completed its first full TOSSD reporting. Meanwhile, the international TOSSD task force, co-chaired by the European Commission and South Africa, continued refining the TOSSD methodology. Thanks to EU efforts, TOSSD got international recognition in the G20’s Financing for Sustainable Development Framework. 2.3. New instruments and aid modalities In 2020, the EU adapted and further developed its financial instruments and aid modalities for investments outside the EU in order to deliver on its ambitious commitments to sustainable development. In the framework of the External Investment Plan (EIP), the European Commission has established the European Fund for Sustainable Development (EFSD) to support investments in Africa and the EU Neighbourhood. The overall aim of the EFSD is to contribute to the goals of the United Nations 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, in particular poverty eradication, as well as to the commitments under the recently revised European Neighbourhood Policy. In 2020, the EFSD contributed to bridging the gap between the financing already available and the financing still needed to create jobs, boost growth and meet the other SDGs. EU budgetary guarantees for loans to banks and other financial intermediaries are particularly well suited to de-risk investment in partner countries and support their sustainable development. This has made EFSD an important part of the EU’s global response to COVID-19. Some guarantees have supported the health sector, such as the African Health Diagnostics Platform that supported COVAX to procure and deliver doses of vaccines for fair distribution around the world, and others, such as expanded guarantees for renewable energy, have focused on liquidity support to ensure the effective completion of investment projects despite the economic downturn resulting from the pandemic. The EFSD Guarantee covered portfolios of investments in targeted areas, such as energy and connectivity; micro, small and medium-sized enterprise (MSME) financing; sustainable agriculture and rural development; sustainable cities; and digital for development. By the end of 2020, the Commission signed guarantee agreements with partner financial institutions for EUR 1.55 billion, exceeding the initial EFSD Guarantee capacity (EUR 1.5 billion) as a result of additional contributions from donors. In 2020, blending projects continue to contribute to sustainable growth and reduce poverty. Through blending, the EU used limited amounts of public grants to mobilise financing from partner financial institutions, such as international development banks and the private sector, for projects that do most to help countries develop. The strategic use of a limited grant element contributes to projects with low financial return but high economic (i.e. societal) benefit. The EU Blending Framework currently comprises seven active regional blending facilities. In 2020, these facilities invested over EUR 900 million in projects over the globe. From the creation of the first blending facilities in 2007, more than EUR 8 billion of EU grants are estimated to have leveraged around EUR 70 billion of loans by financial institutions and regional development banks for a total investment volume of more than EUR 115 billion. Budget support remained an important tool to support EU external action. Budget support has played a major role in the EU global response to COVID-19 through support to strategies or policies put in place by partner countries in response to the health crisis or to the socio-economic situation stemming from an unprecedented global slowdown. A total amount of EUR 1.9 billion was paid as budget support in 2020 for international partner countries, with the total amount rising to EUR 3 billion with the inclusion of budget support to European neighbourhood and Western Balkans countries. These funds provided urgent support to create fiscal space, allowing implementation of COVID-19 response plans, including health and economic recovery measures, and continued delivery of key public services. 2.4. Working better together with Member States Working better together with Member States is about making our collective development cooperation and financial assistance more effective and coherent by reducing fragmentation and achieving greater impact as well as increasing and maximizing European visibility and influence. The essential focus is on actions at country level including joint programming and joint implementation. Joint programming promotes a common European strategy to frame our relationship with partner countries that is responsive to local needs and brings together our European policy commitments in a single framework. Globally, by the end of 2020, there were 22 joint programming documents. There was only one new joint programming document published in 2020 (Ecuador). This is primarily a result of many joint programming processes targeting the new EU programming cycle as their starting point. In addition, European partners in 27 additional countries were involved in joint programming having either a joint analysis (17) or a roadmap (10).

The importance of a coherent and coordinated European presence was further reinforced with the emergence of the Team Europe approach in 2020 as a rapid collective response to the COVID-19 crisis to support a sustainable recovery aligned with the SDGs. The Team Europe approach consists of the EU, its Member States, their diplomatic networks, finance institutions including national development banks, and implementing agencies, as well as the European Investment Bank (EIB) and the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD). During 2020, the success of the Team Europe approach to COVID showed the value added of a collective European response. Building on this, the programming guidelines for the proposed Neighbourhood, Development and International Cooperation Instrument (NDICI) introduced Team Europe Initiatives to support transformational change by delivering clear results for partner countries, making the EU and its Member States the partner of reference in a priority area. Team Europe Initiatives (TEIs) get support both from the EU budget, and are therefore guided by NDICI programming guidelines, and from the relevant financial resources of the EU Member States. 2020 saw important steps in the preparation of TEIs, with extensive consultations with Member States, European Development Finance Institutions (EDFIs), Commission departments and others. Delegations played the most important role in identifying TEIs and consulting stakeholders at country level. The Council was consulted and thoroughly discussed the Team Europe global response for COVID-19 and beyond, on which conclusions were agreed in June 2020, including an article on the longer-term ‘Team Europe approach’ perspective that should be included in future programming. Comprehensive information, including a joint letter in May 2020, communicated the Team Europe approach to all EU Delegations, Member States Embassies and the offices of EU development finance institutions and agencies, inviting them to engage with the initiative. An updated version of the guidance Working Better Together as Team Europe – through joint programming and joint implementation was published in 2020. The guidance outlines good practice with many case studies and operational recommendations linking the Team Europe approach to the concepts of Joint Programming and Working Better Together. Various rounds of consultations among the different Commission departments and the EEAS ensured the global scope of the guidance, which considers the specific policy framework of the different regions covered. The cooperation continues with the inclusion of the Practitioners' Network (PN) through their newly set-up Task Force on Team Europe. Commission departments and the PN, also joined forces to undertake a study on public sector expertise in 2020, as part of the inclusiveness agenda. Based on the empirical evidence from a preliminary mapping exercise on existing operational structures, frameworks and tools, the study analyses the strategic potential of public sector expertise as an innovation cooperation modality with partner countries and provides a set of recommendations. Commission departments covering Neighbourhood policy have also increased their participation in meetings with the Practitioner’s Network, which has been an opportunity to provide an overview of the state of play of joint programming and clarify the neighbourhood specificities in the programming processes. Training courses on Working Better Together through joint programming and joint implementation were organised in 2020 with the participation of EU and Member States staff from headquarters and field offices, to facilitate a joint understanding of the value added and operational challenges of the working better together approach, with a new dedicated module on joint implementation. 2.5. Policy Coherence for Development In accordance with the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union, the EU and its Member States are committed to take account of the objectives of development cooperation in all external and internal policies, which are likely to affect developing countries. The new European Consensus on Development reaffirmed the importance of this principle, generally known as Policy Coherence for Development (PCD), and recognised it as a fundamental part of the EU’s contribution to achieving the SDGs. The EU’s PCD ambition is twofold: to leverage on synergies between different policies to enhance effectiveness and, in case of trade-offs, to ensure mitigating measures to support sustainable development and just transition processes in partner countries. Consequently, the Commission integrated its work on PCD in its overall work on the implementation of the 2030 Agenda on Sustainable Development. In that context, it identified a number of key initiatives that were prepared in the course of the year and that had major PCD relevance (i.e. potentially having a significant impact on our partner countries’ ability to achieve the SDGs). This inventory aims at promoting synergies between various policies and minimising incoherencies at an early stage of policy formulation. The Commission initiated the review of its Better Regulation guidance. Better Regulation, notably the use of ex-ante impact assessments, is a crucial element to promote PCD and ensure that new initiatives take better account of possible impacts on developing countries. This works in conjunction with the commitment of the Commission to actively integrate the implementation of the SDGs in its Better Regulation tool. Reporting from EU Delegations on PCD issues was further streamlined to better follow the impact of EU policies in partner countries. The Commission continued to promote its approach to PCD both internally within the EU vis-à-vis the European Parliament, Member States and civil society, and at international level, in particular through the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD). The Commission monitored progress and finalisation of the research project Sustainable Market Actors for Responsible Trade (SMART), which was funded under the Horizon 2020 programme and responded to the EU’s call for research for the strengthening of PCD. The project delivered valuable findings on several policy issues of great importance to PCD, such as sustainable corporate governance and circular economy. 2.6. Development effectiveness The EU is actively engaged in improving the effectiveness of its development cooperation to achieve the best, fastest and most sustainable impact for those most in need. In the new European Consensus on Development, the EU and its Member States reaffirm the commitment to applying the Busan principles of effectiveness (country ownership, results, inclusiveness, and transparency). The EU coordinates and supports Member States in the implementation of these principles, promoting common positions and practices on effectiveness in support of the 2030 Agenda. The EU is a strong promoter of effectiveness. Our cooperation modalities operationalise the effectiveness principles in many ways, such as through budget support, capacity building tools, policy reform and political dialogue. In particular, in the current times of crisis, effectiveness is key when we need to achieve more with less. The EU, through the Team Europe approach, ensured a coordinated and effective European response to the pandemic in partner countries. To achieve better impact through effectiveness the EU works to get the buy-in of all development actors at partner country level, including non-OECD donors. The EU actively uses its role as a member and supporter of the Global Partnership for Effective Development Cooperation (GPEDC), where it represents European development providers on the GPEDC steering committee. In 2020, the EU took the leadership of the GPEDC Action Area on Demonstrating the Impact of Effectiveness implementing and enhancing development effectiveness at country level. Moreover, throughout the year, the EU has promoted a renewed focus on effectiveness at the OECD- Development Assistance Committee (DAC) aimed at helping DAC members to strengthen the effectiveness of their programmes. A new work stream on Development Effectiveness has been included in the 2021-22 Programme of Work and Budget at the OECD-DAC. In addition to EU’s work to build global consensus on development effectiveness, it also pursues greater effectiveness in its own development cooperation and that of EU Member States, through the Team Europe approach and joint programming initiatives. In 2020, the EU published the study Effective Development Cooperation - Does the EU deliver? that explores how well the EU and its Member States are implementing the development effectiveness principles in their official development assistance (ODA) to developing countries and provides recommendations on how the effectiveness and impact of European assistance can be improved.



3. International Partnerships – Thematic Overview

Working together towards the SDGs and results achieved with EU support The priorities of the current Commission have been translated into development action: human development; green deal; sustainable growth and jobs; science, technology, innovation and digitalisation; migration; governance, peace and security. They provide the basic structure for the sections within this chapter on the thematic overview of international partnerships. At the same time, implementing these EU priorities is key to help our partners to implement the SDGs. In this report, the impacts of our actions in relation to SDGs are presented within the above-mentioned EU priorities, alongside the respective available results, based on the existing EU results framework. While for the purpose of this chapter, for readability purposes, each SDG is presented only once under an EU priority to which it is particularly related, the cross-cutting nature of the SDGs and the strong interlinkages among them imply that the content reported under each SDG will often also be relevant to other EU priorities. Our partnerships are based on dialogues aiming at convergence between EU political priorities and the specific objectives of each partner country, with the SDGs as a central reference. Further to the collective commitment of the EU and its Member States in the European Consensus on Development to work together in partner countries, the key areas for working together towards the SDGs are joint programming, the joint results frameworks and joint implementation. This approach to development cooperation and international partnerships has been taken further in the COVID-19 response both at multilateral level and in partner countries, with EU actors, Member States, the European Investment Bank and the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development working together in a Team Europe approach. This is a key element of the collective EU contribution to a global sustainable recovery aligned with SDGs. 3.1. Human Development The COVID-19 pandemic disrupted societies in many ways reversing some human development progress achieved in recent years, putting pressure on the most vulnerable, exacerbating inequalities, and leading to limitations of the civil and democratic space in many fragile democracies. This has affected the implementation of a range of SDGs directly relevant to human development and progress on the commitment to leaving no one behind. At country-level, the EU focused its efforts on adjusting immediate needs to current circumstances without losing sight of its overarching objectives and paying particular attention to not jeopardizing longer-term development needs. At global level, the EU spearheaded the Coronavirus Global Response. The pledging marathon, chaired by the President of the European Commission, raised a total of EUR 15.9 billion for research, universal access to vaccines, diagnostics, treatment and sustainable health system strengthening in partner countries. The EU was an early and staunch supporter of the establishment of the Access to COVID-19 Tools Accelerator and COVAX Facility. It was launched in April 2020 to ensure universal and equitable access to two billion vaccine doses for 92 low- and middle-income countries (LMICs), 500 million tests and 245 million treatments in 2021. The EU further mobilised EUR 500 million for the COVAX Facility, a global procurement mechanism for the purchase of COVID-19 vaccines. Through the Team Europe initiative, the EU and its Member States deployed strong national, regional and global responses to tackle the pandemic and helped prepare the basis for equitable access to vaccines for partner countries. The EU and its Member States have mobilised EUR 38.5 billion leading to higher impact interventions and a stronger EU role in the world. In 2020, the Commission reoriented and frontloaded close to EUR 1.3 billion to tackle the COVID-19 health impact in partner countries. Beyond health, COVID-19 lockdowns resulted in more than 1.5 billion students and youth across the planet being affected by school and university closures. The focus of the European Commission has been to avoid a lost generation, i.e., shortfalls in education and learning activities that have negative long-term effects. We helped partner countries face the challenges, e.g., by ensuring continued learning during the pandemic, and by planning for a safe return of students and staff when schools re-open. Where possible, ongoing education support programmes have been reoriented to cater for the emerging needs, including use of distance learning modalities through both high- and low-tech solutions, with the aim of leaving no one behind. EU-funded global initiatives, such as the Global Partnership for Education (GPE) and Education Cannot Wait (ECW) rapidly provided emergency funding to countries most in need, overall reaching more than 355 million children in 66 countries. The protection and promotion of the human rights of all women and girls was at the centre of the Team Europe package of EUR 20 billion in response to the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic. In 2020, about 60 % of global Commission disbursements related to COVID-19 have supported gender equality and women’s empowerment, mitigating the disproportionate economic and social impact of the pandemic on women and girls as well as placing emphasis on the importance of gender-sensitive research on the impact of the pandemic. The European Commission also started to engage more systematically with youth to ensure that young people, with a particular attention to girls, are heard and empowered as young leaders and actors of change to drive sustainable development in their countries. Through the #YourVoiceYourFuture digital campaign launched together with the African Union and UNICEF, about 450 000 children and young people across Africa and Europe aged between 14 and 35 raised their voices on topics ranging from climate change to digitalisation, education, jobs, governance, and peace and security. The EU also laid the ground for programming to ensure that at least 20 % of the NDICI resources will be spent on human development and social inclusion. This involved the preparation of thematic notes, seminars and training with geographical units and EU delegations and exchanges with Member State experts. SDG #1 No Poverty Eradicating poverty in all its dimensions, tackling discrimination and inequalities and leaving no one behind are at the heart of the European Consensus on Development and of the EU’s international partnerships. Tackling the various dimensions of poverty requires actions on all fronts. The EU and Member States’ actions under all SDGs contribute in some way to the goal of eradicating poverty. In terms of long-term trends, since 1999, the number of people living in extreme poverty worldwide has fallen by more than one billion people. On average, the poverty rate has halved in our partner countries. EU cooperation has helped achieve this result. For instance, 60 % of the EU budget support portfolio (around EUR 8 billion) implemented between 2014 and 2020 contributed to the fight against poverty and inequalities. However, part of this positive trend in reducing poverty is set to be reversed due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The EU has made its best efforts to help countries cope with the pandemic, using all instruments at its disposal and joining forces with Member States in a Team Europe approach. In this context, the EU disbursed EUR 3 billion of budget support to meet countries’ fiscal needs and fund their health and socio-economic response. But, for the first time in 20 years, poverty is likely to significantly increase. The estimated increase in global poverty in 2020 is unprecedented. In October 2020, the World Bank estimated that between 88 and 115 million people around the globe would be pushed into extreme poverty in 2020. It is now expected that the COVID-19-induced new poor in 2020 will rise to between 119 and 124 million. It is likely that for millions of people around the globe this crisis will not be short-lived. EU actions will continue to pursue the primary objective of poverty eradication. The EU attaches great importance to the link between humanitarian aid and more medium- and long-term development action. More than 82.4 million people were forcibly displaced in 2020, most of them were hosted in developing countries with limited resources, which often raises concerns in terms of poverty, discrimination and inequalities. Throughout 2020, the EU continued to support refugees’ self-reliance in protracted displacement. SDG #3 Good Health and Well-being In 2020, Commission departments have played an instrumental role in the global response to COVID-19 and contributed to progress towards the targets of SDG 3 Good Health and Well-being. The Commission, in a joint Team Europe approach, has deployed strong national, regional and global responses to tackle the pandemic and has ensured equitable access to vaccines for partner countries as noted above.

In support of EU partner countries in the Western Balkans, the Eastern and Southern Neighbourhood as well as Turkey, Commission departments mobilised substantial packages of funding to address the immediate health emergencies, to support health systems and to help our partners facing the social and economic impact of the pandemic. In total, EUR 4.5 billion was committed, of which 57 % has been contracted in 2020. In 2020, three actions in Latin America and in Asia, for a total of EUR 14 million, targeted the response to the COVID-19 crisis under the Partnership Instrument (PI). These actions seek to explore avenues for enhanced cooperation with multilateral and bilateral partners in response to this common challenge. Eight new PI actions, for a total of EUR 36 million, address COVID-19 as a significant objective. Furthermore, 59 existing actions, for a total of EUR 239 million have been reoriented to take into account the COVID-19 crisis. These reoriented actions address the adaptation to and mitigation of the pandemic and support the sharing of best practices, including on the socio-economic impact of the crisis. The Commission made a key contribution to establish the COVAX facility, the global mechanism to purchase COVID-19 vaccines and committed a EUR 400 million EFSD Guarantee and EUR 100 million grant to the COVAX Advance Market Commitment (complemented by another EUR 500 million support pledged in February 2021.) This funding has helped secure 1.3 billion doses of COVID-19 vaccines for use in 92 low- and middle-income countries by the end of 2020. Commission departments also confirmed their commitment to continuity of health services during the pandemic by renewing commitments to routine immunisation in partner countries through a EUR 300 million pledge to GAVI, the Vaccine Alliance, and to sexual and reproductive health and rights through a EUR 26.5 million grant to the Global Financing Facility for Women, Children and Adolescents. Commission departments took immediate action through social protection measures to respond to the pandemic by leveraging existing programmes to protect livelihoods and restore income. Apart from speeding up disbursements in Budget Support operations, the Commission added cash transfer/food aid components to existing programmes and worked towards combined approaches in social protection linking humanitarian aid and development cooperation. The Commission also adapted its thematic flagship programme Improving synergies between Social Protection and Public Finance Management to provide tailor-made financing assessments, sector policy advice, awareness building, delivery systems design, addressing special target groups in Bangladesh, Cabo Verde, Cote d’Ivoire, Ecuador, Malawi, Myanmar, Nigeria, Peru, Sri Lanka, and Togo. In addition, the Commission laid the basis for planning investments with a long-term perspective to support partner countries in building shock responsive national social protection systems and strengthening health systems, and preparedness and response capacities. SDG #4 Quality Education The COVID-19 pandemic also exacerbated existing challenges and inequalities in access to quality education, disproportionally affecting vulnerable groups and girls. More than 1.5 billion students and youth across the planet were affected by school and university closures. The European Commission focused on avoiding a lost generation, helping partner countries face the challenge, e.g., by ensuring continued learning, and planning for a safe return of students and staff when schools re-open. Where possible, education support programmes have been reoriented to cater to emerging needs including use of distance learning modalities through both high- and low-tech solutions, with the aim of leaving no one behind. The same applied under the Erasmus+ programme which is supporting mobility of university students and staff and cooperation projects aiming to build the capacity of universities. EU-funded global initiatives, such as the Global Partnership for Education (GPE) and Education Cannot Wait (ECW) rapidly provided emergency funding to countries most in need. ECW’s additional support has reached over nine million children and youth and spans across 33 countries. GPE mobilised more than USD 500 million to support partner countries with planning and implementing their response to the pandemic. This funding is helping governments to sustain learning for up to 355 million children in 66 countries. Despite additional funding needs, around two-thirds of low- and lower-middle-income countries have cut their public education budgets since the onset of the pandemic. Commissioner Jutta Urpilainen appealed at the Global Education Meeting to partner countries and the donor community alike to protect and increase education financing as an essential component and a condition for an equitable, sustainable and inclusive recovery. Setting the example, Commissioner Urpilainen announced her ambition to increase education spending in her portfolio from 7 % to 10 %. Also, in the 2020 Economic and Investment Plan for the Western Balkans, the Commission announced increased funding in support of human capital development, including education and skills. Investing in development education and awareness raising remains key to reach the EU’s foreign policy and development goals. It becomes even more important in these challenging times when global solidarity is needed most. The EU, through its Development Education and Awareness (DEAR) programme has continued to support civil society and local authorities to raise awareness and encourage active engagement of Europeans, especially youth, in promoting sustainable development and addressing global challenges. SDG #5 Gender Equality The protection and promotion of the human rights of all women and girls was at the centre of the Team Europe’s response to the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, with about 60 % of global Commission disbursements related to COVID-19 in support of gender equality and women’s empowerment. Moreover, EU actions continued to promote gender equality in partnership with governments and non-government stakeholders along the thematic priorities of the Gender action plan II, fostering more coordination and coherence among EU actors, an increase of political and policy dialogues on gender equality issues, as well as a sustained and strong support to civil society organisations. The amount of funds specifically targeting gender equality continued to increase, reaching EUR 8.7 billion (64.71 % of all new actions) in 2019. In addition, to support gender equality and institutional change in public bodies and research organisations, the Commission introduced a new eligibility criterion for Horizon Europe, the new framework programme for Research and Innovation. Legal entities from EU Member States and associated countries to the programme will need to have a Gender Equality Plan in place to apply for programme funding. Action to stop violence against women and girls was targeted across regions and instruments. The EU-UN Spotlight Initiative, an unprecedented global effort to eliminate violence against women and girls, was up and running in 26 countries and six regions by the end of 2020, with EUR 497 million committed. The Spotlight Initiative #WithHer campaign launched in March 2020 contributed to raising awareness about gender norms and stereotypes, which perpetuate violence against women and girls, reaching more than 220 million users on social media. In view of the upsurge in domestic violence against women and children triggered by the COVID-19 crisis, the Commission swiftly redirected over EUR 20 million through the Spotlight Initiative to boost prevention and increase support for victims and women’s grassroots organisations providing essential services. Gender-based violence, including sexual harassment, in universities and research organisations is also a concern across the EU and the world. The European Commission launched a call in 2020 under Horizon 2020 to increase knowledge on the issue and provide recommendations for universities In the Neighbourhood and Enlargement regions programmes like the EU4Gender Equality – Together against gender stereotypes and gender-based violence and Ending violence against women in the Western Balkan and Turkey: Implementing Norms, Changing Minds aim to strengthen equal rights and opportunities for women and men. By working with the film sector, independent media and education, legal professionals, state bodies and CSOs, they aim to shift social perceptions, challenge gender stereotypes, champion men’s participation in care work and promote violence prevention programmes for perpetrators. Women refugees, internally displaced people and women in host communities were also supported in the framework of the EU Regional Trust Fund in Response to the Syrian Crisis. Support to ending gender-based violence in humanitarian aid has also continued to be a priority. During 2019 and 2020, the EU allocated approximately EUR 56 million in humanitarian aid to prevent and respond to gender-based violence under its protection and health programming. The EU addressed prevention of sexual and gender-based violence and responded through a multi-sectoral approach including medical care, psychological support, referral to legal services and, where possible, livelihood support or socio-economic assistance.

Strong support to women’s economic empowerment continued during 2020. A EUR 20 million partnership was signed with the Tony Elumelu Foundation (TEF) to support more than 2 500 African women entrepreneurs, through increased access to finance and venture capital investment. The WeEmpower programme (EUR 22.5 million) increased public and private sectors’ commitment to gender equality and to women’s empowerment in the world of work at all levels. Joint work between the EU, UN Women and the International Labour Organisation contributed to create sustainable, inclusive, and equitable global growth through increased women’s economic empowerment and leadership. An EU funded research project, GENDER STI, started in 2020 to accelerate the integration of gender equality in science, technology and innovation (STI) dialogues with third countries. These actions enabled the EU to engage with Asian and Latin American networks of women entrepreneurs, public institutions, and the private sector to ensure the full implementation of the Women’s Empowerment Principles. Building on the evaluation of EU support to gender equality and stakeholder consultations, the Joint Communication on the new EU Gender action plan for 2021-2025 (GAPIII) adopted in November 2020, sets out an ambitious agenda for gender equality and women’s and girls’ empowerment worldwide, including support for recovery plans that are inclusive, sustainable, and facilitating a green and just transition. SDG #6 Clean Water and Sanitation Progress under SDG6 is presented in this section, while noting that actions in this field contribute to various EU priorities beyond human development, such as the Green Deal. In 2020, the European Commission significantly increased its support to water access, sanitation and hygiene as the first line of defence in the fight against COVID-19 in countries including the Philippines, Pakistan, South Africa, Ivory Coast, Sao Tome and Principe, Senegal and Cameroon. In South Africa, grants were given to reduce the impact of COVID-19 by accelerating infection prevention and control through water, sanitation and hygiene. Moreover, good progress has been made in the deployment of major water infrastructures, some of them being completed in 2020 such as the water desalinisation plant at Djibouti that should ensure its water independence, as well as an important wastewater treatment facility in the West Bank and increased financial support to the Gaza desalination plant. New actions to support strategic infrastructure were launched including a EUR 41 million blending project that leveraged EUR 200 million for the Lesotho Lowlands Water Development Project- Phase II (LLWDP II). At the same time, activities continued to support the good governance of water resources. Dialogues on the nexus between water, energy, food and environment continued in South America, Central Asia and all regions of Africa, with the aim to further improve the sustainable management of resources and mobilise related investments. Efforts towards the globalisation of the United Nations Economic Commission for Europe (UNECE) Water Convention have progressed: in 2020, Ghana acceded to the convention and significant steps were taken particularly in Burkina Faso, Cameroon, Central African Republic, Republic of Congo, Togo, Bangladesh and Vietnam. Through the Centre of Excellence initiative under IcSP Article 5, partners are assisted in developing measures to ensure the elimination of dumping and the minimal release of hazardous chemicals and materials, to improve water quality. SDG #10 Reduced Inequality In 2020, Commission departments actively worked on reinforcing their contribution towards the achievement of SDG 10 and reducing inequalities. A major step forward has been to mainstream inequality-reduction in operations through the development of the Reference Document - Addressing Income Inequalities through Development Cooperation, soon to be published under the Tools & Methods Series. The document will be the basis for future training and presents guidelines and tools to help EU officials enhance their work on inequality in their policy dialogue and development cooperation operations, and to engage national authorities and local actors in partner countries. This last part was specifically designed to support EU Delegations engage with partner countries and stakeholders to raise awareness of the importance of addressing both social and economic inequalities. Substantial contributions have also come from our operations. The EU- Agence Française de Développement (AFD) Research Facility on Inequalities brought enhanced knowledge of economic and social inequalities, their underlying drivers at different spatial levels, and the most effective policies and approaches to address and reduce them. Twenty three research projects have covered global, country and city level studies, on numerous topics, developing policy recommendations for partner countries to target the reduction of inequalities and contribute to the work of EU Delegations. The Commission also worked to review the Rights-based approach (RBA) toolbox to incorporate the 2030 Agenda and to align closer with commitments to reduce all forms of inequalities, including gender inequality. The update was also referenced by the European Council in its conclusions on Inequalities and the Action Plan for Democracy and Human Rights 2020-2024. In addition, the Council conclusions on the implementation of GAP II 2018 requested to fully integrate gender equality with the RBA. The GAP III and the EU Anti-Racism Action Plan 2020-2025 underline the need to update the RBA methodology to better encompass all forms of discrimination and integrate gender mainstreaming. Selected results 2018-2020 64 133 019 one-year-olds were fully immunised with EU support. 19 274 000 women of reproductive age had access to modern contraception methods with EU support. 33 931 000 students enrolled in primary education with EU support. 4 262 000 students enrolled in secondary education with EU support. 6 057 000 individuals had access to improved drinking water sources and/or sanitation facilities with EU support. Source: EU Results Framework indicators •Students from 84 countries around the world have been enrolled in primary and secondary education with EU support. A large share of students receive support via the Global Education Partnership, which is co-funded by the EU. •The largest number of individuals with access to improved drinking water sources and/or sanitation facilities was reached in Sub-Saharan Africa (2 million), followed by South America (1.3 million) and South & Central Asia (1.2 million). The results are based on the people with access to newly built or rehabilitated water points and to newly constructed, rehabilitated or improved sanitation facilities to help eliminate open defecation in communities. In Afghanistan, 680 000 persons from urban and rural areas had access to improved drinking water. •Considering the availability of sex-disaggregated data for EU results framework indicators, 42.2 % of data for EU RF indicators reporting individuals is not assigned to a sex. This is an increase by 8.1 percentage points compared to last year and points to the need for continuous efforts to collect sex-disaggregated data. EU RF indicators disaggregated by sex EU Results Framework indicator Total women/girls men/boys Not identified 2.5 Number of one-year-olds fully immunised with EU support 64 133 000 - - 2.6 Number of women of reproductive age using modern contraception methods with EU support 19 274 000 19 274 000 - - 2.7 a) Number of students enrolled in education with EU support: a) primary education 33 931 000 15 550 000 16 962 000 1 419 000 2.7 b) Number of students enrolled in education with EU support: b) secondary education 4 262 000 1 873 000 1 968 000 421 000 2.8 Number of individuals with access to improved drinking water source and/or sanitation facility with EU support 6 057 000 66 000 57 000 5 934 000 3.2. Green Deal

The launch of the Green Deal in December 2019 sent a clear signal to the world that climate and environmental action are at the heart of the European growth agenda. The Green Deal sets a transformative agenda for the continent combining policies to tackle climate change, reverse biodiversity loss, reduce pollution and move to a circular economy. Only a few months later, in March 2020, the COVID-19 pandemic generated the biggest health crisis of recent years, hitting economies hard globally. Nevertheless, the European Union was clear that the post-COVID recovery needs to be green, just and resilient, using the Green Deal as Europe’s blueprint for implementing a green recovery model to ‘build back better’. The Green Deal guides EU’s external action, in the areas of climate change, green energy transition, ecosystems and biodiversity sustainably, circular economies with fair value chains, green and smart urbanisation, and safe and sustainable agri-food production. These challenges require joint efforts and integrated responses at national, regional and global level. The European Commission, through the ‘Team Europe’ approach is joining forces with Member States and other partners to foster a green and inclusive transition. The combined impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic have been especially strong on food security and nutrition. Contributing to the achievement of SDG 2 and SDG 12, EU interventions have been instrumental in improving sustainable production and agricultural practices. To support innovation for farming system management, 19 DeSIRA (Development Smart Innovation through Research in Agriculture initiative) projects were signed in 2020. EU budget support incentivised diversified agricultural production and better nutritional support for 55 000 rural families in Bolivia and Honduras, while contributing to raising the value of the dairy market in Nepal by 21 %. Sustainable energy plays a key role in the external dimension of the Green Deal. The EU Partnership Instrument contributed to achieving SDG 7 by promoting policy cooperation especially with G20 partner countries, such as with India through the EU – India Clean Energy and Climate Partnership project and China through the EU-China Energy Cooperation Platform. Issues addressed included the development of renewable energy and necessary power market reforms, support to energy efficiency, and support to the global just energy transition. By the end of 2020, EU-supported sustainable energy activities in partner countries had contributed to the establishment of new renewable energy generation capacity of 18 Gigawatts and to more than 22 million people gaining access to sustainable energy and energy services improving their livelihoods and boosting the socio-economic development of their communities. During 2020, EU cooperation with the African Union Commission made a crucial contribution to the elaboration of the African Single Electricity Market proposal for establishing an integrated continental electricity market that can benefit people and economies across Africa. The European Green Deal has also led to the adoption of important policy documents on biodiversity. With the Biodiversity Strategy 2030, the EU commits to an increased support for partners tackling the root causes of biodiversity loss and calls for the adoption of an ambitious Global Biodiversity Framework in 2021. For this, the Commission has mainstreamed biodiversity across interventions, contributing to SDG 15 and developed specific initiatives such as the development of NaturAfrica and of Landscape for Future. The former is designed to protect biodiversity while creating better livelihoods and green/circular economic opportunities for rural populations. The latter