EUROPEAN COMMISSION Brussels, 8.11.2022 SWD(2022) 353 final COMMISSION STAFF WORKING DOCUMENT Accompanying the document REPORT FROM THE COMMISSION TO THE EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT AND THE COUNCIL 2022 Annual Report









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







in 2021 {COM(2022) 578 final}



Table of Contents 1. Introduction: EU response to world developments in 2021 1.1. International Partnerships 1.2. European Neighbourhood Policy 1.3. EU enlargement 1.4. Humanitarian aid and civil protection 1.5. Security and defence 1.6. Crisis response and preparedness 1.7. Human rights and democracy 2. Delivering on our commitments: Promoting EU values and interests and fostering sustainable development globally 2.1. Implementing the 2030 Agenda and other international and European commitments and policies (including Global Gateway) 2.2. Means of implementation of the new agenda 2.3. Programming (NDICI-Global Europe, IPA III, INSC, DOAG) 2.4. Working better together with Member States and European Financial Institutions – A ‘Team Europe’ approach 2.5. Mobilisation of the NDICI-Global Europe cushion 2.6. Policy Coherence for Development 2.7. Development effectiveness 3. Thematic Overview

Working together towards the SDGs and results achieved with EU support 3.1. Human Development Main achievements SDG #1 Reduced 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 Inequalities Selected results 2018-2021 3.2. Green Deal Main achievements 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 2018-2021

3.3. Digitalisation, Science, Technology and Innovation Main achievements SDG #9 Industry, Innovation and Infrastructure Selected results 2018-2021 3.4. Sustainable Growth and Jobs Main achievements SDG #8 Decent Work and Economic Growth SDG #17 Partnerships for the Goals Selected results 2018-2021 Selected results 2018-2021 for the Enlargement region 3.5. Migration Main achievements SDG #10.7 Reduced Inequalities Selected results 2018-2021, Selected results 2018-2021 for the Enlargement region 3.6. Governance, Peace and Security Main achievements SDG #16 Peace, justice and strong institutions Selected results 2018-2021 Selected results 2018-2021 for the Enlargement region

4. Geographic Overview 4.1. Sub-Saharan Africa 4.1.1. Introduction (policy developments) 4.1.2. Working together 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. Asia and the Pacific 4.2.1. East Asia and South Asia 4.2.2. Central Asia 4.2.3. Middle East/Gulf region 4.2.4. The Pacific 4.3. Americas and the Caribbean 4.3.1. Americas 4.3.2. The Caribbean 4.4. European Neighbourhood 4.4.1. European Neighbourhood East 4.4.2. European Neighbourhood South 4.5. Enlargement (Western Balkans and Turkey) 4.5.1. Introduction (policy developments)

4.5.2. Working together towards the SDGs 4.5.3. Implementation 4.5.4. Humanitarian aid and civil protection – responding to the emergency needs of people affected by conflicts and disasters 4.5.5. Crisis response and preparedness 4.6. Overseas countries and territories (OCTs) 4.6.1. Introduction (policy developments) 4.6.2. Working together towards the SDGs 4.6.3. Implementation 5. Managing Aid 5.1. Monitoring, reporting and evaluation 5.1.1. Reporting 5.1.2. Monitoring Systems and use of new IT platform 5.1.3. New reporting system on SDGs 5.1.4. Evaluation: review of the work programme 5.1.5. Lessons learned 5.2. Aid delivery modalities 5.2.1. Budget Support 5.2.2. Blending 5.2.3. EFSD+, EU budget Guarantees 5.2.4. Technical Assistance

5.2.5. Twinning and TAIEX 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 1.Introduction: EU response to world developments in 2021 The coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic continued to have a significant impact on the European Union’s (EU’s) external relations throughout 2021. The Global Health Summit in Rome held in May defined the common principles to overcome the current COVID-19 pandemic, but also to prepare for future pandemics. The European Commission, Member States and financial institutions – acting in a ‘Team Europe’ approach – shared over 380 million vaccine doses, the majority of which was channelled through the COVID-19 Vaccines Global Access (COVAX) mechanism, and also provided substantial technical assistance to partner countries to combat the COVID-19 pandemic. In March, the Commission made proposals to strengthen the EU’s global humanitarian impact. The Communication on the EU’s humanitarian action proposed key actions to expedite the delivery of humanitarian aid by supporting humanitarian partners, expanding the donor base and addressing the root causes of crises through a ‘Team Europe’ approach. As a milestone in its development cooperation, the Neighbourhood, Development and International Cooperation Instrument – Global Europe (NDICI-Global Europe), with an initial funding of EUR 79.5 billion, will finance EU cooperation with non-EU countries from 2021 until 2027. The off-budget European Peace Facility, for which the Commission acts as administrator for assistance measures, was established on 22 March 2021. The implementation of the first assistance measures adopted by the Council started during the year. The EU further worked on a stronger and deeper cooperation with Africa. In October, EU and African foreign affairs ministers met in Kigali, Rwanda, to take stock of the Africa-EU partnership and define joint priorities ahead of the European Union-African Union Summit in February 2022. The new partnership agreement (‘post-Cotonou’) between the EU and members of the Organisation of African, Caribbean and Pacific States was initialled on 15 April 2021. It establishes a 20-year framework for political and economic relations and cooperation priorities. In October, the EU updated its Arctic policy to focus on climate action and environmental protection, on green jobs and on increasing international cooperation across the Arctic region. During the 2021 International Ocean Governance Forum, the EU presented its recommendations on ocean sustainability. At the EU-Western Balkans Summit at Brdo pri Kranju, Slovenia, held in October, the EU reaffirmed its support for the European perspective of the Western Balkans and welcomed the commitment of the Western Balkans partners to the European perspective. The Commission started to implement the revised enlargement methodology reflected in the Commission’s 2021 Enlargement Package adopted on 19 October. The sixth Eastern Partnership Summit took place in December. The leaders of the EU institutions, Member States, and Armenia, Azerbaijan, Georgia, the Republic of Moldova and Ukraine set out their shared vision for the future of the Eastern Partnership. The summit endorsed the renewed agenda for the Eastern Partnership, focusing on recovery, resilience and reform, and built on the two pillars of governance and investment, as outlined in the proposal presented by the Commission and the High Representative in July 2021. Following the military build-up in and around Ukraine, the European Council conclusions of 16 December stressed the urgent need for Russia to de-escalate tensions and highlighted that any further military aggression against Ukraine would have massive consequences and severe costs in response, including restrictive measures coordinated with partners. In February, the European Commission and the High Representative adopted the new Agenda for the Mediterranean to renew the partnership with its Southern Neighbourhood. This also includes a dedicated economic and investment plan with initiatives in strategic sectors to support long-term socio-economic recovery. Looking to Asia, possible cooperation with China on security and foreign policy was discussed at the EU-China Strategic Dialogue on 28 September. The human rights situation in Xinjiang continued to be a source of concern and, on 22 March, the EU imposed sanctions under the Global Human Rights Sanctions Regime. Sanctions were also issued against individuals and entities from Eritrea, Libya, the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea, Russia and South Sudan. Following the developments in Afghanistan over the summer the EU announced a support package worth EUR 1 billion for the Afghan people and neighbouring countries, addressing the urgent needs in the country and the region. During the EU-India Leaders' Meeting in Porto, the EU and India agreed a comprehensive connectivity partnership that covers cooperation in the digital, energy, transport, and people-to-people sectors. Concerning the EU’s relations with the Americas, the EU-Latin America and Caribbean Leaders’ Meeting in December 2021 marked the resumption of bi-regional dialogue at the highest-level, six years after the last summit. In 2021, in spite of the constraints posed by COVID-19, the EU deployed six election observation missions to The Gambia, Honduras, Iraq, Kosovo, Venezuela and Zambia – smaller missions of electoral experts, as well as follow-up missions, were also deployed to more than 10 countries.

Finally, in December, the EU launched its new flagship initiative: the Global Gateway. Its goal is to connect goods, people and services around the world in a sustainable way. It will develop sustainable and high-quality connections while ensuring financial sustainability, with funding from the EU, its Member States, and European financial institutions totalling up to EUR 300 billion between 2021 and 2027. Under the multiannual financial framework (MFF) 2021-2027, a single instrument, the Neighbourhood, Development and International Cooperation Instrument-Global Europe (NDICI-Global Europe), integrates most external financing instruments that existed as separate basic acts under the former multiannual financial framework. This Annual Report covers the following external financing instruments under the MFF 2021-2027: the NDICI-Global Europe, the Decision on the Overseas Association, including Greenland (DOAG), the European Instrument for International Nuclear Safety Cooperation (INSC) and the Instrument for Pre-Accession assistance (IPA III). This Annual Report also covers ongoing programmes financed through instruments managed by Commission departments in the previous MFF: 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. 1.1. International Partnerships In 2021, in line with the new geopolitical ambition and commitment to the 2030 Agenda, the Commission launched the Global Gateway, a new European strategy to boost smart, clean and secure links in digital, energy and transport, and to strengthen health, education and research systems across the world. It stands for sustainable and trusted connections that tackle the most pressing global challenges, from climate change and protecting the environment, to improving health security, boosting EU competitiveness and securing global supply chains. Global Gateway aims to mobilise up to EUR 300 billion in investments between 2021 and 2027 using EU and Member States’ potential to underpin a lasting global recovery, taking into account our partners’ needs and the EU's own interests. Global Gateway is about increasing investments promoting democratic values and high standards, good governance and transparency, equal international partnerships, and green and clean, secure infrastructures that can all catalyse private sector investment. The Commission and the High Representative also put forward a new strategy to strengthen the EU's contribution to rules-based multilateralism. The Joint Communication lays out the EU's expectations of and ambitions for the multilateral system. It frames a more strategic approach to our international partnerships and alliances in the context of an evolving and more competitive multilateral environment. It maps out the main goals and means at the EU's disposal, including its extensive political, diplomatic and financial support to promote multilateral solutions to global challenges. In this context, the EU actively continues to engage in development-related multilateral processes in the United Nations (UN) and other fora. In 2021, the COVID-19 pandemic continued to have dramatic consequences around the world. It claimed millions of lives, halted economies, disrupted societies and exposed inequalities. It has also set back progress in the implementation of the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) – especially in the most vulnerable countries. The EU responded to the crisis beyond our borders using the whole toolbox of our external action instruments. The SDGs remain the compass for charting sustainable growth out of this multi-dimensional crisis. Up to the end of 2021, in a ‘Team Europe’ approach, the EU, its Member States and European financial and implementing agencies disbursed EUR 47.7 billion overall in support to partner countries to address the acute and longer-term consequences of the pandemic and deliver on its promises with concrete results. This disbursement exceeds by far the initial EUR 20 billion Team Europe support package pledged in spring 2020, a pledge which had increased to EUR 53.7 billion by the end of 2021. The EU has also played a leading role in setting up the COVAX Facility, the only global initiative supporting fair distribution of vaccines around the world. As of June 2021, the EU and its Member States’ contribution to the COVAX Facility totalled over EUR 3 billion. While addressing the impact of COVID-19 in the most vulnerable countries was the immediate priority, the EU did not lose sight of the need to advance on the green and digital transitions. In our pursuit of sustainable development for all, the global recovery provides opportunities to address the needs of women and young people in particular. The EU remains one of the few actors with a global presence and a comprehensive policy toolbox able to respond and support our partners around the world. The EU and its Member States are committed to taking account of development cooperation objectives in the external and internal policies that affect developing countries. The 2017 European Consensus on Development reaffirmed the importance of policy coherence for development. The EU also worked to project EU interests abroad in areas ranging from trade and investment, climate change, the protection of the environment, and migration, to security and defence, helping to create a level playing field and contributing to the rules-based multilateral order. 1.2. European Neighbourhood Policy In 2021, the European Neighbourhood Policy (ENP) mobilised significant political and financial support for its four priorities and fully integrated the principles of inclusivity, differentiation and shared ownership. The EU continued to assist Neighbourhood countries in tackling the causes of instability through a sustained focus on good governance and the rule of law and human rights, both in the Eastern and Southern Neighbourhood. Significant efforts at country and regional levels continued to reinforce the capacity of civil society across the region, as well as governments’ accountability. Similarly, the EU continued to support prosperity in its Neighbourhood, aiming to unleash the untapped economic potential through economic and investment plans. The EU's relations with its Eastern neighbours are guided by the Global strategy and the revised Eastern Partnership policy. At the Sixth Eastern Partnership Summit in December 2021, leaders of the EU and Eastern partners endorsed the post-2020 renewed Eastern Partnership agenda focused on recovery, resilience and reform. This vision is based on the two pillars of governance and investments, under the overarching objective of strengthening resilience. The priority areas are: (1) accountable institutions, the rule of law, and security; (2) resilient, sustainable and integrated economies; (3) environmental and climate resilience; (4) resilient digital transformation; and (5) resilient, gender-equal, fair and inclusive societies. The European Commission will mobilise, through the regional economic and investment plan (EIP), up to EUR 2.3 billion of funding from the EU budget over the next five years to support socio-economic recovery. Using specific tools, including blending and guarantees, this could leverage up to EUR 17 billion in public and private investments across the region. Flagship initiatives have been identified under the EIP for each partner country to kick-start implementation. While the Belarus regime has decided to suspend its participation in the Eastern Partnership, the EU continues to support citizens and civil society in Belarus. In 2021 Ukraine and the EU continued to move closer together, and the impressive portfolio of support programmes as well as the many ongoing policy dialogues made a significant contribution to this effort. Considerable progress has been achieved in many areas, including in the judicial area, especially tackling issues of rule of law and anti-corruption. The situation in the Neighbourhood South remained challenging and the already dire socio-economic conditions were aggravated by the consequences of the pandemic. In addition to that, the protracted crisis in Syria continued to impact on the stability of the whole Middle East, while in Libya the elections that were expected to be held in December in the context of the Berlin process were postponed, leading to uncertainties as to the future of the transition process. The March 2021 Brussels V Conference on supporting the future of Syria and the region reiterated the political, humanitarian and financial commitment of the international community in support of the Syrian people and the neighbouring countries most affected by the conflict.

Throughout the Neighbourhood South region, governance and human rights remained at stake, and space for free expression and civil society was shrinking. Economic conditions remained a matter of concern. Generating growth and jobs continued to be a priority, particularly for the youth that represents a significant part of the population. Youth unemployment and lack of opportunities were among the main drivers of migration. In addition, trade barriers were increasing and regional integration remained limited, due to lack of cooperation among the countries themselves. In this challenging context, in February 2021 the Commission and the High Representative adopted a new Agenda for the Mediterranean to relaunch and strengthen the strategic partnership between the EU and its Southern Neighbourhood partners. It was accompanied by an economic and investment plan, identifying flagship initiatives which will enable the EU to focus resources on key transformative sectors, and mobilise additional funds from International Financial Institutions and the private sector. The EU Trade Policy Review Communication adopted in February 2021 put forward a sustainable investment initiative to interested countries in the Southern neighbourhood, and expressed readiness to discuss with Morocco and Tunisia options to modernise trade and investment relations. The Commission also stepped up efforts to ensure the proper implementation of the free trade agreements concluded with countries in the Neighbourhood South region. Migration remained high on the EU agenda. The EU continued to support those affected by the crises in Syria and Libya by assisting migrants, displaced persons, refugees and host communities. This was achieved mainly through the two dedicated Trust Funds (the EU Emergency Trust Fund for Africa / the North Africa window and the EU Regional Trust Fund in Response to the Syrian crisis / Madad). Although both Trust Funds expired at the end of 2021, the implementation of ongoing actions will continue and will provide a bridge towards new actions under the 2021-2027 programming. In the Eastern Neighbourhood, the EU reacted quickly to Belarus’s instrumentalisation of migrants by recalibrating EU assistance away from the central Belarussian authorities, while at the same time stepping up support for the people of Belarus. Moreover, following the crisis in Afghanistan, the EU monitored closely arrivals from the country to the EU’s neighbouring regions, and expressed readiness to provide support where needed. The European Commission’s institution building instruments contributed to the overall reform process in the European Neighbourhood in line with EU political priorities, notably the European Green Deal, Digital transformation and the regional economic and investment plans. TAIEX (Technical Assistance and Information Exchange) mobilised over 8 000 participants and Twinning pooled EUR 155 million worth of assistance in public-to-public projects between Member States’ Administrations and Partner Countries. 1.3. EU enlargement The enlargement methodology was revised in 2020 to further strengthen the accession process by making it more predictable, more credible, dynamic and subject to stronger political direction. During the first political intergovernmental conferences the EU held with Montenegro and Serbia in June 2021, the two countries agreed to apply the revised methodology. The first negotiating cluster with Serbia (Cluster 4 on the Green Agenda and sustainable connectivity) was opened at another intergovernmental conference with Serbia in December 2021, which also demonstrated the EU’s commitment to the accession process. On 19 October 2021, the European Commission adopted the 2021 Enlargement Package, the first one prepared under the revised methodology. As in previous years, the package took stock of developments since the previous Enlargement Package adopted in October 2020. Following the cluster approach for the first time, it examined the progress made by the Western Balkans and Turkey, the challenges encountered and reforms to be addressed, and set out conclusions and recommendations for the period ahead. It took into account the specific circumstances, including the COVID-19 pandemic, which had influenced developments in the EU and the region. Progress on the enlargement agenda was accompanied by the kick-off of the implementation of the EUR 9 billion economic and investment plan (EIP) and the Green Agenda for the Western Balkans. Adopted by the Commission in October 2020, the Plan aims to bridge the socio-economic gap between the region and the EU and associate the region with key EU initiatives and priorities of the current Commission, including the green and digital transition, promotion of innovation and connectivity, and support for the development of the private sector and human capital. The EIP also carries a strong regional cooperation element, by supporting the gradual establishment of a Common Regional Market in the Western Balkans. The EIP relies on the successful roll-out of the Instrument of Pre-accession Assistance (IPA III), which was adopted in the last quarter of 2021. The Commission, together with the beneficiary partners, successfully concluded the first IPA III programming exercise committing more than EUR 4.1 billion with 75 % of this amount contributing directly to the EIP, and including 21 flagship investment projects chiefly in the fields of transport, energy and green transition. The commitment of the EU and its Member States to close cooperation with the region was also epitomised in two summits in 2021: the EU-Western Balkans Summit in Brdo (October) and the Berlin Process Summit in Berlin (July). Both summits focussed on tightening regional cooperation, as well as political support for the initiatives related to the implementation of the EIP. In particular, the Western Balkan leaders adopted a detailed action plan for the implementation of the Green Agenda, a roadmap for the reduction of roaming charges between the EU and the region was prepared, the EU launched the Agenda for the Western Balkans on Innovation, Research, Education, Culture, Youth and Sport, and the region adopted action plans for rail, road, road safety, transport facilitation and waterborne transport developed under the Transport Community. More limited progress was achieved with regards to the implementation of the Common Regional Market agreed at the Berlin Process Summit in Sofia in 2020. Work was concluded at technical level – with support of key regional organisations like the Regional Cooperation Council and the Central European Free Trade Agreement CEFTA – on a number of important agreements relating to freedom of movement and mutual recognition of academic and professional qualifications; however, political obstacles prevented their adoption and entering into force. Following the de-escalation in the Eastern Mediterranean, dialogue and cooperation with Turkey increased in 2021, in particular in the areas of common interest like climate change, trade, health, migration and security. Nevertheless, the situation in Varosha in Cyprus, Turkey’s backsliding on reforms, its deviations from the obligations under the Customs Union and its assertive foreign policy actions, continued to complicate EU-Turkey relations as well as Turkey’s relations with individual Member States. The EU’s serious concerns on the continued deterioration of democracy, the rule of law, fundamental rights and the independence of the judiciary were not addressed, and Turkey’s accession negotiations remained at a standstill. Following the review of the framework for restrictive measures in response to Turkey’s unauthorised drilling activities in the Eastern Mediterranean, the Council extended these for another year until 12 November 2022. The March 2016 EU-Turkey Statement continued to deliver results and Turkey plays a key role in addressing migration along the eastern Mediterranean route. The year 2021 continued to be marked by the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic. To address these challenges, the EU, itself seriously affected, provided extensive support to governments particularly in the Western Balkans. In 2020, the EU reallocated financial assistance in view of the urgencies faced by the region, 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. Both the Economic Reactivation Package and the package of support to vulnerable groups and the health sector (including for access to vaccines) started to be implemented in 2021. In addition, a new project was signed with the World Health Organisation (WHO), which focuses on promoting COVID-19 vaccination roll-out, building health hazard preparedness and taking steps towards ensuring financing for universal healthcare. By the end of 2021, 89 % of contracts and 61 % of payments of the IPA-related COVID-19 financial assistance package had been achieved. The COVID-19 response for the Western Balkans includes a EUR 70 million grant for vaccine purchases and administration, which enabled them to receive 651 000 vaccine doses in the spring and summer across the region with an additional 400 000 in December in Albania alone, and also significant quantities of vaccine related equipment were supplied. Turkey chose not to request the redirection of EU grant funding under the IPA programme or the Facility for Refugees for the COVID-19 response. However, under existing financial commitments, contingencies and savings were mobilised. In total, support to the Western Balkans and Turkey from the EU and its Member States amounted to more than EUR 5.2 billion. In 2021, North Macedonia, Albania, Serbia, Montenegro and Turkey successfully joined the EU Digital COVID-19 Certificate scheme. 1.4. Humanitarian aid and civil protection The year 2021 was still largely driven by the lasting COVID-19 crisis – a global health emergency that continued to require an unprecedented, coordinated response both within and outside the EU. In addition, large-scale disasters that occurred during the summer months of 2021 - forest fires in the south of Europe and floods in Western Europe - highlighted the impact of climate change. Humanitarian needs continued to increase to an all-time high, driven largely by the resurgence of conflicts, combined with the impact of climate change, environmental degradation, global population growth and failed governance. In 2021, the Commission delivered a strong and coordinated response in Europe and beyond and was a key player in tackling the COVID-19 crisis globally. In March 2021, the Commission Communication on ‘the EU’s humanitarian action: new challenges, same principles’ was adopted, which sets out how the EU, with its partners and other donors, can address more effectively the growing humanitarian needs and provide a better enabling environment for the delivery of humanitarian aid. The Communication identified a number of emerging policy approaches, which will be further developed in the coming years in conjunction with existing policies. As part of the Communication, the Commission laid the ground for establishing a European Humanitarian Response Capacity: a new instrument that enables the Commission to directly fill critical gaps in the delivery of humanitarian assistance, particularly in the area of humanitarian logistics and supply chain. The Commission had to intervene in support of humanitarian organisations in the field in a wide range of crisis-affected countries and regions, such as Afghanistan, Syria, Turkey, Yemen, South Sudan, Venezuela, the Sahel region and Ukraine. The larger part of EU humanitarian funding was dedicated to addressing needs arising from protracted crises, mainly driven by conflict and compounded by COVID-19. Humanitarian operations were deployed in more than 80 countries, covering 98 % of the countries for which the UN launched an appeal.

In 2021, specific attention was given to support the response to the COVID-19 pandemic in Africa. To this end, the Commission mobilised EUR 100 million with a view to assist national health systems in implementing vaccination campaigns against COVID-19 and to facilitate the ‘last mile delivery’ of vaccines. In order to contribute to address global climate change in humanitarian aid, the Commission developed in 2021 minimum environmental requirements for partners in priority areas where readily available solutions can provide the greatest environmental benefits. These were launched at the European Humanitarian Forum in March 2022. The EU Civil Protection Mechanism (UCPM) was activated an unprecedented 114 times in 2021, for a wide range of disasters, and was in a position to provide assistance in 91 % of the cases. Even with resource constraints and competing demands on a global scale in response to the pandemic, the UCPM facilitated the delivery of numerous items of critical personal protective and medical equipment, including almost 30 million COVID-19 vaccine doses. 95 air operations were organised under UCPM to evacuate EU citizens and persons under EU duty of care from Afghanistan. The UCPM response outside Europe was effective, with an 87 % response rate to the 78 requests submitted through the Mechanism. The rescEU stockpile established in March 2020 and further developed throughout 2020 and 2021 consists of an EU safety net stockpile of COVID-19 countermeasures, Personal Protective Equipment items (e.g. masks, million gloves etc.) and medical equipment (ventilators, oxygen concentrators) mobilised both inside and outside the EU. The rescEU stockpile facilitated improved preparedness that enabled the UCPM to facilitate the delivery of millions of personal protective equipment items, medical counter measures and vaccines, both to non-EU countries and to EU Member States and Participating States. 1.5. Security and defence 2021 was a year of transitions. Geopolitical changes have intensified with power politics repeatedly challenging the EU and its values. The COVID-19 pandemic continued to exacerbate an already challenging security environment. The EU continued its efforts to combat the pandemic through a collaborative crisis management approach, and through its ‘Team Europe’ approach the EU and its Member States have shared more than 385 million vaccine doses with partner countries. In addition to handling the pandemic, the EU responded to one crisis after another, with Belarus, Ukraine, Mali, Sudan, Afghanistan, Ethiopia and Venezuela dominating the international and EU agenda. In 2021, the European External Action Service (EEAS) contributed to the consular crisis response deployed by Member States to coordinate efforts to repatriate EU citizens affected by consular crises, in particular in Afghanistan, Nepal, Ethiopia, and in the wake of the border measures taken during the Omicron-variant COVID-19 outbreak. The UCPM was used to finance these evacuation/repatriation operations. By establishing the European Peace Facility (EPF) on 22 March 2021, the EU expanded its ability to provide security for its citizens and its partners. Notably, it enables the EU to support its partners with all types of military equipment and security infrastructure, in compliance with the highest human rights standards. In 2021, EPF-funded actions amounted to almost EUR 377 million, of which EUR 260 million supported assistance measures. The bulk of the support went to the military components of African-led Peace Support Operations previously funded under the African Peace Facility in Somalia and the Sahel. Other assistance measures served to provide military equipment linked to Common Security and Defence Policy (CSDP) missions/operations, such as in Mozambique, and strengthen the military and defence capacities of partners in the Eastern Neighbourhood and the Western Balkans. The EPF also provided EUR 117 million in common costs for military CSDP missions and operations. On 15 October 2021, the Council adopted a Decision launching the European Union Military Training Mission in Mozambique (EUTM Mozambique). The mission supports a more efficient and effective response by the Mozambican armed forces to the crisis in the Cabo Delgado province, by providing training and capacity building. Over two years, the strategic objective is to support the capacity building of the units of the Mozambican armed forces that will be part of a future Quick Reaction Force. In particular, the mission will provide military training including operational preparation, specialised training on counterterrorism, and training and education on the protection of civilians, especially women and girls in conflict, and provide compliance with international humanitarian law and human rights law. Furthermore, the EU continued enhancing its role as a global actor in conflict analysis and prevention. The EEAS engaged in regular Horizon Scanning and launched – in close cooperation with Commission services and EU Delegations - approximately 25 conflict analyses in countries deemed at risk of instability or violent conflict, either as part of the EU conflict Structural Country Assessment (SCA), or as required by the NDICI-Global Europe Regulation. EU Conflict Analyses identify EU conflict prevention actions, inform EU security and defence engagements, and help to ensure the conflict sensitivity of EU external action (including EPF support). The EEAS furthermore started to implement the 2020 Concept on EU Peace Mediation carrying out several mediation support missions and developing innovative approaches to mediation, including Article 28 actions. 2021 provided further evidence that without peace the efforts to eradicate poverty and inequality will be seriously compromised. The EU therefore continued to promote an integrated approach to peace and stability, working in over 50 countries affected by conflict and fragility. During 2021, the EU supported security targeted actions such as Security Sector Reform, effective border management, tackling organised crime, counterterrorism, and countering violent extremism, and addressed root causes of insecurity and grievances, such as access to natural resources, governance, support to civil society, and many others. Moreover, in the digital era, sustainable development is closely linked with the presence of a global, open stable and secure cyberspace. In this vein, in 2021, the EU invested to support the resilience of partner countries in the cyber domain, including through support to civilian and military critical infrastructure. In November 2021, the EEAS presented the Strategic Compass to the EU Member States. The Strategic Compass defines the EU’s goals in the area of security and defence and link these to concrete objectives and deliverables for the next 5-10 years. It provides a common answer to the threats and challenges the EU is facing, as identified in the first-ever comprehensive threat analysis conducted in 2021. It guides the EU’s efforts on how to better act and prepare, anticipate and secure, invest and innovate, and cooperate with and support partners. NATO and the EU continued to deepen their cooperation. Progress has been made in a number of areas within 74 common proposals, including in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic, such as countering disinformation and hostile propaganda, responding to cyber threats and strengthening resilience and civil preparedness. NATO and the EU are also increasingly involved in each other’s exercises. This helps NATO and the EU to improve their knowledge of each other’s working methods and their ability to coordinate. 1.6. Crisis response and preparedness Despite the continued challenge posed by the COVID-19 pandemic, the transition to the new Multi-annual Financial Framework and a new single financing instrument, the EU continued to implement its integrated approach to conflicts and crises. This included timely crisis response interventions under the Rapid Response Pillar of the Neighbourhood, Development and International Cooperation Instrument-Global Europe (NDICI-Global Europe) and common foreign and security policy actions across the world. NDICI-Global Europe emphasises conflict prevention by means of early warning, conflict-analysis capacity building, training, promoting good governance and respect for universal human rights. Furthermore, 2021 was the first year for both the European Defence Fund and the European Peace Facility. The EU continued to work with partner countries worldwide through long-term actions to build and enhance capacities to tackle global and trans-regional threats, ranging from terrorism and organised crime to threats to cyber and maritime security. Furthermore, the EU operates civilian and military missions worldwide under the Common Security and Defence Policy which focus on wide-ranging action from support for border management to training local police. 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 is focused on the internal/external security nexus, including in the area of counterterrorism and the prevention of violent extremism, and on assisting reforms in the area of the rule of law and anti-corruption, as well as actions in other areas of risk, such as, security implications of climate change and environmental degradation. Such areas are key for sustainable development and good governance in partner countries that directly impacts the internal security of the EU itself. The EU seeks to respond rapidly and flexibly to changing priorities and emerging threats. To this end, it seeks to broaden partnerships, promote European values and build new cross-regional alliances and project influence, thereby contributing to the security of the EU and its citizens from both an internal and external perspective. 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. This boosts the EU's position as a credible partner that delivers and contributes to fundamental principles related to human rights and gender equality, which are cross-cutting themes in all EU policies. Engagement with international organisations remains an EU priority and is reflected in its sustained commitment to the rule-based multilateral order. Regular situation awareness exercises and information-exchanges take place with the UN to coordinate international efforts in conflict and post-conflict settings. Regular operational exchanges and working level discussions also take place with the Organisation for Security and Co-operation in Europe and with other international organisations and agencies to avoid duplication and to optimise results of EU external action. 1.7. Human rights and democracy In a global context of continued shrinking civic and democratic space and multiple attacks on the universality of human rights exacerbated by the COVID-19 crisis, the EU reaffirmed its unconditional support to the protection and promotion of human rights, including gender equality, and democracy worldwide. The adoption, on 8 December 2021, of the NDICI-Global Europe programme on Human Rights and Democracy for the period 2021-2027, worth EUR 1.5 billion, demonstrates the seriousness of the EU’s commitments in this field. In 2021, the EU continued to work to advance the human rights and democracy agenda at country, regional and international level. At country level, the EU supported 132 new initiatives led by civil society organisations, in particular local ones, to protect and promote human rights in over 70 partner countries. After a marked slow-down due to COVID-19 restrictions, electoral observation activities took a fresh start with the successful deployment of six EU election observation missions in Africa (Zambia, the Gambia), Latin America (Honduras, Venezuela), the Middle East (Iraq) and Europe (Kosovo) to assess and help improve electoral processes. At regional and international levels, the EU continued to support international and regional human rights organisations and systems, including the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR), the International Criminal Court (ICC), the Council of Europe, the Inter-American Commission for Human Rights and the Inter-American Court of Human Rights, as well as the Global Campus of Human Rights, a unique network of 100 universities around the world advancing human rights and democracy education. Support also took place in more restrictive environments with continuing support to provide life-saving assistance to human rights defenders among others. Partnerships were concluded with civil society organisations to counter the shrinking civil space in Latin America, Asia, Africa, the Eastern Partnership and the Maghreb region, with a focus on youth participation and empowerment through digital means, and on women’s and girl's empowerment. Actions have also been implemented to track the impact of COVID-19 and respond to the challenges it has created for global democracy – including support to independent media to ensure they can continue to operate, providing essential information on the pandemic. Between 2014 and 2021 approximatively 13 228 Human Rights Defenders (HRDs) at risk and their family members have been supported by direct emergency grants by Protect Defenders and the EU Emergency Fund. In 2021 alone, more than 4 445 HRDs and family members were supported. Among key democracy support actions that continued during 2021 was the ‘Global Monitor of COVID-19’s Impact on Democracy and Human Rights’ a ‘one-stop’ online global monitoring platform (a ‘tracker of trackers’), implemented by the International Institute for Democracy and Electoral Assistance (IDEA), with data and brief country analysis for 165 countries around the world. The EU is also working closely with like-minded partners to support human rights and democracy. In December 2021, President von der Leyen represented the European Commission at the first Summit for Democracy hosted by the President of the United States, Joe Biden. President von der Leyen announced the new Global Europe Human Rights and Democracy programme, mentioned above. An ambitious global Team Europe Democracy initiative was also launched, providing a platform to better coordinate actions between EU Member States, and enhance our support to the rule of law, accountability and good governance projects in partner countries. The implementation of the NDICI-Global Europe programmes and their programming on human rights and democracy is now well under way. The vast majority of partner countries will have major initiatives promoting human rights and the rule of law and addressing democratic governance. They will also benefit from a range of new global initiatives on issues such as political participation and independent media. In addition, the Delegated Act supplementing NDICI-Global Europe provides a thematic target for the geographic programmes of at least 15 % for human rights, democracy and good governance. In 2021, the EU used for the first time the Global Human Rights Sanctions Regime it had adopted in December 2020. Sanctions were issued against individuals and entities from China, Eritrea, Libya, the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea, Russia and South Sudan, who are responsible for serious human rights violations and abuses, ranging from torture, extrajudicial executions and killings to enforced disappearance of persons, arbitrary arrests or detentions and the systematic use of forced labour.



2. Delivering on our commitments: Promoting EU values and interests and fostering sustainable development globally

2.1. Implementing the 2030 Agenda and other international and European commitments and policies (including Global Gateway) The EU has highlighted that the severe economic crisis brought about by the pandemic is affecting the progress made in achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), and that the global recovery must be green, digital, inclusive, just, and sustainable, as well as geared towards the SDGs (e.g., through the Joint Communication on multilateralism). The EU’s commitment to 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. The EU has reiterated its strong commitment to implement the SDGs: ‘our action will remain guided by the 2030 Agenda and its SDGs both internally and externally’. In 2021, the EU relaunched the European Semester as an instrument refocusing on the SDGs and integrated the SDGs in the revision of Better Regulation. The latter implies that all Commission services should identify and assess the contribution to relevant SDGs in all impact assessments, legislative proposals and evaluations. Actions to simultaneously pursue EU global priorities and the SDGs have been taken further in a number of areas, including the recent revision of the Global Europe Results Framework (GERF), the Global Europe instrument adopted in June 2021, the programming guidelines and all the multiannual indicative programmes, each of which refers to the relevant SDGs under each priority area. The EU continued to highlight the link between its main priorities and its commitment to implement the SDGs in its major milestones in 2021, such as the Communication on ‘A renewed multilateralism’ and the recent Joint Communication on Global Gateway. Earlier in 2021, the EU put forward a new strategy to strengthen the EU's contribution to rules-based multilateralism. The EU will use all of the tools at its disposal, including its extensive political, diplomatic and financial support, to promote global peace and security, defend human rights and international law, and to promote multilateral solutions to global challenges. To respond successfully to global crises, threats and challenges, the international community needs an efficient multilateral system, founded on universal rules and values and with the UN at the core of the multilateral system. The Joint Communication on Global Gateway is the European Union’s offer to partner countries to accelerate their twin transitions. It provides them with a sustainable plan to respond to their infrastructure needs and builds on the achievements of the 2018 EU-Asia Connectivity strategy. Global Gateway will focus on infrastructure that responds to various current challenges and be framed in the geopolitical context. It is anchored in five policy drivers: (1) digitalisation, (2) climate and energy, (3) transport, (4) health, and (5) education and research. As stated in the Communication, Global Gateway is fully aligned with the UN’s 2030 Agenda and its SDGs, consistent with the EU sustainability brand. Figure 1: How the priorities of Global Gateway contribute to the SDGs. 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 supports a comprehensive and integrated approach to mobilising financing from all available sources to meet the SDGs and the EU has been further expanding its financial toolbox. This is enhanced by closer cooperation with ‘Team Europe’ partners which should lead to more complementarity, synergies, and multiplier effects, in line with the Council Conclusions on the European Financial Architecture for Development. The EU is helping partner countries make the most of the diverse financing sources available to support SDG implementation. In 2021, the EU has continued to support countries in their implementation of Integrated National Financing Frameworks (INFFs). The EU worked with UN partners to develop INFF.org, a Knowledge Management Platform for the INFFs. 2021 also saw the creation of an EU-UNDP (United Nations Development programme) Technical Assistance Facility on INFFs. It offers technical expertise and country-level support to strengthen specific aspects of national INFF processes in partner countries, for instance in Indonesia and Senegal. Other more specific EU achievements in 2021 include bringing together aid, trade, investment, domestic resource mobilisation and other policies designed to unlock the full potential of all financial flows. The EU adapted and further developed its financial instruments and aid modalities for investments outside the EU to deliver on its ambitious commitments to sustainable development and the implementation of the SDGs. The EU has continued supporting mobilisation of public and private investments for sustainable development in partner countries. Following the adoption of the NDICI- Global Europe Regulation in June 2021, the European Fund for Sustainable Development Plus (EFSD+) started to be operationalised. Out of the total capacity of the EU External Action Guarantee (up to EUR 53.45 billion), nearly EUR 40 billion of guarantee cover is planned to be made available to reduce the risk of investment in partner countries and support their sustainable development. The EFSD+ is also a key instrument for the EU response to the COVID-19 pandemic. In November 2021, a EUR 200 million EFSD+ guarantee (COVAX II) was signed with the European Investment Bank (EIB), increasing support for the COVAX Facility, which aims to secure fair and equitable access to safe COVID-19 vaccines for all. The private sector is 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. In 2021, the first TOSSD dataset was published and, thanks to EU efforts, TOSSD was recognised by the Inter-agency and Expert Group on SDG Indicators (IAEG-SDGs) as a data source for SDG indicator 17.3.1. 2.3. Programming (NDICI-Global Europe, IPA III, INSC, DOAG) Regarding the NDICI-Global Europe, with the exception of the Neighbourhood geographic programmes, the programming exercise was completed in December 2021 with the adoption by the College of 84 country, one multi-country, three regional, Erasmus+ and four thematic multiannual indicative programmes (MIPs). All adopted MIPs are published on the Commission website. For the Neighbourhood, the two foreseen regional MIPs and two country MIPs were adopted and are published on the Commission website. The remaining country MIPs will be proposed for adoption in the course of 2022 following progress on the extension and renewal of the joint documents with partner countries (Partnership Priorities, Association Agendas and equivalent). As the basis for programming, they will frame cooperation in the Neighbourhood and must be in place before related MIPs are proposed for adoption. The adopted MIPs set out priority areas for cooperation with partner countries and regions around the world for 2021-2027. The MIPs also include the financial allocation for 2021-2024 (country level) and for 2021-2027 (regional and thematic level) that will support this cooperation. For Sub-Saharan Africa, Asia and the Pacific and the Americas and the Caribbean this represents a total of EUR 26.3 billion. For the Neighbourhood this represents a total of about EUR 4 billion for the adopted MIPs.

Country allocations and Neighbourhood regional allocations for 2025-2027 will be decided at the mid-term review. The priorities have been defined in consultation with the relevant partners' authorities and through a real ‘Team Europe’ approach, together with EU Member States, the European development finance institutions, including EIB and European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD), as well as the European Parliament. Consultations were also held with civil society organisations, including women and youth organisations, local authorities, representatives from the private sector, the UN and other like-minded partners. The agreed priorities underpinned the implementation of the EU's Global Gateway strategy and are in line with the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and its SDGs and the Paris Agreement. For fragile contexts, the MIPs adopt a humanitarian-development-peace nexus approach where possible. For the Neighbourhood, the MIPs integrate the priorities laid out in the two key policy documents, which frame cooperation in the regions, namely the renewed Eastern Partnership and the new Agenda for the Mediterranean and their accompanying economic and investment plans. For Sub-Saharan Africa, Asia and the Pacific and the Americas and the Caribbean countries and regions, the MIPs will deliver on the overarching EU policy objectives: Green deal features in all MIPs; Digital agenda features in over 80 % of the MIPs; Sustainable growth and decent jobs features in around 75 %; Migration is covered by almost 60 %; Governance, peace and security features in nearly 90 %; Social inclusion and human development are covered in 95 %; with Education addressed in 80 % of MIPs; while gender equality and women’s empowerment are cross-cutting priorities in all MIPs. All the country and regional MIPs are complemented by four thematic MIPs: Human rights and democracy (EUR 1.5 billion); Civil society organisations (EUR 1.5 billion); Peace, stability and conflict prevention (EUR 871 million); and Global challenges (EUR 3.6 billion). Finally, the Erasmus+ MIP, financed by the geographic pillar, was adopted earlier in summer 2021 and it is co-financed by IPA III. Regarding the Instrument for Pre-Accession Assistance (IPA III), in December 2021 the Commission adopted the IPA III programming framework, an overarching strategic programming document for the use of EU pre-accession funds in 2021-2027. It replaces the previous country-specific programming documents. Under IPA III, programming of assistance is based on thematic priorities under five Windows, rather than pre-defined country envelopes. The IPA III programming framework is published on the Commission website. Regarding the European Union Instrument for Nuclear Safety Cooperation (EU-INSC), the MIP 2021-2027 was also adopted in 2021. Regarding the Decision on the Overseas Association including Greenland (DOAG), priority areas for cooperation were jointly established with the Overseas countries and territories (OCTs) based on the overarching Commission policy priorities, notably Green Deal, Digital and Sustainable Growth and jobs and the OCTs’ own priorities. In 2021, one regional MIP for Pacific OCTs was adopted together with ten territorial MIPs. 2.4. Working better together with Member States and European Financial Institutions – A ‘Team Europe’ approach In line with the EU and its Member States’ long-standing commitment to 'working better together', European leaders responded to the COVID-19 pandemic with a package amounting to EUR 53.7 billion (committed up to the end of 2021) as a sign of unity and global solidarity with its partner countries. This collective response – including European development financing institutions and implementing agencies – to add new funds, redirect resources, ensure coordination and improve delivery was branded a ‘Team Europe’ approach. It is designed to support partner countries in their path to a sustainable recovery aligned with the SDGs. The Council Conclusions of 23 April 2021 on Team Europe highlighted the importance of the Team Europe approach beyond the COVID-19 response and added it to the EU External Toolbox. They granted a central role to Team Europe initiatives (TEIs), flagship projects of the Team Europe approach, around which European funding instruments and modalities coalesce to bring a transformational impact and take the Team Europe approach to the next level. In 2021, while continuing to implement the Team Europe COVID-19 response package, the EU and Member States focused on promoting a green, digital, resilient and just global recovery linking grants and investments to the SDGs. The COVID-19 recovery and Working Better Together were fully embedded in NDICI-Global Europe multiannual indicative programmes (MIPs). As part of this programming exercise, the EU and its Member States (together with the EIB and ERBD) jointly identified 150 TEIs: 126 national, 23 regional and one thematic TEI on Democracy. TEIs have already shown a qualitative improvement in how European actors on the ground are joining-up in a ‘Team Europe’ approach and improving partner countries’ understanding of European values and the impact of cooperation. Designing TEIs has improved coordination between the EU and its Member States to enable a more action-oriented approach, including for gender mainstreaming and targeted action in line with the Gender Action Plan III. The NDICI-Global Europe Regulation and the Team Europe Council Conclusions promote the increased use of joint programming as the preferred approach to country programming, whenever possible. Good progress was recorded on Joint Implementation, which helped to increase the impact of EU funds. By December 2021, there were 14 joint programming documents in place globally. Intensified efforts to reach the same level of commitment in preparation for future joint programming are under way in another 19 partner countries. During 2021, joint programming documents, including strategies, were launched in Cambodia, Djibouti, Ecuador, Ghana, Laos, Palestine and Togo. In addition, a ‘Team Europe’ approach is now also used in supporting the implementation of the Global Gateway – the EU strategy that will leverage investments to boost sustainable links around the world by defining a new model for strategic engagement across the EU and its Member States and the private sector. In the Council Conclusions from 10 June 2021 on enhancing the European Financial Architecture for Development (EFAD), EU Member States underlined the importance of policy steer and the need for enhanced coordination amongst the different financial institutions and other development actors to ‘deliver as one’ for greater efficiency and transformational development impact. The EU and its Member States also created a vaccine-sharing mechanism which has delivered already over 255 million doses to partner countries up to the end of 2021. 2.5. Mobilisation of the NDICI-Global Europe cushion The Commission made full use of Global Europe’s emerging challenges and priorities cushion budget of almost EUR 1 408 million for 2021. Support to partner countries in fighting the COVID-19 pandemic has been the main driver of mobilisations. A EUR 400 million contribution to the COVAX Facility from the cushion contributed to doubling the EU’s support to this facility, which ensures vaccines reach lower income countries. In the same vein, an additional EUR 450 million was mobilised to support President von der Leyen’s State of the Union pledge to support the provision of vaccines, enhance country absorption capacity and cover other needs of the COVID-19 response, namely diagnostics, health systems and therapeutics. The use of the cushion has also supported the EU response to challenges related to migration and forced displacement. Following the European Council conclusions of June 2021, the Commission has proposed a package for 2021-2023 to continue supporting Syrian refugees in neighbouring countries. As part of this package, in 2021, EUR 370 million was mobilised from the cushion to complement the funding for continuing to ensure key interventions in the sector of education for Syrian refugees in Turkey. Similarly, EUR 20 million was mobilised for migration-related actions in North Africa in order to ensure the continuity of ongoing activities. Lastly, EUR 168 million was mobilised to reinforce the Global Challenges programme, as part of the top-ups embedded in recital 70 of the NDICI-Global Europe Regulation.

2.6. Policy Coherence for Development The Commission continued to strengthen policy coherence for development (PCD) in accordance with Article 208 of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union, which requires the EU and its Member States to take account of the objectives of development cooperation in all its policies which are likely to affect developing countries. In April 2021 the Commission adopted the Communication ‘Better regulation: Joining forces to make better laws’, which contains an explicit commitment ‘to better consider the external implications of internal policies and their significant impacts on third countries’, including better consideration of its actors. This commitment became operational in November 2021 with the release of the revised Better Regulation Guidelines. They require impact assessments to analyse, when relevant, the specific impacts of internal EU policies on third countries and to identify how EU actions contribute to the SDGs. There is a growing consideration for the external dimension in EU legislation, not least fostered through the implementation of the SDGs, which provide an explicit bridge between EU internal and external actions. In view of the pivotal role of EU delegations in monitoring impacts of EU policies in partner countries, reporting from EU delegations on PCD issues was further reinforced. This is now a specific section in the annual progress reports and external experts support the analysis. Over the years, the number of reports is increasing, covering over 130 partner countries in 2021. 2.7. Development effectiveness The EU actively promotes the effectiveness of its development cooperation to achieve the best, fastest and most sustainable impact for those most in need. The commitment of the EU and its Member States to applying the Busan principles of effectiveness (country ownership, results, inclusiveness, and transparency) is explicit in the European Consensus on Development and in the NDICI-Global Europe Regulation. The EU works with Member States on the implementation of these principles, promoting common positions and practices on effectiveness in support of the 2030 Agenda. The impact of the pandemic in reversing many development gains and increasing poverty and inequality means that effectiveness is more important than ever. EU cooperation modalities operationalise the effectiveness principles, through capacity building, policy reform and political dialogue. Budget support is a key modality for the EU, providing core support to partner countries national systems and public expenditure programmes. 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, to get the buy-in of all development actors at partner country level, including non-OECD (Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development) donors, to build coordinated and more effective development cooperation partnerships. The EU leads on the GPEDC Action Area on Demonstrating the Impact of Effectiveness and, in this role, has initiated a major research project to showcase how effectiveness delivers better impact and promotes country level initiatives to strengthen the effectiveness and impact of development management processes in individual sectors in partner countries. Throughout the year, the EU has supported the reform of the global effectiveness monitoring system and a review of the operating model and governance of the GPEDC. The EU has also promoted a renewed focus on effectiveness at the OECD-Development Assistance Committee (OECD-DAC) to help DAC members to strengthen the effectiveness of their programmes. As a result, the DAC is currently developing a modernised DAC narrative on effectiveness, which will lay out the DAC understanding of its commitments on effectiveness and how DAC members can help deliver this in partner countries. In addition to the 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. Team Europe initiatives (TEIs) both benefit from and contribute to effectiveness. Greater effectiveness in sectors that TEIs focus on create the conditions for faster and better impact. The EU ensures, through the design processes of the TEIs, that opportunities to strengthen effectiveness are built into the initiatives.



3. Thematic Overview Working together towards the SDGs and results achieved with EU support The priorities of the current Commission have been translated into development actions: human development; green deal; sustainable growth and jobs; science, technology, innovation and digitalisation; migration; and 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, main achievements of the EU’s actions are presented within the above-mentioned EU global priorities, alongside illustrative trends in relation to respective associated SDGs and the respective available results, based on the existing EU results framework. While for the purpose of this chapter, for readability purposes, each SDG is mentioned 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 as well. The EU’s partnerships are based on dialogues aiming to converge 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, through the ‘Team Europe’ approach as a key element of the collective EU contribution to a global sustainable recovery aligned with the SDGs. 3.1. Human Development Main achievements Health The COVID-19 pandemic continued to disrupt societies in multiple ways and those that have been most affected are those already deprived, leading to increasing inequalities. The EU strengthened and adapted its collaboration with global health, education and gender equality initiatives to ensure rapid adaptation of their support alongside a reorientation of EU country support to help partner countries face COVID-19’s impact on human development. To enable global access to COVID-19 vaccines, the Commission supported the COVAX Facility with EUR 300 million in grant contributions and EUR 200 million in EFSD Guarantees to allow COVAX to enter into Advance Purchase Commitments for delivery of vaccines to 92 of the poorest countries. The Commission also contributed EUR 397 million to the Global Fund to fight AIDS, Tuberculosis, Malaria allowing the Global Fund to finance life-saving interventions to limit the damage of the pandemic on these killer diseases. The EU also continued its leading support to GAVI’s core work of building immunisations systems, having pledged EUR 300 million to GAVI for the 2021-2025 period, marking a 50 % increase in the Commission’s commitment compared to the previous period.

In May 2021, the Commission President announced a Team Europe initiative on manufacturing and access to vaccines, medicines and health technologies in Africa with support of more than EUR 1 billion from the EU budget and the European development finance institutions such as the European Investment Bank (EIB). This amount will be further enhanced by contributions from EU Member States. The Commission has engaged with key countries, the pharmaceutical industry, and counterparts at regional (African Union (AU), Africa Centres for Disease Control and prevention (Africa CDC) to support vaccination including in humanitarian contexts, and the Africa Medicines Agency) and global level (WHO) on the implementation of this initiative. Education and skills The COVID-19 pandemic continued to disrupt education for children and youth, particularly affecting marginalised populations and particularly those that do not have access to digital means to benefit from online education. The EU strengthened and adapted its collaboration with global education initiatives and actors to ensure rapid response grants to help countries ensure continued learning – including for children affected by conflicts and protracted crises. Ongoing EU country programmes were reoriented, where possible, for a quick and safe reopening of schools, to catch-up on lost learning and to continue strengthening education systems to provide quality education for every boy and girl. Inequalities To contribute to the achievement of SDG 10 and to fight inequalities by building inclusive and sustainable societies, the European Commission continued to put inequalities at the heart of the EU’s international cooperation and developed specific tools to mainstream inequality-reduction as a cross-cutting objective of all interventions. In September 2021, the Commission published the three-volume reference document ‘Addressing income inequalities through development cooperation’ to provide guidance and support to Commission services to mainstream inequalities-reduction in cooperation with partner countries. The reference document supports the ongoing effort of the EU to strengthen its approach to development cooperation to address inequalities in its partner countries. It has so far contributed to the successful integration of inequalities in regional and country MIPs. The Commission also began developing an innovative Inequality Marker to fully track and report on efforts to fight inequalities, creating a sound reporting and benchmarking system on the contribution of EU development policy to the fight against inequalities These tools are being translated into meaningful interventions, the result of strong partnerships and synergies with Member States. The EU and its Members States are designing Team Europe ‘Equality Flagship’ initiatives in countries where inequality is a significant challenge, a political priority and where there is the political will. These initiatives will be transformational and key contributions to reducing inequality and promoting good governance in partner countries. Moreover, in March 2021, the European Commission and Agence Française de Développement (AFD) announced the Extension of the EU-AFD Research Facility on Inequalities to support the implementation of research results in pilot public policies to reduce inequalities in four middle-income countries: South Africa, Mexico, Colombia and Indonesia. Gender Equality In 2021 the Implementation of the Gender Action Plan III (GAP III) started translating into actions to make gender equality and empowerment of women and girls a priority in all EU external action. Gender equality was well integrated in the geographic programming and in its international partnerships policy. The EU committed that at least 85 % of all new external actions will have gender equality and women’s and girls’ empowerment as a significant or principal objective by 2025. After one year of GAP III implementation, for the EU external actions this score is at 70 %. Corresponding commitments are at EUR 9 263 million. Four per cent of actions committed in 2021 have gender equality as their principal objective. See more details in annex 6.10 of this report. Youth and Culture Considering the impact that the pandemic has had on young people and whose futures are being jeopardised, the EU enhanced youth engagement in recovery efforts. Youth Sounding Boards were put in place at both global level and in several partner countries (such as Zimbabwe and Nigeria) to give young people a voice on EU policies and action. Young people could also share their views on and contribute to discussions on initiatives by participating in Youth Policy Labs (in the Western Balkans for instance). Preparations and consultations started on a new EU action plan for youth participation and empowerment in external actions, to ensure that policies and actions are relevant for future generations and allow young people to help shape the future. During the pandemic and lock-down periods, culture has played an important role in keeping societies together, notably through digital means. EU actions for culture and creative sectors contributed to recovery efforts in several ways and with a particular focus on young people to enhance access to financing, building skills for jobs and to ensure respect of human rights and cultural diversity. SDG #1 Reduced Poverty For almost 25 years, poverty has steadily declined, and the poverty rate halved in our partner countries on average. EU cooperation has helped achieve this result, but the quest to end poverty has suffered a setback with COVID-19. The pandemic crisis is having particularly devastating consequences for the most vulnerable people, resulting in an unprecedented increase in global poverty. The World Bank estimates that over 100 million people have been pushed into extreme poverty and around 118 million more people have faced chronic hunger, making the economic and social consequences of COVID-19 more serious than the virus itself. The EU’s international partnerships interventions all pursue the primary objective of poverty eradication. Yet, achieving this objective requires united action across all fronts. This is why the EU and its Member States, acting in a ‘Team Europe’ approach, are working to support a sustainable recovery and to achieve all SDGs. In this context, given the multidimensional dimension of poverty, EU actions aiming at poverty eradication contribute actively to the pursuit of a range of SDGs (see Figure 2).

Figure 2: SDG 1 – Interlinkages with other SDGs In 2021, our official development assistance (ODA) commitments towards our partner countries to achieve SDG 1 (No Poverty) are estimated to be around EUR 3.5 billion (i.e., when intervention had SDG 1 as a first and second main objective). This helped alleviate the consequences of the pandemic in partner countries, and in particular for vulnerable groups. Social protection, through its redistributive nature, proved to be a powerful instrument to mitigate increasing levels of inequalities and poverty when aligned to partner countries’ policies. In 2021, the EU has continued its support for building comprehensive and resilient social protection systems in partner countries. Humanitarian assistance contributed to meeting the needs of the most vulnerable. SDG #3 Good Health and Well-being The COVID-19 pandemic continued to disrupt societies in multiple ways and those that have been most affected are those already deprived, leading to increasing inequalities. The EU strengthened and adapted its collaboration with global health, education and gender equality initiatives to ensure rapid adaptation of their support alongside a reorientation of EU country support to help partner countries face COVID-19’s impact on human development. EU actions to contribute to good health and well-being are often directly associated not only to the pursuit of SDG3 but also to a broader range of SDGs, given the interlinkages between SDGs (see Figure 3). Figure 3: SDG 3 – Interlinkages with other SDGs To enable global access to COVID-19 vaccines, the Commission supported the COVAX Facility with EUR 300 million in grant contributions and EUR 200 million in EFSD Guarantees to EIB loans, allowing COVAX to enter into Advance Purchase Commitments, for the procurement and delivery of vaccines to the 92 poorest countries. Additional support of EUR 10 million was provided to the COVAX humanitarian buffer. The Commission has also committed EUR 100 million to support vaccine deployment and rollout in Africa from its humanitarian budget. Through a ‘Team Europe’ approach, around EUR 656 million in humanitarian support was provided by Commission services, of which EUR 203 million in 2021 was to vulnerable populations affected by the pandemic. The EU Humanitarian Air Bridge and the Union Civil Protection Mechanism have facilitated the delivery of humanitarian aid and the overall response to the pandemic. The Commission also contributed EUR 397 million to the Global Fund to fight AIDS, Tuberculosis, Malaria and allowed the Global Fund to finance interventions to limit the damage of the pandemic on these three diseases. In May 2021, the Commission President announced a Team Europe initiative on manufacturing and access to vaccines, medicines and health technologies in Africa with the support of more than EUR 1 billion from the EU budget and the European development finance institutions such as the European Investment Bank (EIB). This amount will be further enhanced by contributions from EU Member States. The Commission has engaged with key countries, the pharmaceutical industry, and counterparts at regional (AU, Africa CDC, Africa Medicines Agency) and global level (WHO) for implementation. SDG #4 Quality Education The COVID-19 pandemic has wiped-out years of educational progress as many children continued being deprived of education due to lock-downs, which exacerbated further existing vulnerabilities. Job loss and family income reduction have pushed a number of children into work during school closure, they are risk of child labour and dropping out schooling if no social security measures are put in place. As economies were increasingly put under stress, two-thirds of countries reduced their education budgets thereby increasing existing global education financing gaps. The EU advocated for sustainable funding for education, supported global reform efforts to ensure better collaboration amongst education actors and the channelling of support in more coordinated and efficient ways. The EU joined evidence-based advocacy efforts at two Global Education Meetings to promote the right to quality education. Given the importance of education for human development, the Commission decided to increase its support from around 7 % to at least 10 % of development programmes managed by DG INTPA under NDICI-Global Europe and the Decision on the Overseas Association including Greenland (DOAG) funding with a focus on the countries that are furthest behind the sustainable development education goals. The EU contribution to the Global Partnership for Education was increased by nearly 50 % for 2021-2027 to EUR 700 million helping 175 million boys and girls to learn and get a further 88 million children in school and prevent children being out of school and socially excluded.

The Erasmus+ programme was stepped up to contribute to recovery efforts and to strengthen higher education institutions and systems in partner countries. The budget for Sub-Saharan Africa was multiplied by 3.5 times for 2021-2027 and the first calls for applications were launched to provide young people with opportunities to study at European universities and enhance prospects of employment. Furthermore, the EU endorsed the G7 Ministerial Declaration on girls’ education in May 2021, committing to ensure by 2026 that 40 million more girls will be in school, and 20 million more girls will be able to read in low and lower-middle income countries. The EU also remains a strong advocate for the Safe Schools Declaration. The EU continued its strong leadership in education in emergencies, dedicating 10 % of EU humanitarian aid to restore and maintain access to safe, quality and inclusive primary and secondary education during humanitarian crises. The EU supported over 2.3 million children to quickly enter or return to learning opportunities. SDG #5 Gender Equality In 2021 the implementation of the EU Gender Action Plan (GAP) III - An ambitious Agenda for gender equality and women’s empowerment in EU external action, adopted by the College on 25 November 2020, went at full speed with bold political and operational engagements at country, regional and international levels. With the new multiannual financial framework (MFF) also starting, the focus was put on integrating GAP III priorities and objectives in the geographic programming, paving the way for gender mainstreaming in all sectors including new thematic areas such as green and digital transitions and blended finance. A GAP III ‘country-level implementation plan’ was developed in each country by the EU Delegation in cooperation with EU Member States, identifying political objectives and concrete programmes through broad-based consultations with all stakeholders, cementing greater EU cooperation and joint initiatives. Several Team Europe initiatives include specific actions supporting gender equality results. Specific resources and accountability measures, including indicators, contribute to SDG 5. The EU committed that at least 85 % of all new external actions will have gender equality and women’s and girls’ empowerment as a significant or principal objective by 2025. After one year of GAP III implementation, for the EU external actions this score is at 70 %. Corresponding commitments are at EUR 9 263 million. Four per cent of actions committed in 2021 have gender equality as their principal objective. For more details, see annex 6.10 of this report. GAP III calls to implement at least one programme dedicated to gender equality in each country and region by 2025. Numerous ambitious initiatives were already identified, mixing different support modalities such as projects, budget support, and blended finance. There has been a swift uptake of the new priorities on green transition and digital transformation while furthering support for the elimination of gender-based violence, economic and social empowerment, participation and leadership, a stronghold of EU support to partner countries for many years. Dialogue and cooperation with governments, the private sector and civil society were reinforced at all levels. In 2021 funding to women’s rights organisations and movements increased by 27.7 % compared to 2020. The Commission continued to drive the international agenda and agreements toward fulfilling gender equality and women’s empowerment, advancing the promotion of the women, peace and security (WPS) agenda, notably as one of the co-leaders of the Action Coalition on Gender-Based Violence of the Generation Equality Forum, and foregrounding the EU-UN Spotlight Initiative. The Council Conclusions on Afghanistan in 2021 refer to respect for women’s and girls’ rights as one of the benchmarks for engagement with the de facto authorities. As such, the EU’s support to the basic needs of the Afghan people pays special attention to the rights of women and girls. Actions are in place to systematically implement the WPS agenda including, for example, specific support to women mediators, integrating gender perspectives in the prevention of violent extremism and increasing and strengthening the participation of women in Common Security and Defence Policy operations and missions. Humanitarian objectives were met in both policy, funding and advocacy. The EU continued to engage as an active member of the new Call to Action on Gender-Based Violence. In line with the EU commitment to ‘lead by example’, a set of initiatives were taken to set in place a gender-responsive leadership, while internal capacity was reinforced through extensive training, guidance, and a refreshed network of gender focal persons, equality coordinators, and gender advisors. The new GAP III reporting system is operational and the Strategic and institutional objectives and indicators were monitored (see annex 6.10), showing overall good progress. Solid foundations for the implementation of GAP III are in place. SDG #6 Clean Water and Sanitation The world is currently off-track to meeting the targets of SDG 6. There were still two billion people in the world lacking safely managed drinking water services in 2020, while almost half of the global population – 3.6 billion people – lack safe sanitation. The EU continued to support access to water and sanitation as well as sustainable and integrated water management. Achieving progress in this area is also critical for many other sectors including biodiversity, climate change, disaster risk reduction, nutrition, gender, health, and education. In the area of water, sanitation and hygiene (WASH), the Council Conclusions on water in EU external action were adopted in November 2021. Transboundary water cooperation is vital to prevent conflicts and ensure effective and sustainable use and management of shared resources. However, cooperation in many water basins is inadequate to tackle the existing problems and challenges, including weak legal and/or institutional frameworks, insufficient implementation of joint policies and low capacity. Team Europe initiatives on water and food security and water management in the Southern Neighbourhood, on transboundary water management for Africa, and on water, energy and climate in Central Asia were developed in this context. In parallel to this dynamic, continued support to the globalisation of the United Nations Economic Commission for Europe (UNECE) Water Convention was put in place. 2021 was also the first implementation year of Climate Investor 2, a programme that actively developed its pipeline with the private sector in the areas of water access in rural areas, innovative sanitation solutions and non-revenue water. Significant progress has been made in the adoption of a humanitarian-development-peace nexus approach, increasing coherence across the WASH sectors. EU actions directly associated to a range of SDGs contribute to the pursuit of SDG 6, given the interlinkages between SDGs (see Figure 4).

Figure 4: SDG 6 – Interlinkages with other SDGs SDG #10 Reduced Inequalities To contribute to the achievement of SDG 10 and to fight inequalities by building inclusive and sustainable societies, the European Commission continued to put inequalities at the heart of the EU’s international cooperation and developed specific tools to mainstream inequality-reduction as a cross-cutting objective of all interventions. In 2021, while inequality-reduction was mainstreamed across all interventions, the EU continued to support specific policy measures targeting people living in the poorest and most vulnerable situations. These interventions focused on sectors considered to have significant impact in reducing inequalities across different dimensions in partner countries, and built on the work the EU is carrying forward across all priorities. This year the Commission published the reference document Addressing income inequalities through development cooperation to provide guidance and support to Commission services to mainstream inequalities-reduction in our cooperation with partner countries. The reference document has so far contributed to the successful integration of inequalities in regional and country MIPs. The Commission also began developing an innovative Inequality Marker to fully track our efforts to fight inequalities, creating a sound reporting and benchmarking system on the contribution of EU development policy to the fight against inequalities. EU actions to reduce inequalities are often directly associated to the pursuit of a range of SDGs, given the interlinkages between these SDGs (see Figure 5). Reducing inequalities depends on progress in a broader range of SDGs, and in turn has a clear impact on many of the other SDGs. Figure 5: SDG 10 – Interlinkages with other SDGs The human rights-based approach (HRBA) is a working method to reach people in vulnerable situations and to leave no one behind. In June 2021 the Commission adopted the staff working document ‘Applying the Human Rights Based Approach to international partnerships: An updated Toolbox for placing rights-holders at the centre of EU’s Neighbourhood, Development and International Cooperation’. The toolbox and its virtual version guide the development of interventions step by step and provides a multitude of tools, resources and examples. These tools are being translated into concrete interventions, the result of strong partnerships and synergies with like-minded Member States. The EU and its Members States are designing Team Europe ‘Equality Flagship’ initiatives in partner countries where inequality is a significant challenge and a political priority. These initiatives will be transformational and high-profile contributions to reducing inequality and promoting good governance in partner countries. In March 2021, the European Commission and AFD announced the Extension of the EU-AFD Research Facility on Inequalities to support the implementation of research results in pilot public policies to reduce inequalities in four middle-income countries: South Africa, Mexico, Colombia and Indonesia.

Selected results 2018-2021 64 424 000 one-year-olds were fully immunised with EU support. 30 674 000 women of reproductive age had access to modern contraception methods with EU support. 38 072 000 students enrolled in primary education with EU support. 8 259 000 students enrolled in secondary education with EU support. 17 093 000 individuals had access to improved drinking water source and/or sanitation facility with EU support. 16 919 000 people benefitting from EU-funded interventions to counter sexual and gender-based violence. 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 received support via the Global Education Partnership, which is co-funded by the EU. ·The largest number of individuals with access to improved drinking water source and/or sanitation facility was reached in Sub-Saharan Africa (6.2 million), followed by North Africa (4.8 million) and South & Central Asia (2.2 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 with a view to eliminating open defecation in communities. In Afghanistan, 680 000 persons from urban and rural areas had access to improved drinking water. ·People in 46 countries were reached by interventions to counter sexual and gender-based violence. In Timor-Leste, the COVID-19 Emergency Response reached more than 59 000 persons (29 000 women and 30 000 men) through campaigns to prevent gender-based violence and informing about referral services available to survivors of domestic violence. Table 1: EU RF indicators disaggregated by sex EU Results Framework indicator Total women/girls men/boys Not identified Number of one-year-olds fully immunised with EU support 64 424 000 - - - Number of women of reproductive age using modern contraception methods with EU support 30 674 000 30 674 000 - - Number of students enrolled in education with EU support: a) primary education 38 072 000 17 733 000 19 048 000 1 291 000 Number of students enrolled in education with EU support: b) secondary education 8 259 000 3 856 000 3 915 000 489 000 Number of individuals with access to improved drinking water source and/or sanitation facility with EU support 17 093 000 336 000 331 000 16 426 000 Number of people benefitting from EU-funded interventions to counter sexual and gender-based violence 16 919 000 6 188 000 6 553 000 4 178 000 3.2. Green Deal Main achievements In 2021, the European Commission continued to be at the forefront of international efforts to promote sustainable and inclusive development, in line with the external dimension of the European Green Deal launched in December 2019. Building on the transformative agenda of the Green Deal strategy in 2021 the Commission has stepped up its work to address climate change, preserve biodiversity and enhance the sustainability of food systems. This proved to be all the more crucial as climate change, biodiversity loss, environment degradation and food insecurity worsened and the Green Deal was confirmed as Europe’s blueprint for implementing a sustainable recovery model to ‘build back better’. The strategy became even more vital as the COVID-19 pandemic continued to challenge global economies and the Commission’s efforts to enter a path of green, just and resilient post-pandemic recovery in 2021. As 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. Between 2021 and 2027, the EU and its Member States, through a ‘Team Europe’ approach, will mobilise up to EUR 300 billion of investments in digital, climate and energy, transport, health, education and research. It will do so in the framework of its new Global Gateway strategy, launched in 2021, which is expected to bring a major contribution to the green and digital transition. Fully aligned with the UN’s Agenda 2030 and its SDGs, the Global Gateway strategy will help tackle the most pressing global challenges, from fighting climate change, to improving health systems, and boosting competitiveness and security of global supply chains. In the area of green and smart cities, the Commission is seeking to strengthen linkages between EU cities and cities in partner countries including through initiatives such as the Global Covenant of Mayors. In 2021, the Commission continued to promote the transition towards sustainable agriculture and nutrition and food security. The Sustainable Cocoa Initiative was advanced and eight thematic roundtables of the Cocoa Talks on the sustainability of the value chain were successfully held. To support sustainable agriculture the use of blended finance increased and several agri-blending initiatives were put in place to support smallholders. In relation to the EU Farm to Fork strategy, the Commission enhanced its awareness and capacity-building activities in food sectors in partner countries (for example the AGRINFO and COLEACP programmes) to support and facilitate their transition. In September the EU pledged EUR 140 million to support CGIAR, the largest international network on agricultural research for development, to support research in sustainable food systems to tackle hunger, preserve natural resources and improve livelihoods. In the context of the Global Network against Food Crises, a new joint Food and Agriculture Organisation/ World Food programme (FAO/WFP) initiative worth EUR 21 million to follow-up the activities of the Network with a new focus on assessing the vulnerability of food systems at country level and related responses was operationalised. In 2021, the EU also substantially contributed to the success of the UN Food Systems and the Tokyo Nutrition for Growth (N4G) Summits. In total, a Team Europe commitment amounting to EUR 4.3 billion was made, of which the EU pledged EUR 2.5 billion, for 2021-2024 (EUR 1.4 billion for development and EUR 1.1 billion for humanitarian aid) to address all forms of malnutrition in humanitarian and development settings. 2021 was also an important year for key steps made in tackling biodiversity loss through policy and the mainstreaming of biodiversity across all interventions. The Biodiversity COP15 in Kunming (Part 1) adopted a Declaration in line with EU’s high ambition and position. For the NaturAfrica initiative, the identification process started in six regional landscapes and in several African countries with the aim of improving biodiversity conservation.

In parallel, the Commission adopted the deforestation regulation, forest partnerships were launched at COP26, and a EUR 1 billion contribution was made to the Global Forest Financing Pledge. To honour the pledge made by President von der Leyen in January in support of Africa’s Great Gre