Cultural, scientific and technical cooperation

Since September 2002, and especially since the events of November 2004, France’s cooperation with Côte d’Ivoire has been on hold and is concentrated almost exclusively in supporting the process of exiting the crisis, alongside the World Bank and the European Union, as well as direct support for the population and the private sector. Accordingly, a plan for a multiannual priority solidarity fund (PSF) worth €7.5M was signed in 2006 promoting the integration of young people. In addition, a Social Development Fund (SDF) worth €400,000 provides support to micro-projects presented by civil society and intended to help vulnerable populations.

Moreover, conservative measures have been taken to maintain institutional cooperation at a level that makes the administration redeployment programme and the restoration of rule of law (public security, restructuring of the armed forces, support for essential social services) easily and quickly practicable. The French Development Agency (AFD), after discontinuing all actions in the country since December 2002 because of the suspension of payment of arrears that Côte d’Ivoire owed it (i.e. 40% of the arrears owed by Côte d’Ivoire to all lenders), has been progressively resuming its activities since June 2008.

The destruction of French schools (November 2004) dealt a major blow to the tradition of Côte d’Ivoire’s elite to turn to the French school system. Renovated with Côte d’Ivoire funding, the Lycée Blaise Pascal was finally able to reopen for the 2008 school year.

^{Updated on 15.09.10}