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ACP-EU Co-operation Programme in Higher Education (EDULINK II)

ACP-EU Co-operation Programme in Higher Education (EDULINK II)

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1. THE <strong>EDULINK</strong> <strong>II</strong> PROGRAMME1.1 BACKGROUNDThe policy of the European Union (<strong>EU</strong>) is to provide support to <strong>Higher</strong> <strong>Education</strong> (HE) <strong>in</strong> <strong>ACP</strong> partnercountries <strong>in</strong> the context of a balanced approach to <strong>in</strong>vestment across the education sector as a whole. TheAfrican, Caribbean and Pacific (<strong>ACP</strong>) States affirmed their commitment to further re<strong>in</strong>force their highereducation systems <strong>in</strong> the Brussels Declaration on <strong>Education</strong> for Susta<strong>in</strong>able Development <strong>in</strong> <strong>ACP</strong> States, theBrussels Framework for Action, and the Brussels Resolution on the Role of <strong>Education</strong> <strong>in</strong> the Achievement ofthe Millennium Development Goals (MDGs).The importance of higher education <strong>in</strong> the <strong>ACP</strong> development agenda is also confirmed <strong>in</strong> the Intra-<strong>ACP</strong>Strategy Paper and Multiannual Indicative <strong>Programme</strong> 2008-2013, jo<strong>in</strong>tly agreed between the European<strong>Co</strong>mmission and the <strong>ACP</strong> Group of States. The Indicative <strong>Programme</strong> earmarks funds to foster capacitybuild<strong>in</strong>g and regional <strong>in</strong>tegration <strong>in</strong> the field of higher education.The latest communication on <strong>EU</strong> Development policy adopted by the <strong>Co</strong>llege on the 12 th October 2011"Increas<strong>in</strong>g the impact of <strong>EU</strong> Development Policy: an Agenda for Change" underl<strong>in</strong>es the necessity toenhance the <strong>EU</strong> support for quality education to give young people the knowledge and skills to be activemembers of an evolv<strong>in</strong>g society.Moreover, the mentioned latest communication also acknowledges the relevance of the energy andagriculture sectors as drivers of poverty eradication:In agriculture, the <strong>EU</strong> should support susta<strong>in</strong>able practices, <strong>in</strong>clud<strong>in</strong>g the safeguard<strong>in</strong>g of ecosystemservices, giv<strong>in</strong>g priority to locally-developed practices and focus<strong>in</strong>g on smallholder agriculture and rurallivelihoods, formation of producer groups, the supply and market<strong>in</strong>g cha<strong>in</strong>, and government efforts tofacilitate responsible private <strong>in</strong>vestment. The <strong>EU</strong> will cont<strong>in</strong>ue work<strong>in</strong>g on strengthen<strong>in</strong>g nutritionalstandards, food security governance and reduc<strong>in</strong>g food price volatility at <strong>in</strong>ternational level.In energy, the <strong>EU</strong> should offer technology and expertise as well as development fund<strong>in</strong>g, and should focus onthree ma<strong>in</strong> challenges: price volatility and energy security; climate change, <strong>in</strong>clud<strong>in</strong>g access to low carbontechnologies; and access to secure, affordable, clean and susta<strong>in</strong>able energy services.S<strong>in</strong>ce its launch <strong>in</strong> 2006, the <strong>EDULINK</strong> <strong>Programme</strong> has set up co-<strong>operation</strong> projects <strong>in</strong>volv<strong>in</strong>g 139 <strong>ACP</strong><strong>Higher</strong> <strong>Education</strong> Institutions (HEIs) from <strong>ACP</strong> States. The projects have been f<strong>in</strong>anced from a € 35 M totalbudget under the 9th European Development Fund (EDF).The current Call for Proposals is designed to cont<strong>in</strong>ue foster<strong>in</strong>g co-<strong>operation</strong> <strong>in</strong> the field of <strong>Higher</strong> <strong>Education</strong>between the countries of the African, Caribbean and Pacific Group of States (<strong>ACP</strong> States) and the EuropeanUnion. <strong>EDULINK</strong> will improve the effectiveness, management, visibility and hence the impact of <strong>ACP</strong>-<strong>EU</strong>co-<strong>operation</strong> <strong>in</strong> the field of higher education. The <strong>Programme</strong> aims at promot<strong>in</strong>g <strong>in</strong>novation <strong>in</strong> HEIs <strong>in</strong> the<strong>ACP</strong> States and, hence, at ensur<strong>in</strong>g their competitiveness <strong>in</strong> the global environment.January 2012 Page 5 of 23

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