Jakarta, August 16, 2024, The Europe Today: The Indonesian Government will prioritize food security, health, and energy in its development cooperation with African countries at the 2nd Indonesia-Africa Forum (IAF), scheduled to take place in Bali from September 1–3, 2024. This focus aligns with Indonesia’s broader efforts to strengthen ties and provide meaningful support to African nations.
“Priority assistance to Africa is in the sectors of food security, health, and energy,” stated Siti Nugraha Mauludiah, Director General of Public Information and Diplomacy at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, during an online media briefing on Thursday.
To bolster this cooperation, Indonesia has committed to consistently providing grants and other forms of support. Currently, Indonesia’s development grants have reached 23 out of 54 African countries, covering approximately 42 percent of the continent. These grants have been utilized for capacity-building programs, infrastructure renovations, and emergency humanitarian assistance.
In 2024, seven grants focusing on food security, transportation, and energy have been included in the List of Grant Provision Plans. Indonesia’s assistance is being delivered both bilaterally and in collaboration with other international development partners through triangular cooperation.
Looking ahead to 2025, the Indonesian Government has proposed 12 additional grants targeting transportation, disaster response, and the enhancement of food and energy security across Africa.
Following President Joko Widodo’s recent visit to several African countries, the Indonesian Government is in the process of developing a comprehensive grand design for its development cooperation with Africa. This strategic plan will outline potential areas for collaboration over the next five years, with a particular emphasis on food security, health, and energy—sectors that are also key priorities in the Africa Agenda 2063.
“The grand design will include the potential for development cooperation between Indonesia and Africa in the next five years, especially in three main sectors, namely food security, health, and energy, as well as other sectors that are priorities in the Africa Agenda 2063,” Mauludiah concluded.
