Have you ever stopped to think how often in your daily lives you are requested to show your ID card? I am sure that the answer is too many. So many that we give having a legal identity for granted, when in many parts of the world loads of children lack such a basic act: their legal registration. 

Indeed, birth registration is sometimes even known as the ‘first right’ of a child. It is their passport to security, protection from abuse and violence, access to education, good health, advancement and mobility.  Without legal identities, children can be denied access to basic services such as schooling. Without details of their age, they cannot be easily protected against child labour, recruitment into armed forces or militias, human trafficking, early marriage and other forms of exploitation.
 
UNICEF figures point out that by mid-century almost 1 in every 3 children globally will live in Africa. And yet, only 44 per cent of Africa’s children under the age of five have their births registered, mainly in rural areas, meaning that half of all African children are not counted as citizens. And this problem also deeply affects other developing regions, and requires our urgent attention.
 
I am glad to see that this UN agency keeps up the hard work in this regard, and I am proud to say that it counts on the European Union support on it. For instance, together we are implementing a project to improve children registration in eight countries across Africa, Asia and the Pacific. These eight countries are Nigeria, Burkina Faso, Myanmar, Mozambique, Uganda, Kiribati, Vanuatu and the Solomon Islands. Thanks to this initiative, the existing registration processes will be replaced by new and better ones, to make sure that records are not lost and can be retrieved.
 
The new registration systems, which for the first time, will make registration free, will use more efficient digital techniques and include mobile technology that allows people to get registered even in remote areas. This will also help countries to have a clear picture of their demographic trends, which is key to defining sustainable development strategies for the future.
 
As a result, millions of people will be able to enjoy access to healthcare, attend school and vote in elections for the first time. Simple things that we often also take for granted.

London was yesterday the scenery of a very important event: a conference on Somalia, co-hosted by the UK and Somalia, and attended by fifty-four friends and partners of Somalia.
We met at a pivotal moment for Somalia. Last year Somalia’s eight-year transition ended and Somalia chose a new, more legitimate Parliament, President and Government.

Security is improving, as Somali and AMISOM forces, and their Ethiopian allies, recover towns and routes from Al Shabaab. The number of pirate attacks committed off the coast of Somalia has drastically reduced.
The EU has been a long-time partner to Somalia, with more than 1.2 billion euro being provided since 2008 to support the Somali people basic needs and improve the security of the country. We give a great deal of support to the security sector – including  the AMISOM – that I will talk about later this morning.

In this complex landscape, we have also helped hundreds of thousand Somali people to get access to humanitarian aid but also to education, food, water and to protect the livestock.  I’m pleased that the SHARE initiative which was launched last year in the Horn of Africa has helped to tackle the famine and to strengthen resilience in Somalia.
But this is obviously not enough. We must step up a gear to support the government towards a peaceful development of the Somali state, bringing prosperity to the Somali people in the long-term.  Both security and political tracks must continue to be pursued energetically.  The status quo is not stable or sustainable and it is clear that in Somalia, like anywhere else, there can be no development without security. 

After yesterday’s meeting, we look forward to working with Somali and international partners to support the Somali people in the reconstruction of their country. And that is why we will keep this as a primary focus later this year, when the European Union will host a new Somalia Conference, when we will seek to enshrine support for Somalia’s overall reconstruction plan, entitled Transition Compact, to be endorsed then.

These are busy days in Washington DC with the World Bank (WB) – International Monetary Fund (IMF) Spring Meetings going on. We are witnessing a very enriching debate around the post MDGs process and the impact of the global economic crisis on the path to growth of developing countries.
 
But today I’d like to focus on another discussion taking place in these meetings:  the one around education. Yesterday I took part in the Learning for All Ministerial Roundtable, where we proposed concrete steps to accelerate progress toward ensuring that all children can go to school and learn.  The debate focused on those countries which have the most children out-of-school, namely: Bangladesh, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Ethiopia, Haiti, India, Nigeria, Yemen, and South Sudan. As a former Minister of Education I have difficulties to accept that despite of the significant investments, there is little progress in reaching global education targets. In those countries there are still 61 million children without access to basic education.And the list goes on. That is why the European Union is strongly committed to supporting worldwide access to education as a preliminary condition for development. The European Commission alone currently provides support to education in 48 countries. As an example, in Bangladesh, EU-funded projects are helping to deliver text books to schools, to recruit 15,000 teachers and to provide quality primary education for over 400,000 of the hardest to reach children, with the help of NGOs.
 
There have been other improvements. Since 2004, thanks to the Commission support, more than 9 million pupils have been enrolled in primary education, more than 720,000 primary school teachers have been trained and more than 85,000 new female students have been enrolled in secondary education.

But we cannot be complacent. While in Washington, I have also announced that on May 23rd I will host a High Level conference on Education and Development in Brussels to further strengthen the momentum of the importance of education in development and its role in the post-2015 agenda. I expect this conference to be a key opportunity to continue our hard work on education as it will bring together partner countries, representatives from EU Member States and other development partners. To name but a few: European Commissioners  Kristalina Georgieva, International Cooperation, Humanitarian Aid and Crisis Response, and Androulla Vassiliou, Education, Culture, Multilingualism and Youth, Gordon Brown (United Nations Special Envoy for Global Education), and Her Highness Princess Laurentien of the Netherlands (UNESCO Special Envoy on Literacy for Development).

I firmly believe that education has the power to turn the course of human development from poverty to improved living standards for all. There is an urgent need  to accelerate progress to reach the Millennium Development Goal related to education and get all children in school and learning. And I hope we will succeed.

Last week I had the pleasure to host a preparatory meeting between donors of the Global Fund to fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria. The meeting was held for two very good reasons: to assess the fund’s impact on people in poor countries; and to review the progress made on reforms.
The Global Fund has achieved impressive results in limiting the spread of these three pandemics. However, we are by no means near the end of our journey. Just one example: The number of people dying of AIDS-related causes fell to 1.7 million in 2011, from 2.2 million in the mid-2000s. But 1.7 million deaths are still far too many.The conference was an opportunity for everyone to reflect on our work so far. When the detection of misuse of funds was exposed in 2010, I suspended payments to safeguard taxpayers’ money. I know we took the right decision, since it helped trigger the impressive reforms that are now nearing completion. I am very pleased to see that the Board has endorsed a new funding model that targets resources to those countries most in need. It has also reorganised to be more efficient, better in grant management, and more aligned to its core task as a financing institution.
As I pointed out during the meeting, the time has certainly come for us to step up our efforts to leverage additional resources. I have encouraged new public donors and the private sector to complement the contributions from traditional public donors, in order to make the fund the truly unique public-private partnership it was designed to be.
There are some encouraging examples, such as the recent pledge of Saudi-Arabia and other new donors. But I would also like to applaud those countries that are taking over the financing of their disease programmes when Global Fund grants run out – China being among them.
From our side, I have made it clear that the European Commission will provide, as promised, €330 million between 2011 and 2013. And we do this with greater confidence now that we have a Global Fund that is back on track. The amount of funding for the next period will be decided later this year, once we know more about the EU budget to take us from 2014 through to 2020. Whatever the outcome, the Global Fund will remain an important instrument for the EU in the fight against HIV/AIDS, tuberculosis and malaria in poor countries.

Dr. Akinwumi Adesina, Minister of Agriculture of Nigeria

Let us make 2013 a watershed moment for food and nutrition security. Let us also acknowledge that complex, global issues require bold programmes and commitments at all levels. The MDGs continue to be as relevant today as they were when the world set out to achieve them, 13 years ago. As the global community rallies together to shape the post-2015 agenda let us also not lose sight of the progress we have made against hunger and poverty to date. 

But times have changed and Europe and Africa will need to work closely together to ensure our collaboration reflects new circumstances. Europe’s continued support in the fight against hunger and malnutrition is critical. And Africa’s increasing economic growth and strong political commitment to poverty reduction offers opportunity for all of us. Africa’s leaders are working on viable and innovative local solutions that can be replicated and scaled up.

I was delighted to speak this week at the Forum for the Future of Agriculture on innovative ways to increase food production and accelerate wealth creation for millions of farmers in Africa. With the Agricultural Transformation Agenda my country, Nigeria, has embarked on an ambitious program to transform its agricultural sector and expand food production for local and regional markets.

For this we need partners. Partners like Europe who believe in joint actions between governments, civil society, and the private sector to drive impactful outcomes. An example of this is the EU-led Global Alliance for Resilience Initiative (AGIR), aiming to be a major long term strategy for building resilience in the fragile Sahel region. The Irish Presidency of the EU has put sustainable, long-term global food security on the agenda, an important acknowledgement of the issue’s prominence. As we prepare for the forthcoming G8 Summit we hope to advance discussions and develop new investment models that will help propel Africa’s agriculture and unlock wealth and opportunities for millions of farmers.

You may have already heard about the Communication “A decent life for all: ending poverty and giving the world a sustainable future” . Commissioner Janez Potočnik and I presented its main messages  yesterday and answered to questions from several European journalists.
Now I would like to know what the citizens are thinking about this initiative. I am sure that many of you have very interesting remarks and questions and I would like you to participate in this debate.  So I would like to invite you to send your questions about EU’s proposal on the future framework of development policy after 2015, when the Millennium Development Goals come to an end, and then I will reply to you by video.To take advantage of the possibilities offered by new technologies and social media, you are more than welcome to post your questions on Twitter, addressing them to me (@APiebalgsEU) or to EuropeAid’s directorate (@europeaid).  By using the hashtag  #askPiebalgsMDG we will be also be able to find your questions online.
You can also post your questions on Europeaid’s Facebook page, or even send them to us by email to the following address: europeaid-social-media@ec.europa.eu
For the next two weeks we will collect your questions. After that I will start answering them and you will be able to find the videos also through our social media and websites.

Mali has lived in these past few months some of its darkest hours.  Security, democracy and stability were threatened by recent developments and I am glad to see European Union’s contribution to their support. By providing €50 million to support the African-led International Support Mission to Mali (AFISMA), the European Union has sent a strong message to safeguard the country’s unity and territorial integrity.  
This support has allowed military structures of the European Union to setting up a Clearing House aimed at increasing the logistical capacity of AFISMA. But it also covers non military expenditures like medical expenses, daily allowances and transport costs of the troops deployed on the ground. In parallel, we are preparing new programmes to provide assistance to the civilian population, who are severely affected by the crisis, and to assist the Malian government’s efforts towards the swift restoration of democracy. In this sense, we are going to deploy the EU Training Mission in February with the aim of enhancing the Malian army’s training, and advising and restructuring it.
 
The European Union has mobilised quickly and effectively in response to President Traoré’s call for help. This prompt reaction shows value of EU aid – quick, flexible and spot on. And we remain committed to support the efforts of the Malian authorities to end the crisis, starting with the implementation of the roadmap recently created by them. Today, that roadmap is being discussed during a ministerial meeting in Brussels; far away from the endangered region but with the lives of the 14 million of Malians in our minds.

That is why I hope that we will be able to resume development cooperation with Mali and continue our work to provide its population with access to basic services, like health, education, and water. Some €250 million may be mobilised for this purpose. They will complement existing programmes which among other things, help reinforce civil society, strengthen food security and improve supply of drinking water.

At the occasion of the Human Rights Day I wrote the following foreword to the report  ”Delivering on Democracy” on EU’s contribution to the reinforcement of Human Rights. I  invite you to read it, as well as the report itslef.

The European Instrument for Democracy and Human Rights, despite its financial limits representing just 0.78 % of EU Official Development Assistance, has led to strategic results and symbolic effects, and has had important influence in consolidating democracy and opening the door to change, bringing a breath of fresh air to pro-democracy activists and defenders.
I can only commend the formidable altruistic work and outstanding commitment of our partners, that turns theory into practice in the field, often to the detriment of their personal well-being and, sadly, often at the risk of their lives. Our engagement is guided by the following principles: First, the Treaty of Lisbon is clear: ‘the Union’s action on the international scene shall be guided by the principles which have inspired its own creation and which it seeks to advance in the wider world: democracy, the rule of law, the universality and indivisibility of human rights and fundamental freedoms, respect for human dignity’.Secondly, there is no development without democracy and no sustainable democracy without development. The European Consensus on Development reaffirms that the promotion of democracy and all the intertwined components of human rights, fundamental freedoms, peace, good governance, gender equality, and the rule of law are common values in the European vision of development.

Third, the Arab Spring has recalled to all cynical minds that defending democracy is not just about beliefs and values; it is also about our interests. Democracy is about long-term stability, and respect of the rule of law is an incentive for business and investment. We will, of course, continue, to support democracy in Africa, Eastern Europe, Central and Eastern Asia and Latin America.

The report “Delivering on Democracy” gives examples of cases, projects and results in our support of democracy. Some are small, some of them big. They all confirm that the EU contribution is of use and needs to further help support democracy.  We will continue to build on these lessons towards further results and try to do more, better and faster.

To read the three reports published to commemorate Human Rights Day, please visit: http://www.eidhr.eu/library

I’m seating in the new headquarter of the African Union in Addis Ababa, discussing energy potential of Africa, while the lights went off. This happened less than 2 weeks ago. We continued the debate in the dark for a couple of minutes before the power was restored. The power cut, so frequent in Africa, reminded to all of us the challenges we have to overcome to plug Africa into reliable energy supply. We could continue the debate with full lighting after few minutes, but half of African population is less fortunate; 550 mln people do not have access to electricity on the continent and they literally live in the dark.
 
This has to change, and this has to change quickly. When the EU pledged to connect to electricity 500 million people from poor countries by 2030, many had doubts whether this would be possible. Yet, only one year after this announcement we are already launching projects that will change lives of thousands of poor people.

Take Burkina Faso, for instance. The access to electricity in this landlocked country is scarce, more than 80 per cent of energy comes from wood and fossil fuels are mainly imported. You don’t need to be an energy expert to figure out that this is not good energy mix and that the prices of energy are high.
 
For this reason the EU decided to co-finance the biggest solar power plant in West Africa, located in the suburbs of Ouagadougou, Burkina’s capital. The power plant will provide clean, sustainable energy to 400,000 people, mostly in rural areas. This investment is good for people, but also good for environment.
 
The size of land is an equivalent to almost 50 football fields, on which 96,000 solar panels will produce clean energy. The chosen site is located on degraded land on which vegetation is very difficult, so there is no environmental impact here. In sum – no local pollution, no greenhouse gases. This is just one example which shows that sustainable development and green growth have a real meaning.

Within UN’s Sustainable Energy for All initiative I will invest more in similar projects. At regional level, we are preparing 60 million euro in support of the development of the main control centre for the West African Power Pool that will be located in Benin.
 
Very recently we have also agreed to support Burundi, the DR Congo and Rwanda to elaborate a regional energy cooperation programme in the Great Lakes region. This very ambitious project can bring together 3 countries with difficult history to secure better access to energy for their citizens.

And there is more to come, as I believe that access to energy can be a game-changer in our fight against poverty; I am convinced that energy can empower poor people. It can help them to get better education, better access to the markets and will open many business opportunities. This is what development policy is about: providing hope for better lives.

I met today with Dr Denis Mukwege, a doctor from the DR Congo who founded a hospital for rape victims and is a fierce advocate for women. Few weeks back I was shocked to learn he narrowly escaped an assassination attempt. Today, his spirits are running high again and he is willing to come back to his patients and to his country.

Violence against women is a terrible crime and I strongly support actions that can save women from hands of aggressors. Today, I paid a tribute to the outstanding work of Dr. Mukwege at Panzi Hospital and his tireless support for victims of sexual violence.

The EU has already condemned the assassination attempt and we trust that this crime will not go unpunished. And I sincerely hope that Dr Mukwege will be able to return safely to his home and to his patients; as he said himself, this is what he wished for.

The EU supports the programmes to help the victims of sexual violence (incl. the Panzi Hospital) and we try to prevent these terrible crimes from happening, but the most successful change can come from within the country. That’s why people like Dr Mukwege should be encouraged and strongly supported in their daily fight to change the fate of the Congolese women.

During our meeting, Dr Mukwege repeatedly insisted on the need to strengthen our support to women. He told me that even in the worst cases he is always impressed by women’s resilience and their capacity to revive. So it is very clear to more that we should continue empowering women at all levels of the society.

For the fight must continue and not only judiciary system has to be strengthened but also education and culture have an important role to play. We want to tackle all these factors at the same time and that’s why I will launch soon an initiative to combat violence against women in the DR Congo. I have foreseen 20 million euro for this purpose.

But for change to happen, the advocates of change within the country need to be protected; they need to feel safe and they need to feel needed. I hope the climate in the DR Congo will improve. On our side, we will do everything we can to help to achieve this.

Read also the blog post of my colleague Commissioner Georgieva after the meeting with Dr Mukwege:

http://blogs.ec.europa.eu/georgieva/fighting-violence-with-hope-and-care/