The Italian Agency for Development Cooperation (AICS) Program "Recovery, Stability and Socio-economic Development in Libya" aims at strengthening the role and the capacity of 24 Libyan Municipalities located along key migration routes towards the provision of basic services and facilities to improve the living standards of the most vulnerable segments of the population.
Years after the revolution of February 2011, Libya is witnessing a state of deep political conflict, societal divisions, insecurity and economic challenges. The protracted conflict has severely damaged vital infrastructures, disrupted basic social services and critically affected the general income, hence weighing heavy on the most vulnerable segments of the population. In this scenario, Libya has increasingly become the main country of transit and departure for migrants and refugees crossing the Mediterranean Sea towards Europe. Local-level actors, and particularly Municipalities, are called upon to fill in the gaps left by the former centralized Public Administration. Often, they seek to develop collaborative solutions with civil society, the private sector and community leaders, for responding to urgent needs of the local population. Nevertheless, the gap between central and local authorities, Municipalities’ limited decision-making autonomy, their weak technical capacities to deliver basic and social services and low financial resources greatly limit their responsiveness to fast-growing demand.
The Recovery, Stability and Socio-economic Development in Libya Program funded by the Italian Agency for Development Cooperation (AICS) will mostly focus its intervention in the health sector, with some additional interventions in the education sector and, to a limited extent, in the water, sanitation and hygiene sector. The Program is carried out in close coordination with the Municipalities and the national Authorities - including the Ministry of Local Governance, Ministry of Planning and relevant line Ministries - and is expected to have multiple positive impacts and changes, including:
- Enhanced Municipalities’ capacity to deliver basic services to communities and vulnerable groups, including migrants, in a context of institutional fragmentation and shortage of resources;
- Improved strategies for resilience and stabilization processes, through the capacity building and technical assistance provided at both central and local levels.
The Italian Cooperation has issued Call for Proposals towards upgrading health care facilities, supplying equipment, providing training and awareness activities on inclusive access to health services. The overall indicative amount made available under this Call for Proposals is EUR 1,490,000. The deadline for submission of proposals is 18 October 2019.
