Abidjan, March 21, 2025 – The Canadian Embassy in Côte d’Ivoire hosted a high-level event to highlight the successful collaboration between Canada and the Ministry of Economy, Planning, and Development (MEPD), through the Directorate General for Development Cooperation (DGCOD).
This event brought together around thirty guests, including representatives of the Canadian delegation from the Technical Assistance Partnership–Expert Deployment Mechanism (TAP-EDM), implemented by Alinea International, who were on a mission in Abidjan as part of the project “Supporting the Strengthening of Development Aid Coordination in Côte d’Ivoire”.
This gathering provided an opportunity to review the progress and results of the technical assistance initiatives (Phases I and II), aimed at strengthening the coordination and monitoring of development aid in Côte d’Ivoire. More specifically, the event allowed for the sharing of updates on the initiative and the next steps, such as:
- Discussions with DGCOD stakeholders to assess the progress of the initiatives and integrate lessons learned from the first phase.
- Showcasing the results achieved through the collaboration between DGCOD and TAP-EDM; and
- Exchanges with representatives of the Canadian Embassy on the progress of the technical assistance initiative and its prospects.
During the event, Mr. Philippe Lasmel, Director General for Development Cooperation representing the MEPD, emphasized the importance of this cooperation, stating:
“On behalf of the Minister of Economy, Planning, and Development and in my own name, I thank the Government of Canada, which, through its continuous efforts, supports the Ivorian Government in its policy of constantly improving living conditions for the population across Côte d’Ivoire. The deployment of this mechanism has led to significant results to date. Finally, we have organized reviews of our cooperation program to assess ongoing initiatives and plan for the future to ensure optimal implementation of our cooperation programs and projects.”
For his part, H.E. Anderson Blanc, Ambassador of Canada to Côte d’Ivoire, highlighted the positive impact of the Technical Assistance Partnership mechanism on institutional capacity building:
“Canada’s Technical Assistance Partnership–Expert Deployment Mechanism (TAP-EDM) initiative has contributed to strengthening the capacities of the Directorate for Development Cooperation (DGCOD) of the MEPD, particularly through organizational diagnostics, comparative studies, and strategic operational plans.”
This event once again demonstrates Canada’s commitment to supporting Côte d’Ivoire in its development efforts and in optimizing the management of international aid by strengthening local institutions for more effective and strategic coordination.
About TAP-EDM
TAP-EDM is a four-year initiative with a budget of 19.3 million Canadian dollars, funded by Global Affairs Canada and implemented by Alinea International. It provides targeted, short-term technical assistance to national government partners around the world. TAP-EDM brings together leaders from diverse sectors, backgrounds, genders, cultural identities, and regions across Canada to share their expertise and support the fight against poverty in countries contributing to the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
