Employment and decent work are at the core of sustainable growth. Investing in people goes hand in hand with economic growth and investment.
Investment allows a country’s private sector to boost its development and competitiveness, which in turn creates jobs and deepens trade integration.
At the same time, the economy needs to take into account the green transition and the efforts to be made for countering climate change. It needs to foster responsible consumption and production and promote sustainable lifestyles.
Programmes
We implement programmes around the world wherever assistance is needed. We tailor our support to fit the region or country being helped. Programmes with a global reach allow the EU to provide similar support to countries facing similar problems.
![desira-agroforestry-ornamental-plants.jpg](https://international-partnerships.ec.europa.eu/sites/default/files/styles/oe_theme_ratio_3_2_medium/public/2020-10/desira-agroforestry-ornamental-plants.jpg?itok=uXwYEfVj)
The DeSIRA initiative aims to contribute to climate-relevant, productive and sustainable transformation of agriculture and food systems in low and middle-income countries.
![Selling cocoa at Soubré market, Côte d'Ivoire](https://international-partnerships.ec.europa.eu/sites/default/files/styles/oe_theme_ratio_3_2_medium/public/2020-03/cocoa-story-cote-ivoire-soubre-market.jpg?itok=RYlEY-Rs)
Latest news
![Visit of Jutta Urpilainen, European Commissioner, to France](https://international-partnerships.ec.europa.eu/sites/default/files/styles/oe_theme_ratio_3_2_medium/avportal/P-064046/00-11.jpg?itok=4bjMKIeH)
Jutta Urpilainen, European Commissioner for International Partnerships, has been appointed Chair of the Global Education Monitoring (GEM) Report Advisory Board, taking over from H. E. David Moinina Sengeh, Chief Minister of Sierra Leone, who was the Chair of the Board in 2021–2023.
Today, a new financial agreement was signed in Vietnam to enhance Hanoi's sustainable urban transport system. The agreement focuses on a project that will support the research and preparation of investments for extending Metro Line 3 in Hanoi.
![Participation of Jutta Urpilainen, European Commissioner, to the 1st meeting of the High-Level Experts Group on Sustainable Finance for Low and Middle Income Countries](https://international-partnerships.ec.europa.eu/sites/default/files/styles/oe_theme_ratio_3_2_medium/avportal/P-058990/00-01.jpg?itok=PVYNf2KA)
The European Commission received today the final recommendations of the High-Level Expert Group on scaling up sustainable finance in low-and middle-income countries (HLEG), in the presence of International Monetary Fund Managing Director Kristalina Georgieva.