Havana, Cuba, December 18, 2019 - Under the framework of the European Union-funded Euroclima+ programme, on December 11, 2019,

a cooperation agreement was signed by the French Development Agency (AFD) and the Havana Provincial Transport Directorate (DGTPH) to define the modalities of the cooperation and technical assistance relationship for developing the project.

This will allow the formulation of Havana’s Sustainable Urban Mobility Plan, with a maximum amount of 600,000 euros and the design of a pilot project to improve sustainable mobility in the main commercial axis "Galiano" and in "El Curita Park", located in the central area of the city, with an additional amount of 100,000 euros. It will contribute to establishing a transport offer adapted to the needs of the inhabitants and to fulfilling the country's Tarea Vida plan.

The project has been selected under the framework of the Urban Mobility component of the Euroclima+ Programme. This programme contributes to environmental sustainability and climate change-resilient development in Latin America by helping the implementation of the "Nationally Determined Contributions" (NDC), the core of the Paris agreement. The Programme is implemented in close coordination with National Focal Points in each partner country. In Cuba, the National Focal Point is Guadalupe Rodríguez Rodríguez - Director of Planning for the DGTPH.

The signing took place in the presence of the Minister of Transport, Eduardo Rodríguez Dávila, who stressed that the Cuban Government is strongly inclined to develop sustainable and time-efficient alternative mobility.

The Director General of DGTPH, José Conesa González, congratulated the cooperation established between DGTPH and AFD and indicated that this project is even more important in the context of the North American blockade that weakens the global transport system in Havana.

Furthermore, on behalf of the European Union Delegation, representative Lucia Lacalle mentioned that “the initiative is in total agreement with the EU's sustained environmental commitment” and added that this project is a good opportunity to promote new forms of mobility such as electric mobility or the use of biogases.

Finally, the Director of the AFD in Cuba, Calogero Sciandra, said that this agreement reflects the importance of cooperation between the two countries. It follows the 4th joint commission between France and Cuba that took place on December 6 in Paris, where the two governments confirmed their intentions to strengthen their cooperation for sustainable development, despite the complicated international context.

This agreement foreshadows the hiring of an international consultancy to carry out this study, which will begin its work in 2020 for a duration of one and a half years. This Sustainable Urban Mobility Plan will be characterised by a long-term vision, institutional strengthening and a participatory process in order to reach a consensus on the document among the different actors in the sector.

The strategies that will be developed within the framework of the plan include: guiding the development of the integrated public transport network to achieve greater efficiency, improving traffic management and road safety, improving infrastructure and facilities for non-motorised transport, selecting priority corridors for mass passenger transport, improving the institutional and financial framework, and developing programmes to optimise urban freight logistics.

About the French Development Agency 

AFD is a public, charitable, non-profit bank committed to projects that concretely improve the quality of life of populations in developing countries, emerging countries and territories and collectivities. AFD is active in several sectors besides the transport sector such as - sustainable cities, energy, health, biodiversity, water, digital innovation, education - and it accompanies the transition towards a safer, fairer and more sustainable world: a world in common. Its action is fully in line with the United Nations' Sustainable Development Goals (SDG). Present in 115 countries through a network of 85 agencies, AFD currently finances, monitors and supports more than 4,000 development projects. In 2019, AFD will invest nearly 14 billion euros in financing projects in developing countries, territories, and collectivities.

About the European Union’s EUROCLIMA+ programme 

EUROCLIMA+ is a programme financed by the European Union to promote environmentally sustainable and climate-resilient development in 18 Latin American countries, particularly for the benefit of the most vulnerable populations. The Programme is implemented under the synergistic work of seven agencies: the Spanish Agency for International Development Cooperation (AECID), French Development Agency (AFD), Economic Commission for Latin America and the Caribbean (ECLAC), the German society for international cooperation (GIZ), Expertise France (EF), International and Ibero-American Foundation for Administration and Public Policies (FIIAPP), and UN Environment.

For more information:

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www.euroclimaplus.org