Guinea-Bissau

Co-operation relations between Portugal and Guinea-Bissau

General information

Official name: Republic of Guinea-Bissau

Capital: Bissau

President: José Mário Vaz

Prime-Minister: Aristides Gomes

Independence Day: 10 September 1974

Regions: Bafatá, Biombo, Bolama, Cacheu, Gabú, Oio, Quinara, Setor autónomo de Bissau and Tombali.

Languages: Portuguese (official), Crioulo, Balanta, Mandinga, Fula, Manjaca, Papel, Mancanha

Religion: Animism (55%), Islamic (40%), Catholic and others (5%).

Geography

Geographical Area: 36,125 Km2.

Climate: Tropical and humid with two seasons, the dry season (November to the middle of May) and the rainy season (middle of May until the end of October)

Demography

Population: 1.7 Million inhabitants (2012) (UN)

Average rate of population growth: 2.6% (2010) (UNDP)

Life expectancy: 48.6 (2010) (UNDP)

Literacy rate: 50.3% (2010) (GB Ministry of Education)

Human development index: 176th position (2012) (UNDP)

Economic data

Currency: Franco CFA (1€=665.957 CFA)

GNP per Capita: 134 USD (2006) (BP)

Inflation rate: 2.1% (2012) (BP)

Unemployment rate: n.a.

GNP Growth rate: 3,5% (2012) (BP)

Main exports: Cashew nuts, peanuts, fish, wood, tropical fruit (AICEP)

Exports - Portugal: (% do total): 2012 – 0.1% (BP)

Imports - Portugal: (% do total): 2012 - 25.1% (BP)

Direct Portuguese Investment: 0.1 (trade) (2009) (BP)

Main investors: n.a.

Other information

Portuguese Embassy in Bissau

Ambassador: Alves de Carvalho

Address:

Avenida da Cidade de Lisboa

Apartado 76

1021 Bissau

Tel.: +(00 245) 93206945

Attaché/Co-operation contact: António Nunes

E-mail: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Embassy of the Republic of Guinea-Bissau in Lisbon

Ambassador: Hélder Vaz

Address:

Rua de Alcolena, n.º 17

1400-004 Lisboa

Tel.: 213 009 081

Current situation

General framework

The co-operation strategy between Portugal and Guinea-Bissau is part of the objectives of the strategic concept of Portuguese Co-operation 2014-2020 and the options outlined by the Guinean authorities, which are part of the Terra Ranka Strategic Operational Programme 2015-2020 guidelines and objectives.

Portugal has been the largest bilateral donor to Guinea Bissau. In the period from 2009-2014, the amount of Portugal-Guinea Bissau bilateral Official Development Assistance (ODA) was the following:

                                                             Source: Camões, I.P. (euros)

It should be noted that the decrease in aid in 2012 and 2013 stems from the fact that Portugal reduced its number of co-operative interventions due to the 12th of April 2012 coup which resulted in the suspension of institutional co-operation. However, Portugal remained on the ground with projects developed by NGDOs in direct support for people in priority sectors such as education, health and rural development.

Strategic Co-operation Programme Portugal Guinea-Bissau 2015-2020

On the 6th of July 2015, a Strategic Co-operation Programme was signed by Portugal and Guinea Bissau for 2015-2020 comprising two priority areas of intervention: Plan I - governance, rule of law and human rights and Plan II - human development and global public goods.

Strategic Co-operation Programme Portugal Guinea-Bissau 2015-2020

Strategic Co-operation Programme Portugal Guinea-Bissau 2015-2020 - Download

Action plan: November 2014 - June 2015 - Portuguese version

Co-operation i n Numbers

Portuguese Official Development Assistance to Guinea-Bissau

The downward trend in aid to Guinea-Bissau until 2013 has been reversed and by 2021 ODA to that country reached its highest value in 10 years.

There is an almost total concentration in the "Social Infrastructure and Services" sector group ("Education, Health, Population and Reproductive Health, Government and Civil Society, Other Social Infrastructure and Services"), representing 96% of total aid.

Projects