Slovakia to spend almost €16 million on development aid in 2015

Slovakia is set to allocate over €77 million in development aid this year, including €15.8 million involving bilateral assistance, says a document outlining Slovakia's bilateral development assistance for 2015 that was approved by the Government on Wednesday. Based on the document, Afghanistan, Kenya and Moldova will continue to be among the priority countries this year in Slovakia's official development aid programme SlovakAid. While Afghanistan will receive €300,000, Moldova will be sent €800,000, and Kenya, which is Slovakia's main partner country in terms of dispatching volunteers and experts, will be entitled to €1.4 million. In addition, development projects in South Sudan will receive financial aid, however the dispatch of volunteers and specialists to the country is unconfirmed as of yet, as it greatly depends on the security situation in the region. Within Slovakia's bilateral development aid the Interior Ministry for instance will allocate funds towards providing material humanitarian assistance, Slovakia's engagement in international missions, and assistance for refugees. Moreover, the Education Ministry is to grant scholarships to students from developing countries at public universities in Slovakia.