Focus on the Mattei Plan
for Africa 

•  Introduction

The Mattei Plan is an initiative of the Italian Government to strengthen cooperation with Africa, launched during the Italy-Africa Summit in January 2024. It aims to establish equal partnerships, integrating development aid with economic investments.

•  Context and Objectives

Italy seeks to enhance its role in the Mediterranean and Africa, making the continent central to its geopolitical strategy. The plan is still evolving but follows guidelines set by Law No. 2/2024 and Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni’s speech.

•  Structure and Governance

The Mattei Plan has a four-year duration and is managed by a Steering Committee led by the Italian Prime Minister, involving ministries, public institutions, private enterprises, and non-governmental organizations.

•  Financial Resources

The plan has a budget of €5.5 billion, including €3 billion from the Italian Climate Fund and €2.5 billion from Development Cooperation. Private sector involvement and multilateral financial institutions will also play a role.

Italy’s Prime Minister announced that Italy’s development bank, Cassa Depositi e Prestiti, will launch an investment fund aimed at facilitating private sector participation, necessary to top up public funds and make the Italian offer more substantial.

• Thematic Pillars

The Mattei Plan focuses on six strategic sectors:

1. Education and training: measures are aimed at supporting training and refresher courses for teachers, the updating of curricula, the launch of new vocational and training courses in line with labour market requirements, and collaboration with companies, with the particular involvement of Italian operators and drawing on the Italian ‘model’ of small and medium-sized enterprises.

2. Agriculture: measures will aim to reduce malnutrition rates, foster the development of agri-food chains and support the development of non-fossil biofuels. In this context, it is deemed fundamental to develop family farming, preserve forest heritage and fight and adapt to climate change through integrated agriculture.

3. Health: measures aim to strengthen health systems, improving accessibility and the quality of primary maternal and childcare services; to strengthen local capacities in terms of management, training and deployment of healthcare personnel, research and digitalisation; and, to develop strategies and systems to prevent and contain health threats, particularly pandemics and natural disasters.

4. Energy: the strategic goal is to make Italy an energy hub, a real bridge between Europe and Africa. Measures will centre around the climate-energy nexus, focusing on boosting energy efficiency and the use of renewable energy, with actions aimed at speeding up the transition of electrical systems, in particular for electricity generation from renewable sources and transmission and distribution infrastructure. The plan also provides for the development of energy-related technologies in the countries themselves, also by setting up innovation centres, where Italian companies will be able to select local start-ups and thus support employment and the enhancement of human capital.

5. Water: measures will regard the drilling of wells, powered by photovoltaic systems; maintenance of existing water points; investments in distribution networks; and, awareness-raising activities on the use of clean, drinkable water.

6. Infrastructure: infrastructure measures will be implemented across all the other pillars identified, with reference to both physical and digital infrastructure

• Pilot Countries

The plan initially targeted the following nine countries, selected based on historical and strategic ties with Italy: Algeria, Republic of Congo, Côte d’Ivoire, Egypt, Ethiopia, Kenya, Morocco, Mozambique, and Tunisia.

During the 2025 New Year’s press conference, Italy’s Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni announced that starting in 2025, the Mattei Plan will also operate in 5 additional countries: Angola, Ghana, Mauritania, Tanzania, and Senegal.

Specifically, Mauritania is expected to offer collaboration opportunities in the energy, agriculture, and infrastructure sectors, which are crucial areas for achieving the objectives of the Mattei Plan.

•  Monitoring and Evaluation 

An Annual Report to the Italian Parliament will assess the plan’s implementation, effectiveness, and impact. Effective coordination between public and private institutions is crucial for its success.