$2.1 BILLION PLEDGED FOR UN DEVELOPMENT FUNDS AND PROGRAMMES AT TWO-DAY CONFERENCE
Press Release
DEV/2075
GA/8984
$2.1 BILLION PLEDGED FOR UN DEVELOPMENT FUNDS AND PROGRAMMES AT TWO-DAY CONFERENCE
19951102 More than $2.1 billion in real or anticipated contributions were pledged for development activities of the United Nations system at the two-day pledging conference which concluded this morning.A total of 66 countries and observers announced pledges for the Organization's funds and programmes during the 1995 United Nations Pledging Conference for Development Activities.
A total of $950 million was pledged to the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), including estimates of pledges yet to be announced, and approximately $1 billion for the United Nations Children Fund (UNICEF). Pledges worth $97.8 million were received for the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA). About $1.6 million was pledged to the United Nations Centre for Human Settlements (Habitat) and $1.9 million to the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP). A total of $4.8 million was pledged to a number of other United Nations trust funds and programmes.
An estimated $50 million was pledged to UNDP's associated funds and programmes, and includes: $30 million for the United Nations Capital Development Fund; $13 million for the United Nations Development Fund for Women (UNIFEM); $6 million for the United Nations Volunteers programme; and $1.3 million for the United Nations Revolving Fund for Natural Resources Exploration.
Other United Nations trust funds and programmes for development received total pledges of $4.8 million, apportioned as follows: $3.5 million for the United Nations International Drug Control Programme; $569,841 for the Voluntary Fund for the Victims of Torture; $459,522 for the International Research and Training Institute for the Advancement of Women (INSTRAW); $78,754 for the United Nations Institute for Training and Research (UNITAR).
Other trust funds included: $49,683 for the United Nations Training Programme for Southern Africa; $42,750 for the United Nations Crime Prevention and Criminal Justice Fund; $36,371 for the Trust Fund for the Ageing; $35,433 for the United Nations Voluntary Fund on Disability; $20,000 for the Trust Fund for the United Nations Programme on Transnational Corporations; $5,000 for the United Nations Trust Fund for the Transportation and
Communications Decade in Africa; $5,000 for the United Nations Trust Fund for African Development; $5,000 for the Trust Fund for the Economic and Social Commission for Western Asia (ESCWA); and $3,156 for the United Nations Youth Fund.
In his closing statement, the Administrator of UNDP, James Gustave Speth, said the 1996 contributions to UNDP's central resources could amount to something slightly below the 1995 level. To fulfil its obligations under the new mandates from its Executive Board, UNDP would require $3.3 billion for its three-year programming period, beginning in 1997. It could not achieve that target if contributions for 1997 did not reach a minimum of $1 billion.
The Deputy Executive Director, External Relations, UNICEF, Stephen Lewis, said UNICEF was continuing its ambitious management reform process, and that it would continue with its programming objectives of poverty reduction, meeting the needs of children and empowering women. Those objectives could be met if there were adequate and predictable resources.
The Executive Director of UNFPA, Nafis Sadik, said the effective implementation of the recommendations of the International Conference on Population and Development was of great importance and should be done within the shortest time. Its implementation required financial resources in developing countries and in countries with economies in transition at an estimated level of $17 billion by the year 2000 and $21.7 billion by the year 2015.
Focusing on the United Nations Educational and Training Programme for Southern Africa, the Under-Secretary-General for Development Support and Management Services, Ji Chaozhu, said it was an outstanding example of a cost-effective capacity-building development programme which contributed directly to sustainable human development.
The Acting Director of INSTRAW, Marta Duenas Loza, and the President of the Conference, Ricardo Castaneda-Cornejo (El Salvador) also made closing statements, thanking Member States for their contributions during the Conference.
The 37 Member States that announced pledges this morning were New Zealand, Netherlands, Monaco, Czech Republic, Bangladesh, Zambia, India, Singapore, Benin, Andorra, Russian Federation, Samoa, Myanmar, Bulgaria, Vietnam, Pakistan, Paraguay, Cyprus, Argentina, Brazil, Malawi, Maldives, Mongolia, Niger, Sudan, Mauritania, South Africa, Panama, Colombia, Ethiopia, Philippines, Yemen, Jamaica, Honduras, Saudi Arabia, Lao People's Democratic Republic and Guinea-Bissau. Pledges were announced by 29 Member States and observers at yesterday's meeting.
1995 UN Pledging Conference - 3 - Press Release DEV/2075 2nd Meeting (AM) GA/8984 2 November 1995
The representatives of Austria, Ireland, United States, France, Indonesia, Uruguay, Suriname announced their Government's intention to contribute at a later date. Eight Member States announced similar intentions yesterday.
Also this morning, the Conference adopted its report for the two-day meeting.
Officers of the Pledging Conference were Mr. Castaneda-Cornejo (El Salvador), President; and Juli Minoves-Triquell (Andorra) and Andras Lakatos (Hungary), Vice-Presidents.
Concluding Statements
JAMES GUSTAVE SPETH, Administrator of the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), said that based on the pledges announced, and taking account of estimates of others yet to be communicated, the 1996 contributions to UNDP's central resources could amount to something slightly below the 1995 level of about $950 million. To fulfil its obligations under new mandates from its Executive Board, UNDP would require $3.3 billion for its three-year programming period, beginning in 1997. That target could not be achieved if contributions for the first year -- 1997 -- did not reach a minimum of $1 billion.
He said contributions to UNDP's associated group of funds and programmes would amount to an estimated $50 million next year. Leading that group was the Capital Development Fund which expected to receive about $30 million; UNIFEM about $13 million and the United Nations Volunteers Programme, $6 million. He appealed for more funds for the Office to Combat Desertification and Drought.
The UNDP had launched a variety of administrative, programming and other reforms in recent years and, as a result, was in a better position to meet the new needs of its member countries, he continued. It was also taking a variety of actions to become a leading force in the United Nations system against poverty. A major change had been made in allocating funds for development, and starting in 1997, more funds would be allocated to the least developed countries and to those committed to carrying out programmes emphasizing poverty eradication.
STEPHEN LEWIS, Deputy Executive Director, External Relations, UNICEF, said some 80 countries had made pledges during the conference with 50 States pledging about $1 billion explicitly for UNICEF programmes. He expressed confidence that a shortfall in the agency's needs would be made up.
1995 UN Pledging Conference - 4 - Press Release DEV/2075 2nd Meeting (AM) GA/8984 2 November 1995
He said UNICEF supported the call by Denmark, Norway, Sweden and Switzerland for a debate on funding of operational activities among Member States, as part of the United Nations reform process. Reforms might also be needed in the organization of the pledging conference. Without such reforms in the modality of financing, management and programmatic approaches, the organizations might not reach their potential. Pragmatic alternatives to the current system of financing operational activities could include a change in the timing of the pledging as suggested by Japan yesterday. The Secretary- General could also request written pledges from Member States by a certain date, followed by a formal signing of a protocol by Member States midway through the fiscal year of the involved agencies.
He added that UNICEF was continuing its ambitious management reform process. It would continue with its programming objectives of poverty reduction, meeting the needs of children and empowerment of women. Those objectives could be met if there were adequate and predictable resources.
NAFIS SADIK, UNFPA Executive Director, expressed gratitude to all the Member States that had pledged contributions to UNFPA in the first anniversary year of the International Conference on Population and Development. That Conference had energized the world and there was now an enthusiasm in all countries to move ahead with the implementation of its recommendations. The effective implementation of those recommendations was of great importance and should be done within the shortest time.
Implementation required financial resources in developing countries and in those with economies in transition at an estimated level of $17 billion by year 2000 and $21.7 billion by the year 2015. The Programme of Action required one third of those resources from the international community and two thirds from the developing countries. The general resources of UNFPA in 1995 would exceed $300 million -- a 15 per cent increase over 1994 and the highest income level ever achieved. That had been possible through the generous support of over 90 donors, especially the Fund's major donors such as Japan -- the top donor, Netherlands, United States, Germany, Norway, Denmark, Sweden, United Kingdom, Finland and Switzerland.
Fifty-five Member States had announced pledges to UNFPA and a large number had expressed the intention to contribute, she continued. The Fund agreed with the call by Member States for a more stable and transparent and predictable approach to financing its activities. Such reforms would provide a more solid base for the Organization and must be given the highest priority.
Noting that many major donors had not made pledges at the Conference, she said generous contributions received included those from Australia, Belgium, Netherlands, New Zealand, Switzerland and the Republic of Korea. The Netherlands -- the second largest donor -- had increased its
1995 UN Pledging Conference - 5 - Press Release DEV/2075 2nd Meeting (AM) GA/8984 2 November 1995
contributions. A substantial contribution was expected from the United States. She called on all developing countries to consider contributing to the Fund. Slovenia and South Africa were contributing for the first time. Despite economic and budgetary hardships, a number of Member States had made pledges, including Maldives, Benin, Russian Federation and Czech Republic. The UNFPA expected that its minimum target for contributions would reach $325 million in 1996 -- an increase of 8 per cent over 1995.
JI CHAOZHU, Under-Secretary-General of the Department of Development Support and Management Services, said this was the second pledging conference which had included the United Nations Educational and Training Programme for Southern Africa. That Programme was an outstanding example of a cost- effective capacity-building development programme which contributed directly to sustainable human development. The alumni of the Training Programme were now in important public and private positions throughout southern Africa and were also prominent in higher education institutions throughout the region.
Stating that his Department had managed the Programme since its inception, he said it now supported students within southern Africa, particularly in South Africa. Support for the Programme had come from UNDP at the country level as well as through creative co-financing arrangements with a range of local and international institutions. Such arrangements had allowed over 2,000 students to be trained in the 1990s. Following the elections in South Africa, the Programme had continued to provide assistance to the Government in the priority areas of education and human resources development.
MARTA DUENAS LOZA, Director of INSTRAW, also thanked Member States for their contributions to the Institute.
RICARDO CASTANEDA-CORNEJO (El Salvador), President of the Conference, expressed gratitude to Member States for their support for the work of the various United Nations agencies and programmes in the interest of development. Reform of the United Nations system was important and would help the multilateral system to confront the challenges it faced.
1995 UN Pledging Conference - 6 - Press Release DEV/2075 2nd Meeting (AM) GA/8984 2 November 1995
Pledges Made
Andorra
UNDP $5,000 UNICEF $5,000 UN Trust Fund for Victims of Torture $2,000 UN Environment Programme - UNEP $4,000 UN Youth Fund $2,500
Argentina
UNDP $800,000 WFP 35,000 tons of wheat
Bangladesh
UNDP $300,000 1,100,000 taka UNICEF $30,000 United Nations Capital Development Fund $5,000 UNFPA $25,000 UNEP $2,550 UN Volunteers Programme $1,250 UN Industrial Development Fund of UNIDO $2,420 UN Fund for Science and Technology for Development $2,600 UN Habitat and Human Settlements Foundation $2,500 UN Voluntary Fund on Disability $1,000 Fund of UN Drug Control Programme $1,000 UNIFEM $1,000
Benin
UNDP $4,500 UNFPA $2,500 Special Measures Fund for the Least Developed Countries $1,000 UNEP $1,000 UN Office to Combat Desertification and Drought $3,500 UNHCR $1,500
1995 UN Pledging Conference - 7 - Press Release DEV/2075 2nd Meeting (AM) GA/8984 2 November 1995
Brazil
UNDP $600,000 UNICEF $300,000 UNFPA $15,000 UN Fund for Science and Technology for Development $15,000 UNIFEM $25,000 UN Trust Fund for INSTRAW $5,000 Fund of UN Drug Control Programme $15,000 UN Crime Prevention and Criminal Justice Fund $15,000 UN Trust Fund for African Development $5,000 UN Trust Fund for Victims of Torture $10,000 UN Educational and Training Programme for Southern Africa $15,000 UNEP $20,000
Bulgaria
UNDP 797,000 leva UNICEF 80,000 " UNFPA 55,000 " UNEP 30,000 "
Colombia
UNDP Regional Office $650,000 UNICEF $450,000 UNFPA $40,000 UN Trust Fund for INSTRAW $500 UN Voluntary Fund for Disability $500 UN Voluntary Fund for Ageing $500 UNEP $35,000
Cyprus
UN Volunteers Programme 750 Cyprus pounds UN Trust Fund for INSTRAW $1,000 UN Voluntary Fund for Ageing 300 Cyprus pounds UN Youth Fund 300 " UN Institute for Training and Research 750 " UN Voluntary Fund for Indigenous People 750 "
1995 UN Pledging Conference - 8 - Press Release DEV/2075 2nd Meeting (AM) GA/8984 2 November 1995
Czech Republic
UNDP 8,000,000 Czech koruny UNICEF 4,000,000 " UNFPA 2,000,000 " UN Habitat and Human Settlements Foundation 2,000,000 " Fund of UN Drug Control Programme 600,000 " UN Institute for Training and Research 1,000,000 " UNEP 3,000,000 " UNRWA 500,000 "
Ethiopia
UNDP $144,927 50,000 birr UNICEF $49,276 UNFPA 30,000 birr
Guinea-Bissau
UNDP $2,500 (in local currency equivalent)
UNICEF $2,500 (in local currency equivalent)
Honduras
UNDP $222,000
India
UNDP $4,075,865 UNICEF $875,000 UNFPA $264,000 UN Fund for Science and Technology for Development $60,000 UNIFEM $17,595 UN Trust Fund for INSTRAW $1,500 UN Habitat and Human Settlements Foundation $100,000 Fund of UN Drug Control Programme $20,000 UN Crime Prevention and Criminal Justice Fund $3,000 UN Educational and Training Programme for Southern Africa $2,000 UNEP $100,000 WFP $1,920,000 (in kind)
1995 UN Pledging Conference - 9 - Press Release DEV/2075 2nd Meeting (AM) GA/8984 2 November 1995
Jamaica
UNDP 600,000 Jamaican dollars UNICEF 17,000 " UNFPA 15,000 " UNEP 240,000 "
Lao People's Democratic Republic
UNDP $21,168 UNICEF $5,000 UNFPA $1,000 UN Capital Development Fund $1,500 Special Measures Fund for the Least Developing Countries $1,000 UNIFEM $1,500 Fund of UN Drug Control Programme $1,000 UNEP $2,000
Malawi
UNDP $11,765 UNICEF $2,614 UNFPA $2,614 UN Capital Development Fund $3,922
Maldives
UNDP $5,000 UNICEF $5,000 UNFPA $2,000 UN Capital Development Fund $1,800 UNIFEM $5,000 UN Trust Fund for INSTRAW $5,000 UNEP $1,000
Mauritania
UNDP 500,000 ouguiyas UNICEF 500,000 " UNFPA 500,000 "
1995 UN Pledging Conference - 10 - Press Release DEV/2075 2nd Meeting (AM) GA/8984 2 November 1995
Monaco
UNDP 70,650 francs UNICEF 89,540 " UN Voluntary Fund for Disability 81,400 " UN Trust Fund for Victims of Torture 81,400 " UN Office to Combat Desertification and Drought 25,000 "
Mongolia
UNDP $17,000 (equivalent in national currency) UNICEF $10,000 " " UNFPA $4,000 " "
Myanmar
UNDP 1,080,000 kyats UNFPA 60,000 " UN Capital Development Fund $5,000 (equivalent in kyats)
Netherlands
UNDP 165,000,000 Netherland guilders UNICEF 42,000,000 " UNFPA 75,000,000 " UN Capital Development Fund 15,000,000 " UNIFEM 5,000,000 " UN Trust Fund for INSTRAW 600,000 " UN Habitat and Human Settlements Foundation 1,000,000 " UN Trust Fund for Victims of Torture 500,000 "
New Zealand
UNDP 4,000,000 New Zealand dollars UNICEF 900,000 " UNFPA 1,000,000 " UN Capital Development Fund 100,000 " UNIFEM 200,000 " UN Trust Fund for INSTRAW 30,000 " UNRWA 200,000 " Fund of UN Drug Control Programme 50,000 " UNHCR 1,000,000 " UNIDO 500,000 " WFP 350,000 "
1995 UN Pledging Conference - 11 - Press Release DEV/2075 2nd Meeting (AM) GA/8984 2 November 1995
Niger
Development activities 1,500,000 CFA francs
Pakistan
UNDP 23,200,000 Pakistan rupees UNFPA 500,000 " UNIFEM 125,000 " UN Trust Fund for INSTRAW 62,000 " Fund of UN Drug Control Programme 10,000 " UN Institute for Training and Research 15,000 "
Panama
UNDP $1,069,000 UNICEF $25,000 UNFPA $10,000 UN Volunteers Programme $500 UN Fund for Science and Technology for Development $2,000 UN Habitat and Human Settlements Foundation $1,000 Fund of UN Drug Control Programme $3,000 UN Crime Prevention and Criminal Justice Fund $1,000 Fund for Natural Resources $4,000 World Conference on Social Development $500 Voluntary Contribution $127,440
Paraguay
UNDP $60,000 UNICEF $6,000 UNFPA $27,000 UN Volunteers Programme $3,500 UN Fund for Science and Technology for Development $2,500 UN Trust Fund for Sudano-Sahelian Activities $3,500 UN Trust Fund for INSTRAW $3,500 UNEP $6,000
1995 UN Pledging Conference - 12 - Press Release DEV/2075 2nd Meeting (AM) GA/8984 2 November 1995
Philippines
UNICEF $166,308 UNFPA 2,000,000 Philippines pesos UN Volunteers Programme $1,000 UNIFEM $5,000 UN Voluntary Fund for Disability $1,500 UN Crime Prevention and Criminal Justice Fund $545 UN Trust Fund for Victims of Torture $10,000 UNEP $10,909 Regional Trust Fund for Implementation of Action Plan for Marine Environment of Coastal Areas of East Asian Seas $25,000
Russian Federation
UNDP $450,000 UNFPA $150,000
Samoa
UNDP $6,000 UNFPA $5,000 UNIFEM $1,000
Saudi Arabia
UNDP $3,500,000 UNICEF $1,000,000 UNFPA $30,000
Singapore
UNDP $220,000 Fund of UN Drug Control Programme $10,000 UNEP $15,000
South Africa
UNFPA $10,000
1995 UN Pledging Conference - 13 - Press Release DEV/2075 2nd Meeting (AM) GA/8984 2 November 1995
Sudan
UNDP $1,000 UNICEF $1,000 UNFPA $1,000
Viet Nam
UNDP $25,850 UNICEF $12,300 UNFPA $3,400
Yemen
UNDP $40,000 UNICEF $16,720 UNFPA $2,847 UN Fund for Science and Technology for Development $1,000 Financing for Science and Technology $2,000 UNIFEM $2,676 UN Habitat and Human Settlements Foundation $575 Fund of UN Drug Control Programme $3,585 UN Institute for Training and Research $2,000 WFP $8,696 UNHCR $2,160 Statistical Institute $2,500 UNFVC $2,000 UNIDO $2,000
Zambia
UNDP $2,000 UNFPA $2,000 UN Capital Development Fund $1,000 Special Measures Fund for Least Developed Countries $1,500 UNIFEM $1,000 UN Educational and Training Programme for Southern Africa $1,000 UN Office to Combat Desertification and Drought $1,500
* *** *
1995 UN Pledging Conference - 14 - Press Release DEV/2075 2nd Meeting (AM) GA/8984 2 November 1995