AGFUND PROVIDES ADDITIONAL CO-FINANCING FOR ANOTHER PROJECT TO BENEFIT DISABLED IN DEVELOPING COUNTRIES

Press Release
SOC/4387
DEV/2085

AGFUND PROVIDES ADDITIONAL CO-FINANCING FOR ANOTHER PROJECT TO BENEFIT DISABLED IN DEVELOPING COUNTRIES

NEW YORK, 15 December (DPCSD) -- Under an ongoing programme of cooperation with the United Nations in the field of disability, the Arab Gulf Programme for United Nations Development Organizations (AGFUND) have just provided their additional co-financing contribution for 1995 to one more project of benefit to persons with disabilities in developing countries: That project, located in Mauritania, is entitled "National Centre for Rehabilitation of Persons with Disabilities".

The current tranche of $30,000 brings to nearly $1.2 million in co- financing contributions that AGFUND has provided through the United Nations Voluntary Fund on Disability for practical action of benefit to persons with disabilities in developing countries. The AGFUND has been the single largest source of project-specific funds provided to that Voluntary Fund.

The AGFUND was established in 1981 among the Gulf Arab States at the initiative of His Royal Highness Prince Talal Bin Abdul Aziz Al Saud of Saudia Arabia. It is run by an Administrative Board chaired by Prince Talal in his capacity as the President of AGFUND. The AGFUND is unique in that its mandate focuses on provision of critically needed financial assistance to developing countries through United Nations bodies and organizations in the social and humanitarian field.

Under the leadership of Prince Talal, AGFUND began cooperating with the United Nations Voluntary Fund on Disability in co-financing projects and programmes benefiting disabled persons in 1983, in conjunction with the observation of the United Nations Decade of Disabled Persons (1983-1992). The current co-financing grants represent the continued development of this cooperative relationship in the disability field in the period beyond the Decade.

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