EIGHT ADDITIONAL COUNTRIES PLEDGE CONTRIBUTIONS TO UN DEVELOPMENT ACTIVITIES, AS PLEDGING CONFERENCE CONCLUDES

Press Release
DEV/2268
GA/9806

EIGHT ADDITIONAL COUNTRIES PLEDGE CONTRIBUTIONS TO UN DEVELOPMENT ACTIVITIES, AS PLEDGING CONFERENCE CONCLUDES

Member States were commended for their continued support of United Nations development activities, as the annual two-day United Nations Pledging Conference for Development Activities concluded this morning.

In her closing remarks, Nafis Sadik, Executive Director of the United Nations Populations Fund (UNFPA), said that that was the last pledging conference that she would partake in as the Executive Director of the UNFPA. She thanked all of the countries that had supported the UNFPA over the years. In spite of the progress that had been made, urgent action was needed in regard to combating the high percentage of HIV/AIDS, providing universal health services and ensuring universal education. She appealed to all countries to maintain or increase their support for the UNFPA.

Abdoulie Janneh, Assistant Administrator of the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), said that UNDP’s overall financial situation remained precarious. The total core resource income for 2000 would likely amount to that of 1999. The new climate of support was a critical foundation on which to rebuild UNDP’s core resource base. The common objective was a United Nations that was strong in the field of development and able to respond to people’s needs. He thanked all those who pledged contributions during the Conference.

Karin Sham Poo, Deputy Executive Director of the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF), expressed gratitude to the governments that had pledged new resources. There was no more important resource for the future than the world’s children. That was why children had to be at the centre of all development activities. The pledges today would work as a reaffirmation in assuring all children a good start in life.

Pledges were made this morning by the representatives of Poland, Chile, Lao People’s Democratic Republic, Jordan, Croatia, Cuba, Malaysia, and Belarus.

The representatives of South Africa, Viet Nam, and Bulgaria addressed the Conference, announcing that they would make pledges in writing at a later date.

At the outset of the meeting, Janez Slapar (Slovenia) was elected Vice- President of the 2000 Pledging Conference for Development Activities.

2000 Pledging Conference - 2 - Press Release DEV/2268 2nd Meeting (AM) GA/9806 2 November 2000

Pledges Made

Poland

UNDP $890,000 UNDP Office in Poland $410,000 UNICEF $56,000 UNFPA $28,000

Chile

UNDP $200,000 Fund to Combat Desertification $12,000 UNIFEM $10,000 INSTRAW $5,000 UNICEF $70,000 Habitat $5,000 UNDCP $10,000 UNITAR $5,000 Fund for Victims of Torture $10,000 Voluntary Fund for International Decade for Indigenous Persons $5,000 Fund for Indigenous Populations $5,000 UNFPA $5,000

Lao People’s Democratic Republic

UNDP $21,168 United Nations Capital Development Fund $1,500 UNICEF $5,000 UNFPA $600 UNDCP $1,000 UNEP $2,000

Jordan

UNDP 191,000 dinars UNDP Office in Jordan 170,000 “ UNFPA 34,000 “ UNFPA Office in Jordan 22,000 “ WFP Office in Jordan 33,000 “

Croatia

UNEP $2,000

Cuba

UNIDO 21,000 pesos

Malaysia

UNDP $385,000 UNICEF $84,000 UNDCP $20,000 UNFPA $15,000

Belarus

UNDP $5,000 UNICEF $5,000

Statements

NAFIS SADIK, Executive Director of the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA), said that this was the last pledging conference that she would partake in as the Executive Director of the Fund. She thanked all of the countries that had supported the UNFPA over the years. Much progress had been made. In last year’s five-year review of the Fund’s work, it had been noted that remarkable changes had been made. The UNFPA had been commended for promoting women’s empowerment, women’s equality and family planing.

In spite of the progress, she said that urgent action was needed with regard to combating the high percentage of HIV/AIDS, providing universal health services and ensuring universal education. She reiterated her appreciation for the UNFPA’s family of donors, especially those contributing $1 million or more. Special thanks went to the Netherlands and Japan, UNFPA’s largest and second largest donors, respectively. She requested all major donors to examine their budgets for any extra money, which would benefit the work of the UNFPA tremendously. She also registered thanks to the governments and private foundations that had generously contributed to UNFPA’s activities this year.

It was clear that the UNFPA had the confidence of all its donor countries, she said. Unfortunately, resources had not kept pace with UNFPA assistance. During the year 2000, this downward trend had been reversed. Indeed, in addition to core resources, non-core resources were at a record high of $90 million. She thanked the governments that had indicated increases in their respective contributions at this year’s Pledging Conference, and appealed to all countries to maintain or increase their support for the UNFPA. She urged countries to look at ways to increase their contributions and to consider making multi-year contributions.

In conclusion, she asked that the international community rededicate itself to making the world a better place for the new millennium. She called for the international community to commit the resources necessary so that all pregnancies were a success, and every boy and girl could count on a secure future.

The Assistant Administrator of the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), ABDOULIE JANNEH, said that the UNDP Ministerial Meeting, held on 11 September, marked a critical point for harnessing financial support for the Programme. The new climate of support was a critical foundation on which to

rebuild UNDP’s core resource base. The common objective was a United Nations that was strong in the field of development and able to respond to people’s needs.

The UNDP’s overall financial situation remained precarious, he continued. The total core resource income for 2000 would likely amount to that of 1999. It was a long way from reaching the expected $1.1 billion core figure. The combinations of cash and in kind contributions to UNDP local offices looked set to increase this year. He thanked all those who pledged contributions during the Conference.

KARIN SHAM POO, Deputy Executive Director of the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF), expressed gratitude to the governments that had pledged new resources. She was also pleased with the 26 countries that had pledged increases to their core contributions to UNICEF. Despite those increases in contributions, however, there had been reduction in the total dollar amount of pledges to UNICEF. That meant that they would most likely end the year without an increase in core resources.

There was no more important resource for the future than the world’s children, she said. That was why children had to be at the centre of all development activities. During the last 10 years, there had been many advances for children, but poverty continued to enslave huge populations. The pledges today would work as a reaffirmation in assuring all children a good start in life. The UNICEF pledged to use all resources effectively and efficiently for the children most at risk. In those challenging times, UNICEF appreciated and counted on the support of the international community on behalf of the world’s children.

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