SECRETARY-GENERAL WELCOMES NEW FUNDING ROUND BY UNITED NATIONS FOUNDATION

SECRETARY-GENERAL WELCOMES NEW FUNDING ROUND BY UNITED NATIONS FOUNDATION

The following statement was issued today by the Spokesman for Secretary-General Kofi Annan:

The Secretary-General is pleased to note that last Friday the United Nations Foundation -- the public charity responsible for channeling the contribution made by Ted Turner in support of United Nations causes -- approved a major new round of funding of $72 million, inclusive of some $26.7 million in co-financing.

A total of 39 projects were approved, mostly in the environment sector;

10 are in support of sustainable energy services, whereas seven focus on the conservation of biodiversity, including a major multi-year grant for the International Coral Reefs Actions Network, which will help support a worldwide effort for the assessment, management and protection of coral reefs.  The other projects are in support of children’s health; population and women; and peace, security and human rights.

The Secretary-General underscored how “These investments bring together local communities, national governments and international organizations to strengthen the United Nations efforts in addressing many of the world’s pressing problems”.

Together with this funding round, the total amount provided by the United Nations Foundation during the last three years amounts to over $294 million.  In addition, the United Nations Foundation has mobilized over $90 million from external partners, thereby bringing in more than $384 million for United Nations causes.

The Chairperson of the Advisory Board of the United Nations Funds for International Partnerships (UNFIP), Deputy Secretary-General Louise Fréchette, in welcoming the efforts of the United Nations Foundation to bring additional resources to the United Nations, stated ”The three-year old collaboration between the United Nations and the United Nations Foundation has significantly strengthened the programme and institutional capacity of the United Nations”.

For further information on these projects or the activities of the UNFIP or the United Nations Foundation, please visit the UNFIP Web site at http://www.un.org/unfip or the United Nations Foundation Web site at http://www.unfoundation.org.

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