UN Population Fund and Rotary International join forces to promote development

The United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) and Rotary International today formally agreed to cooperate on a range of projects to address the development needs of a global population that is forecast to increase by 77 million people each year, mainly in the world's poorest regions.

"The international development goals to reduce poverty and promote development in the new millennium will be achieved only through stronger cooperation among governments, the international community and civil society groups such as Rotary International, which excels in cooperation to promote societal needs," said UNFPA Executive Director Thoraya Obaid. "In the struggle against HIV/AIDS, for instance, we can save thousands of young lives together by promoting behavioural changes, counselling and services for its prevention and control."

Rotary International President Frank Devlyn said population growth could be an important element of a prosperous society only if people received adequate social protection. "A core cause of poverty in many parts of the world is the imbalance between population growth and resources such as employment, health care and education," he observed.

By the terms of the agreement signed today, UNFPA and Rotary will work together to identify local population and development needs and seek ways to collaborate in addressing them. The Fund will encourage its offices to initiate consultations with Rotary clubs and districts in the field. Rotary will promote assistance for population and development programmes by, among other measures, encouraging its clubs and districts to support public and private funding for them.