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Record number of donors supported UN Population Fund in 2005

Record number of donors supported UN Population Fund in 2005

UNFPA chief Thoraya Obaid
More countries contributed to the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) in 2005 than in any year since its establishment in 1969, bringing the number of donors supporting the reproductive health and women’s rights agency up to 171, compared to the 2004 record of 166.

More countries contributed to the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) in 2005 than in any year since its establishment in 1969, bringing the number of donors supporting the reproductive health and women’s rights agency up to 171, compared to the 2004 record of 166.

“We are extremely thankful for this overwhelming show of support from United Nations Member States,” said UNFPA Executive Director Thoraya Ahmed Obaid.

“This is the clearest demonstration of their commitment to achieving universal access to reproductive health and ending discrimination against women as they resolved to do during the World Summit,” she added.

At the World Summit in September 2005, leaders agreed to integrate access to reproductive health into national strategies designed to end poverty, reduce maternal death, promote gender equality and combat HIV/AIDS.

Last year also marked a record for annual contributions earmarked to specific projects — a total of $142 million compared to $131 million in 2004. The number of donors committed to multi-year funding also rose, from 49 countries in 2004 to 55 countries in 2005.

Contributions to the UNFPA regular resources last year were also the highest ever — increasing to some $350 million from the previous year’s level of $322 million.

The top six donors in 2005 were the Netherlands, Sweden, Norway, the United Kingdom, Japan and Denmark, but every nation in Africa also pledged funds to the agency.

“I hope that more and more countries come on board and that our regular income will continue to grow so that UNFPA can more effectively promote reproductive and sexual health and HIV prevention, particularly among adolescents,” Ms. Obaid said.