Iceland triples its core contribution to UNFPA

Iceland Prime Minister Bjarni Benediktsson announced on 2 March 2017 that the country would triple its contributions to UNFPA, the United Nations Population Fund. The donation will be used to promote maternal health through UNFPA’s core budget, which enhances long-term planning and flexibility to meet the sexual and reproductive health needs of girls and women.

Icelandic funds have been instrumental in the UNFPA campaign to End Fistula, a preventable and debilitating condition that results from unsafe birthing practices. Women who suffer from fistula live in areas where adequate maternal services are not available, and they often cannot afford to seek better facilities to give birth. The average cost of fistula treatment is just $400, an amount that is beyond the reach of most women with this condition. UNFPA's Campaign to End Fistula contributed to over 13,000 fistula repair surgeries in 2015 alone. 

Iceland is a strong political supporter of UNFPA and is active in global forums that promote family planning and maternal health. This latest contribution demonstrates the strength of their partnership with UNFPA and our joint commitment to maternal health initiatives.