UNFPA Signs Agreement for Closer Partnership With Group of Developing Countries

BRUSSELS/UNITED NATIONS, New York — UNFPA, the United Nations Population Fund, and the African, Caribbean and Pacific (ACP) Group of States today signed an agreement to strengthen their partnership to curb reproductive health problems, including HIV/AIDS, reduce poverty and promote development in 79 ACP developing countries. The agreement is also meant to mobilize resources to improve the health and well-being of the people of these countries.

“UNFPA and the ACP Group share the objective of poverty elimination and recognize that population and reproductive health programmes are crucial to attaining the Millennium Development Goals,” said Thoraya Ahmed Obaid, UNFPA’s Executive Director, at the signing ceremony in Brussels today. “We are happy with this agreement, which will strengthen our work to achieve our common goals.”

The agreement recognizes reproductive health issues, including HIV/AIDS, as essential to policies to meet people’s basic needs. It also highlights and promotes the close relationship between reproductive health, gender equality, girls’ education, women’s empowerment and sustainable development.

According to the agreement, the parties will help ACP countries ensure that the goals of the 1994 Cairo International Conference on Population and Development form part of the cornerstone of policies and programmes to promote sustainable development.

As part of their cooperation, UNFPA and the ACP countries will promote programmes on reproductive and sexual health and poverty reduction. The two parties will conduct joint training activities as well as plan and implement projects of mutual interest.

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UNFPA is the world’s largest multilateral source of population assistance. Since it became operational in 1969, the Fund has provided substantial assistance to developing countries, at their request, to address their population and development needs. Making motherhood safer for all women is at the heart of UNFPA’s mandate.

Contact Information:

Omar Gharzeddine
Tel.: +1 (212) 297-5028
Email: gharzeddine@unfpa.org

Abubakar Dungus
Tel.: +1 (212) 297-5031
Email: dungus@unfpa.org