The UN World Food Programme Thursday welcomed a record increase in Swedens contribution for WFPs work in alleviating hunger.
The Swedish Ministry of Foreign Affairs recently confirmed a multilateral un-earmarked contribution for WFP during 2005 of SEK 390 million (ca. 325 mio. DKR) which is a 46 percent increase (SEK 100 million or 82,2 mio. DKR)) over the previous year.
WFP attaches great importance to Swedens multilateral funding for relief, as this form of support allows the agency greater flexibility in carrying out its operations, especially in forgotten emergencies. It is also much easier for WFP to plan, thanks to the contribution being announced early in the year.
– A contribution of this kind is extremely valuable to WFP as it allows us to assist the hungry poor in the best possible manner. WFP encourages all its donors to provide unrestricted multilateral cash contributions, said WFP Deputy Executive Director John Powell, head of Fundraising and Communications.
Other advantages of Swedens multilateral funding include the opportunity for WFP to fund the so-called “forgotten emergencies” – operations far from the media spotlight – that receive little or no attention through directed contributions.
Orphans and refugees in Namibia and people recovering from conflict in Guinea Bissau are examples of how beneficiaries can benefit from this flexibility. Such flexible funding also helps WFP avoid periodic breaks in the food distribution chain.
Over the past five years, Swedens total contribution to WFP has more than doubled – rising from 28 million US dollar in 2001 to 62 million dollar confirmed so far in 2005.
– Sweden is sending an encouraging signal and sets an example for other donors, Powell said.
In addition to the annual contribution from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, The Swedish Agency for Development Assistance, Sida, provides WFP with extra contributions to address specific relief needs, mostly for new emergencies and special operations.
In 2004, Sidas contributions to WFP emergency operations were 4,3 million dollar, and in a response to the Tsunami crisis, Sida recently contributed another 4,3 million dollar to WFP special operations in Asia.
– WFP is enormously grateful to Sweden for both its generosity towards the hungry poor, and also for making available standby experts and service modules to WFP through the Swedish Rescue Services Agency (SRSA), said Powell adding:
– They are a critical partner in our emergency preparedness and response capacity – a recent example was the setting up and running by SRSA of a camp for humanitarian workers in Banda Aceh, Indonesia, following the tsunami disaster.
Sweden increased its official development aid, ODA, from 0,74 percent of GNP in 2002 to 0,81 percent in 2003, and plans to reach the one percent mark in the coming years, a step which would render it the largest Nordic donor in terms of ODA.
WFP on WFP:
WFP is the worlds largest humanitarian agency. Each year, we feed an average of 90 million people, including 56 million hungry children, in more than 80 countries.
WFP Global School Feeding Campaign – For just 19 US cents a day, you can help WFP give children in poor countries a healthy meal at school – a gift of hope for a brighter future.
Visit our websites: www.wfp.org, www.wfp.dk
For more information please contact: Mikael Bjerrum, Director Nordic Office, WFP/Copenhagen, Tel 35 46 71 30, Mob 40 11 38 83, E-mail: [email protected]
