06 Nov 2018   

UN member states pledge $425 million to development and humanitarian activities

19 countries pledged a total of $425.69 million at the United Nations Pledging Conference for Development Activities, which took place yesterday 5th November.

The pledge marks an increase of over $27 million from last year’s $398.98 million.

Zina Mounla, Chief of the Operational Activities Policy Branch in the Department of Economic and Social Affairs, noted that the increase in pledged amount reflects the long term trend that has seen contributions double over the last 15 years.

In the last five years funding for humanitarian activities has increased by 65%, compared to a 10% rise in funding for development. Highlighting the new challenges faced and shifting priorities.

Major donors who signed the pledge include Sweden, Russian Federation, Norway, Luxembourg, India and Kuwait.

Sumathi Jayaraman, Director of Strategy and Innovations at the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) noted that their primary goal is to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals and that adequate and predictable resources are vital to achieve this.

In 2017, 107 member states of the UN made contributions.  At the conference UN Women urged member states to continue their assistance and urged for an increase in core resources.

Similarly, UNICEF emphasised the role of core funding for programming, work in underdeveloped settings and unexpected emergencies.

In 2016 core resources made up just 21.7% of total development system funding.

 

The AIDF Global Summit will return to Washington D.C, in 2019.

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