News
Spain Contributes EUR 31.5 Million to UNIFEM in 2009
Date: 30 October 2009
The Government of Spain will contribute EUR 31.5 million to UNIFEM this year, as part of its efforts to boost official development assistance (ODA) and in line with the emphasis on gender equality and women’s empowerment in its international cooperation policy. Increasing its total contribution by EUR 12 million from 2008, Spain is designating half the amount in 2009 for UNIFEM core funds.
The Spanish Government formalized its relations with UNIFEM in 2005, by signing the first framework agreement for collaboration on efforts to strengthen gender equality. The annual contribution of Spain to UNIFEM increased considerably through 2006, 2007 and 2008, particularly to programmes in Latin America and the Caribbean.
With the Spanish contribution for 2009, UNIFEM will strengthen several programmes in the Latin America and Caribbean region, including projects on the incorporation of gender and racial equality in the fight to eradicate poverty, gender-responsive budgeting and ending violence against women. In Asia, the Spanish contribution will support actions to safeguard the rights of women migrant workers, and in Africa, Spain will focus on bolstering the African-Spanish Women’s Network.
In addition to the funds earmarked for particular programmes, the Spanish contribution to UNIFEM core funds has increased considerably. As half of the total contribution, the amount designated for UNIFEM core funds will strengthen the long-term partnership and make it possible to build a more strategic cooperation framework.
In its 2009-2012 plan for international cooperation, the Spanish Government aims to fulfill the commitment to contribute 0.7 percent of gross national product (GNP) to ODA. With an increased emphasis on gender equality and women’s empowerment, the allocation to gender issues in the ODA budget rose from EUR 14 million in 2004 to EUR 155 million in 2008. Spain’s contribution to UNIFEM in 2009 signifies recognition of UNIFEM’s work and a consolidation of the partnership between the Government of Spain and UNIFEM.
