UNFPA signs USD 3.3 million funding agreement with Embassy of Sweden
14 April 2021, Addis Ababa – Today, UNFPA, the United Nations sexual and reproductive health agency, and the Embassy of Sweden signed an agreement amounting to approximately USD 3.3 million. The fund channelled from the Swedish International Development Cooperation Agency (SIDA) is made in support of UNFPA’s 9th Country Programme (2020-2025). The UNFPA Country Programme, which commenced in July 2020, is being implemented in 9 Regions of Ethiopia responding to national priorities as articulated by the Government of Ethiopia.
Speaking at the event, H.E. Hans Henric Lundqvist - Ambassador of Sweden to Ethiopia, said Sweden is a committed partner to UNFPA and its mandate advancing the rights of women and youth and promoting gender equality and sexual and reproductive health. He added that the Country Programme funding modality enabled UNFPA “to flexibly respond to the evolving needs of the people in Ethiopia, including the humanitarian response in Tigray Region.”
Ms. Dennia Gayle, UNFPA Country Representative, appreciated the contribution of the people and Government of Sweden saying that the support will allow UNFPA to accelerate the delivery of life-saving sexual and reproductive health services for women, girls and young people in Ethiopia including actions in the areas Gender Equality and Women’s Empowerment. She noted that Sweden’s support will be “pivotal in realizing the UNFPA’s transformative results of ending preventable maternal death, ending unmet need for family planning, ending gender-based violence and harmful practices against women and girls and ending HIV transmission for the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals.”
The un-earmarked funding signed today will be pivotal in accelerating action towards the realization of the goals outlined in the recently signed Government of Ethiopia-UNFPA Country Programme cooperation. The programme is addressing increased access to and use of health services focusing on maternal and new-born health; increased capacity of national institutions for evidence-based planning and management of development programmes; increased participation and decision-making by women and youth and protection and rehabilitation of women and youth in areas of gender based violence.
The un-earmarked funding modality was introduced by Embassy of Sweden in 2017 during UNFPA’s last Country Programme to enable increased flexibility in the use of funds for better programme responsiveness and impact.
Sweden remains among the top 10 donors contributing to UNFPA’s core and non-core programme resources globally.
For additional information, please contact:
Abraham Gelaw, Communication Officer, UNFPA; Tel. +251-11-5444079; +251-911-488627; E-mail: gelaw@unfpa.org
