IBSA wins a Millennium Development Goals award at the United Nations
The governments of South Africa, Brazil and India were acknowledged and honoured by the Millennium Development Goal Awards, in partnership with the United Nations Development Programme’s (UNDP) Millennium Campaign and the Office for Partnerships, for "their leadership and support of the IBSA Facility for Poverty and Hunger Alleviation (IBSA Fund) as a breakthrough model of South-South Technical Cooperation" at a glittering event last night, 19 September 2010, at the Waldorf Astoria Grand Ballroom, New York. The event was attended by, inter alia, over 50 heads of state and government from all over the world.
The annual MDG Awards ceremony are intended to support and raise awareness of the Millennium Development Goals by providing a high profile platform to honour and celebrate exemplary efforts by national governments and civil society stakeholders in advancing these international development goals. The United Nations Millennium Campaign supports and inspires people from around the world to take action in support of the Millennium Development Goals. One of its internationally recognised achievements has been the Stand Up Campaign, and its End Poverty by 2015 logo, has become a global symbol highlighting the importance of achieving the MDGs.
Ambassadors from the three countries partnering through the minilateral forum, IBSA (an acronym that stands for India, Brazil and South Africa), accepted the honour on behalf of their countries.
In their citation, the UNDP argues that “the IBSA Fund brings together these three emerging economies and vibrant democracies in the quest to combat poverty in other developing countries. It is a breakthrough implementing South-South cooperation together with the UN system”.
Celebrating its 5th year of operations, IBSA already has a remarkable track record in advancing the MDGs through actions that practically address the underlying challenges that limit human development. It has implemented development solutions that build capacity, develop the needed infrastructure and contribute toward the attainment of the MDGs.
The IBSA Fund is financed by the three countries which each contributes 1 million US dollars for projects which are executed by various UN Agencies and partners on the ground across the globe. The projects focus on the sharing of best practices and proven experiences and include initiatives as diverse as improving agricultural techniques in remote villages, reducing violence in informal settlements, or delivering drinking water.
Around the world IBSA Fund's highlights include:
- Haiti
- removal of over 70% of the neighbourhood's solid waste, reducing disease, improving sanitation and traffic circulation, and diminishing environmental impact
- 385 families employed for over 3 years in Carrefour Feuilles.
- Guinea Bissau
- Over 4 500 farmers trained on enhanced agricultural techniques (60% women)
- 402 adults (93.7% female) learnt to read and write, going through from illiterate to functional literacy
- 5 villages installed and are using solar energy equipment, including water pumps.
- Cape Verde
- 2 health centres rehabilitated, and re-opened to the public to support the elderly and disabled.
- Burundi
- Capacity building workshops conducted to improve the national plan and to address the HIV/AIDS pandemic.
- Palestine
- Close to 1 000 youth and children enrolled in Youth Sports Leagues in 5 sports, volleyball, swimming, track and field, and basketball. They are eagerly awaiting inauguration of the new sports centre being built by IBSA.
- Cambodia
- Over 400 children with special needs benefited from medical or therapeutic consultations, including for epilepsy, neuro-developmental and psychological problems.
For more information, please contact the Chief Director for Public Diplomacy, Mr Saul Kgomotso Molobi on 082 940 1647, +27 12 351 0083 or e-mail him at molobisk@dirco.gov.za. Altrernatively, please speak to Ines Tofalo of the United Nations Development Programme at +1 (212) 906 5123 or send an email to ines.tofalo@undp.org.
Issued by the Department of International Relations and Cooperation
OR Tambo Building
Soutpansberg Road
RIETONDALE
Pretoria, RSA
0002
20 September 2010
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