Manila, Dec 23, 2006 AEST (ABN Newswire) - The Government of Norway has made another contribution of Nkr25 million (about US$4 million equivalent) to the Gender and Development Cooperation Fund, adding to its initial contribution of Nkr15 million.
The fund was established in 2003 to promote gender equality and women's empowerment in the Asia Pacific region, with initial contributions totaling about US$4.5 million from the governments of Canada, Denmark, and Norway. In November, the fund received an EUR800,000 grant (about US$1.0 million equivalent) from Ireland.
"We appreciate the supplementary contribution which will accelerate gender mainstreaming in ADB's operations," says Werner Liepach, Principal Director of ADB's Office of Cofinancing Operations.
The fund will finance projects that promote gender equality and women's empowerment in ADB's developing member countries. Two-thirds of the world's poor live in the Asia Pacific region, the majority of whom are women. Literacy rates for women remain low, maternal mortality rates are high, and practices such as dowry deaths and female infanticide still occur in some countries in the region.
In 1998, ADB adopted a policy on gender and development, followed by an action plan with departmental commitments to put it into practice.
Contact
Graham Dwyer
Email: gdwyer@adb.org
Tel:+632 632 5253; Mobile: +63 920 938-6487
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