The work of UNFPA is supported by governments and by ever-expanding alliances with individuals, NGOs, foundations and corporations. Networks and alliances of civil society organizations have become increasingly important since the International Conference on Population and Development in Cairo. To advance ICPD goals, groups have built broad alliances to overcome challenges to reproductive choice and freedom. UNFPA works with religious leaders to gain their support for reproductive health and women's rights, and with Parliamentarians to ensure national support.

NON-GOVERNMENTAL ORGANIZATIONS

UNFPA works with local, national and international NGOs to plan, deliver, manage, monitor and evaluate programmes in every region. In 2000, we signed an agreement with Rotary International to increase cooperation. We also agreed to extend for another two years the highly successful European Commission/UNFPA Initiative for Reproductive Health in Asia (RHI). This innovative partnership, which began in 1997 and is managed by UNFPA, has 42 projects in seven countries. The projects are executed by 19 European NGOs in close partnership with over 60 local NGOs and non-profit institutions. In addition to improving reproductive health across the Asian continent, the partnership between Asian and European NGOs has enabled the sharing of technical and practical experience and the strengthening of national capacities. The extensive information and communication network linking project partners is coordinated by the German Foundation for World Population (DSW).

FOUNDATION SUPPORT

Support from private foundations is increasing every year. In 2000, UNFPA received substantial amounts from the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation and the United Nations Foundation (UNF), which is supported by U.S. business leader Ted Turner. During the year, we developed and received approval for 23 new projects totalling some $21 million from the United Nations Foundation. Actual income to UNFPA in 2000 from UNF amounted to a record $9.5 million. The Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation contributed $500,000 directly to UNFPA and a partner grant of $57 million to fight HIV/AIDS in four African countries. The Hewlett Foundation contributed $1 million for advocacy. The Ford Foundation contributed $70,000 for a project that focuses on emerging issues in reproductive health including sexuality, gender-based violence and ethics/religious issues. We also received a $2 million contribution from the Mars Trust and $410,000 from the Packard Foundation.

ACADEMIC COLLABORATION

The work of UNFPA benefits greatly from academic analysis, technical assistance and collaboration. We work with hundreds of universities worldwide to explore reproductive health issues, conduct research and project implementation, train individuals, and formulate academic programmes to build national capacity in the field of population and development. Some of the highlights in 2000 include a new partnership with Columbia University to reduce maternal mortality; collaboration with the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine in project monitoring and evaluation; reproductive health fellowships by Berkeley, Cardiff, Cambridge and other universities; and the inauguration of new graduate programmes to equip young people with professional and technical skills in the field of population and development. In 2000, Bangladesh started the country's first graduate programme in Population Sciences, at Dhaka University; and Angola initiated its first post-graduate programme in Demography and Statistics at Agostinho Neto University.

UNFPA AND THE PRIVATE SECTOR

In 2000, UNFPA launched a worldwide private sector initiative to ensure affordable, adequate supplies of condoms and other contraceptives. We brokered meetings between contraceptive suppliers, governments, and technical experts in the Philippines, Indonesia and Turkey to enhance cooperation and negotiation. In many countries, the private sector contributed to UNFPA projects. In Jamaica, businesses donated $30,000 worth of medicine, contraceptives, computers, sports equipment and paid internships for a UNFPA-funded youth project. The global consulting firm Macro International provided funding for demographic and health surveys in Guinea and Turkmenistan. Chevron contributed funding for reproductive health services for war-affected women in Angola. And the pharmaceutical company Pharmacia donated funds to safe motherhood projects in eight countries that received UNFPA support through the Save the Mothers Fund.