Ireland Contributes EUR800,000 to ADB's Gender and Development Cooperation Fund
MANILA, PHILIPPINES - The Government of Ireland has made a grant contribution of EUR800,000 (about US$1.0 million equivalent) to ADB's Gender and Development Cooperation Fund. The fund was established in May 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. As a multidonor fund, it is open to contributions from other member countries that wish to support gender and development. “We are very grateful for this contribution from the Government of Ireland, which will help to further mainstream gender activities in ADB’s regular 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. About ADB |  |
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