The
partnership is part of the next phase of Dubai Cares by implementing
primary education programmes in developing countries worldwide.
Dubai
Cares will fund programmes developed or managed by the UN aid agency in
several countries, selected in accordance with Dubai Cares’
results-oriented criteria, with the Dh3.4 billion (more than US$1
billion) raised during last year’s campaign in Dubai to assist
projects. Later this month, Dubai Cares and Unicef will launch the
first initiative in Djibouti.
The
Dubai Cares campaign was launched on September 19, 2007 by His Highness
Shaikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice-President and Prime
Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai.
Mohammed
Al Gergawi, Chairman of the Executive Office, said: “For Dubai Cares,
Unicef is a natural partner as the UN organisation has an incredible
track record of more than 60 years in implementing projects to ensure
children’s rights. It also has effective access to resources and
expertise for coordinating large scale initiatives in a number of
countries.”
The
UN agency’s work in Djibouti will include the renovation of schools,
social mobilisation to reduce access disparities based on gender or
background in specific geographic areas, and improving access to
pre-school education.
Al
Gergawi added: “We will work closely with Unicef to ensure that our
investments in primary education programmes are channelled
appropriately to maximise its impact. Our efforts will also help the
international community accelerate its pace of achieving the Millennium
Development Goal related to education, which will be measured in terms
of on-the-ground progress.”
“Education
provides vital opportunities for children and helps communities break
the poverty cycle,” said Unicef Executive Director Ann M. Veneman.
“With
the assistance of Dubai Cares, Unicef can expand its support for
education programmes that contribute to the achievement of the
Millennium Development Goals.”
Through
its partnership with Unicef and other humanitarian bodies, Dubai Cares
will help build and finance a variety of projects related to providing
education, including building new school facilities; renovating old
school premises; distributing school supplies; improving nutritional
intake and conducting medical check-ups for students and teachers; and
providing training and workshop to adequately empower teachers.
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