Innovative alliances with the United Nations.

• Author: Wirth, Timothy E.
• Position: Partnerships - Brief Article

In 1997, philanthropist Ted Turner announced he would give $1 billion to support United Nations causes. In the four years since that historic announcement, the United Nations Foundation (UNF) and its sister organization--the Better World Fund (BWF)--have provided grants totalling $500 million to support UN goals worldwide.

From the outset, UNF/BWF worked to establish a smooth and seamless relationship with UN agencies, funds and programmes to ensure that its funding--the largest single source of private support to the Organization--would bring maximum benefits to its UN system partners. I am pleased to say that we have made real progress in this all-important objective, and the value of our partnerships is now widely understood and accepted within the United Nations.

The UN Fund for International Partnerships (UNFIP), which facilitates public/private partnerships for the United Nations, was established by the Secretary-General to serve as UNF counterpart in the UN system. UNFIP complements and strengthens the UNF by serving as a guide and coordinator for our UN partners. Together with UNFIP, we have put in place a transparent and collaborative system that has provided strategic direction to our priority areas: women and population; children's health; biodiversity protection and climate change; and peace, security and human rights.

Working with UNFIP, the Foundation has directed $446 million to UN projects since the beginning of the partnership in early 1998. These funds have been distributed to UN agencies, funds and programmes via nearly 300 individual grants.

The Better World Fund has made grants totalling $54 million. The UN Foundation is also serving as a catalyst and a bridge for additional donors.

In addition to its core funds, the Foundation has leveraged more than $125 million from other sources. These funds include matching funds or direct donations to UNF, which come from partnerships with other foundations, corporations, non-governmental organizations (NGOs) and individuals.

Through the UNF Resource Mobilization Department, additional third-party funds are being contributed to UN efforts worldwide, as the Foundation creates partnerships and identifies initiatives within the UN family in need of funding.

The Foundation is more than a...