A Private Initiative. A Global partnership.

• Position: Brief Article

United Nations Fund for International Partnerships

Just over two years ago, on 18 September 1997, Robert Edward ("Ted') Turner III, Vice-Chairman and member of the Board of Directors of Time-Warner, Inc., announced a generous and historic gift in support of United Nations causes-up to $1 billion over a 10-year period. Secretary-General Kofi Annan warmly welcomed this extraordinary gesture, which would assist and support the United Nations in achieving the goals of its Charter. As a new and additional financial resource the Foundation would supplement regular, assessed or voluntarily funded UN programmes and projects. Contributions are made through the United Nations Foundation, Inc. (UNF), a public charity established by Mr. Turner in early 1998. Timothy E. Wirth, President of the Foundation, stresses that "one of our major objectives will be to try to leverage Ted Turner's gift to attract contributions from other sources. As our funds go into the UN system, we hope it will pull in other money from individual and corporate and institutional donors."

On 1 March 1998, the Secretary-General established the United Nations Fund for International Partnerships (UNFIP) as an autonomous fund to interface with the Foundation and to act as facilitator for the UN system in this venture. "Our aim is to serve as an interlocutor for the UN family with the Foundation, and to continue building bridges between and with UN entities, with NGOs, and with the private sector", states the new-appointed Executive Director, Amir Dossal. An important tash for UNFIP is to ensure that proposals to be funded are in conformity with the orientation of the Secretary-Genrals's reform programme. In particular UNFIP encourages UN Country Team initiatives and thus aims at working closely with the UN Development Group Office and the system of UN Development Assistance Frameworks-both results of Mr. Annan's reform.

"One of the most encouraging developments in the United Nations system", Deputy Secretary-General Louise Frechette believes, "is the emergence of a true team spirit both at Headquarters and in the...