Advocacy is one of three core UNFPA programme areas. It is a primary tool to change policies, laws and programmes in line with ICPD goals and principles, to promote global efforts for gender equality and women's empowerment, and universal access to reproductive health care, including family planning and HIV/AIDS prevention.

UNFPA is the leading advocate of the ICPD Programme of Action. Advocacy efforts are also guided by the Platform for Action adopted at the 1995 Fourth World Conference on Women and the key actions adopted at ICPD+5 in 1999. By advancing the principles of the ICPD, UNFPA is contributing to the United Nations Millennium Development Goals of 2000 for reducing maternal, infant and child mortality; increasing education; empowering women and halting the spread of HIV/AIDS.

Forging Partnerships

Partnerships provide the most important form of support in meeting common goals. UNFPA has created a strong and diverse network of partners over the years among governments, NGOs, UN agencies, the private sector and individuals. Alliances and coalitions from the global to the local level represent the best hope of tackling challenges related to poverty, exclusion and ill-health - challenges like maternal mortality, which the world has identified as a top priority. Networks and partnerships of many kinds have evolved since the International Conference on Population and Development, creating the strength in numbers required to meet reproductive health goals.

Donors make our work possible, and strong partnerships with NGOs multiply the impact of our mission. Local groups implement UNFPA-supported programmes at the community level and international partners raise funds and increase awareness about reproductive health issues at the global level. Cooperation with other UN agencies continues to grow and, increasingly, UNFPA is forging links with foundations, businesses and organizations in the private sector.

Keeping population issues, reproductive health and rights high on the global agenda is a UNFPA priority. UNFPA takes a leadership role in advancing reproductive health and rights, ensuring that they are not forgotten among the many development challenges - and that their contribution to development is fully recognized. At the country level, UNFPA assists governments in formulating policies and strategies to ensure that population and reproductive health needs are met today and in the future.

Mobilizing Resources

While there has been notable progress in implementing the actions called for in Cairo, international donor support for reproductive health programmes is far below what is needed. Developing countries still lack the resources to fully implement the ICPD Programme of Action (Cairo, 1994). UNFPA has called on the 179 governments that adopted the Programme of Action to honour their commitment to spend $17 billion annually to achieve universal access to basic reproductive health services.

So far, governments have contributed about $11 billion of the $17 billion that was agreed at the ICPD in Cairo. While the developing countries have reached 80 per cent of their target of $11.3 billion, the developed countries have not met even 50 per cent of the $ 5.7 billion that is needed.

Thoraya Obaid, Executive Director of UNFPA, has called on developing countries in particular to keep their promises. "It is time for developed countries to act on their commitments and raise development assistance in line with the Cairo agreement. Commitments to fight poverty and inequality must be matched by resources. Failure to meet agreed financial targets is derailing the achievement of international development goals, especially in the poorest countries," she said.

UNFPA counts on support from two primary sources: governments and intergovernmental organizations, and private sector groups and individuals. It is funded entirely by voluntary contributions.

Total income (provisional) for 2001 was $396.5 million, compared to $367.4 million for 2000. This includes "regular resources" of $268.7 million, an increase of 1.8 per cent compared to 2000. Regular which are at the core of our work, steadily supporting UNFPA country programmes in developing countries, primarily through governmental pledges. They also are used for programme support and management and administration of the organization. It also includes "other resources" of $123.5 million, an increase of 19 per cent compared to 2000. Other resources are earmarked for specific activities. Income from other resources includes trust funds, cost-sharing programme arrangements and other restricted funds.

This level of funding is still far below that achieved in 1995, when commitment to the ICPD was at its peak. Core resources still fall far short of the $310 million projected in the Fund's multi-year funding framework (MYFF). Nor does this take into account the growing demand for UNFPA services or apparent backsliding in meeting the financial commitments made at Cairo.

Inadequate funding has very real consequences: continued high rates of unwanted pregnancy; continued recourse to abortion; increased infant, child and maternal mortality; the faster spread of the HIV/AIDS pandemic; and slowed implementation of the client-centred approach to reproductive health services. Increased reliance on the private sector must not deprive the poor of health services. Ultimately, if population growth is not slowed in the poorest countries, its rapid rate will wipe out gains already made in other crucial areas, such as schools, primary health care, affordable housing, public transport and roads, and managing critical natural resources.

Progress towards meeting ICPD funding goals: