UNITED NATIONS, New York/BERLIN, Germany - UNFPA, the United Nations sexual and reproductive health agency, is pleased to announce that the Government of Germany has increased its flexible funding by €30 million to support our global response to the COVID-19 crisis. This will make Germany UNFPA’s largest current provider of unearmarked “core funding,” and will support a wide range of life-saving sexual and reproductive health services to women and girls affected by the pandemic. In emergencies such as the global COVID-19 crisis, core funding is critical to ensure UNFPA can respond quickly and efficiently to people in the greatest need. 

“The scale and complexity of the COVID-19 pandemic are unprecedented, and Germany’s flexible contribution to UNFPA’s response will enable us to focus on what is most urgently needed in each location and save lives as a result,” says UNFPA Executive Director, Dr. Natalia Kanem. “Flexible funding sustains UNFPA operations and makes aid more effective. It is particularly vital right now as we respond to the challenge of COVID-19."  

COVID-19 has wreaked havoc on women and girls’ health, safety, and human rights. As the world continues to grapple with the pandemic, extended lockdowns are leading to disruptions in sexual and reproductive health services, restricted access to contraceptives, and millions more cases of violence in the home, unintended pregnancies, child marriages and cases of female genital mutilation. 

In response to the growing crisis, UNFPA is working with trusted partners and countries, including Germany, to strengthen health systems in countries most affected by COVID-19, ensure women and girls can access sexual and reproductive health services, respond to the rising gender-based violence under lockdown, protect health workers, and strengthen supply chains for contraceptives.

UNFPA greatly values the longstanding support of the Government of Germany to sexual and reproductive rights, maternal health, women’s empowerment, and eradicating female genital mutilation. And its commitment to increasing core funding in response to COVID-19 is more important than ever to effectively and rapidly save lives. 

UNFPA’s top five core donors now include the Governments of Germany, Sweden, Norway, the Netherlands, and Finland.

For media and interview enquiries, please contact:
Malene Arboe-Rasmussen (based in Copenhagen): +45 6166 1291; arboe-rasmussen@unfpa.org
Eddie Wright (based in New York): +1 917 831 2074; ewright@unfpa.org