UNITED NATIONS, New York—UNFPA, the United Nations Population Fund, has welcomed the decision of the United Kingdom Government to increase its annual contributions to UNFPA from about $30.2 million to some $36.4 million to expand access to reproductive health services, support safe motherhood initiatives and HIV/AIDS prevention in developing countries. The country also pledged the new sum to the Fund for the next four years. The higher dollar figure is based on a conversion of the United Kingdom’s four-year pledge of an annual 20 million pounds.

“This multi-year pledge will support UNFPA’s efforts to increase access to reproductive health services, skilled birth attendance and HIV/AIDS prevention for needy women and men in developing countries,” said Thoraya Ahmed Obaid, UNFPA’s Executive Director. “Multi-year commitment of substantial resources and predictable funding will help UNFPA and other United Nations development agencies translate internationally agreed development goals into concrete national programmes to promote health and reduce poverty. I hope more donor nations follow this example.”