HEADQUARTERS

P.O. Box 18371                                        Telephone:  [249](11)78-0777
Riyadh 11415                                          Facsimile:  [249](11)77-2600
Saudi Arabia                                          E-mail:     prmedia@agfund.org
                                                      Internet:   www.agfund.org
                                                      

ESTABLISHMENT AND FUNCTIONS

The Arab Gulf Programme for United Nations Development Organizations (AGFUND) is a regional development institution, established in 1980 upon the initiative of H.R.H. Prince Talal Bin Abdul Aziz, and with the support of the Leaders of the Arab Gulf States that constitute its membership and contribute to its budget. AGFUND is concerned with the support of sustainable human development efforts, targeting the neediest groups in the developing countries, particularly women and children, in cooperation with the organizations and institutions active in this field. AGFUND Objectives

First: Supporting and funding of programs and projects, especially for motherhood and childhood, in the field of health, as follows:

1. Health awareness projects

2. Primary health care projects

3. Environmental health projects

Second: Supporting and financing of educational projects targetting special, less privileged groups, particularly women and children, as follows:

1. Basic education

2. Preparing of programmes and educational curricula

3. Establishing and equipping of education institutions

4. Research and studies in the domain of education development

5. Establishing and equipping of vocational training centres

6. Projects for open universities and distance learning

Third: Participating in the establishment and promotion of the institutional structure and framework of the organizations active in the field of sustainable human development, especially women and children organizations, as follows:

1. Establishment of organizations concerned with sustainable human development

2. Developing the structures and systems of sustainable human development organizations

3. Developing the performance of workers in developmental institutions, with emphasis on training of trainers

4. Organizing conferences, seminars and workshops intended to serve human development issues

5. Establishing information databases and communcations centres

Fourth: Supporting and funding of development projects of special nature, as follows:

1. Emergency relief assistance for the victims of wars, armed conflicts and natural disasters

2. Small projects aimed at income generating for less privileged groups

3. Poverty funds and micro-credit services

4. Studies and research aimed at achieving sustainable human development

5. Information programs on sustainable human development issues which fall within the strategic objectives of AGFUND

Since its establishment, AGFUND has supported and contributed funding to 618 projects, including 380 projects accredited by United Nations Development Organizations and other international organizations and 238 non-governmental organization and Arab governmental projects. These projects involved 125 developing countries worldwide at a cost of US$ 200 million, contributed through AGFUND cooperation with 19 UN, international, regional and national organizations, 167 non-governmental organizations and a number of Arab government bodies.

COMPOSITION

6 Member States: Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, United Arab Emirates

AGFUND Partners: United Nations Development Organizations, international and regional organizations, international, regional and national development banks and funds, Arab non-governmental organizations and governmental bodies

STRUCTURE

Each Member State is represented on the Board of Directors, which is chaired by H.R.H. the President.

The Executive Management, which, in addition to the Executive Director, includes the following departments:

Projects, Resources Development, Media and Public Relations, Total Quality, Finance and the Information Centre.

CREATED:   December 2003