The partnership is part of the next phase of Dubai Cares by implementing primary education programmes in developing countries worldwide.
Dubai Cares will fund programmes developed or managed by the UN aid agency in several countries, selected in accordance with Dubai Cares’ results-oriented criteria, with the Dh3.4 billion (more than US$1 billion) raised during last year’s campaign in Dubai to assist projects. Later this month, Dubai Cares and Unicef will launch the first initiative in Djibouti.
The Dubai Cares campaign was launched on September 19, 2007 by His Highness Shaikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice-President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai.
Mohammed Al Gergawi, Chairman of the Executive Office, said: “For Dubai Cares, Unicef is a natural partner as the UN organisation has an incredible track record of more than 60 years in implementing projects to ensure children’s rights. It also has effective access to resources and expertise for coordinating large scale initiatives in a number of countries.”
The UN agency’s work in Djibouti will include the renovation of schools, social mobilisation to reduce access disparities based on gender or background in specific geographic areas, and improving access to pre-school education.
Al Gergawi added: “We will work closely with Unicef to ensure that our investments in primary education programmes are channelled appropriately to maximise its impact. Our efforts will also help the international community accelerate its pace of achieving the Millennium Development Goal related to education, which will be measured in terms of on-the-ground progress.”
“Education provides vital opportunities for children and helps communities break the poverty cycle,” said Unicef Executive Director Ann M. Veneman.
“With the assistance of Dubai Cares, Unicef can expand its support for education programmes that contribute to the achievement of the Millennium Development Goals.”
Through its partnership with Unicef and other humanitarian bodies, Dubai Cares will help build and finance a variety of projects related to providing education, including building new school facilities; renovating old school premises; distributing school supplies; improving nutritional intake and conducting medical check-ups for students and teachers; and providing training and workshop to adequately empower teachers.
