The State of Qatar today announced un-earmarked funding of US 40$ million over four years - 10$ million annually from 2017 to 2020 - to support the core budget of the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA).

 

The generous contribution was formalized during a signing ceremony in the margins of the 17th Doha Forum, and in the presence of His Excellency Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman bin Jassim Al-Thani, Minister of Foreign Affairs of Qatar, between UN Under-Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs and Emergency Relief Coordinator, Mr. Stephen O'Brien, and His Excellency Mr. Khalifa Al-Kuwari, Director General of the Qatar Fund for Development.

 

The timely contribution places Qatar among the top five contributors to OCHA at this time.

 

Qatar Fund for Development is one of OCHA's strategic partners and plays an important global role in responding to humanitarian crises. In 2012, Qatar signed a Memorandum of Understanding of general cooperation with OCHA aiming to strengthen joint coordination and improving humanitarian response. This relationship was further strengthened with the UN Secretary-General's appointment of Dr. Ahmed AI-Meraikhi as his Humanitarian Envoy in December 2016.

 

"With this generous, multi-year support to OCHA, the Government and people of Qatar once again demonstrate their deep commitment to helping people in need anywhere in the world with impartial humanitarian assistance delivered through the multilateral system", said Stephen O'Brien.

 

"Qatar Fund for Development stresses that strengthening the capacities of the humanitarian institutions is a sign of the fund's ability as a key partner to find solutions to international crises. This support aims to promote OCHA's efficiency towards humanitarian response", said Khalifa Al-Kuwari.

 

While in Doha, Mr. O'Brien also met His Excellency Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman bin Jassim Al-Thani, Minister of Foreign Affairs, and other senior officials to thank them for their support, brief them on current issues and challenges faced by the humanitarian community and discuss ways for further multilateral engagement of Qatar.