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Congo

Congo contributes $3m to UNESCO's Emergency Fund

Director-General Irina Bokova has expressed her thanks and appreciation to the Government of Congo, following the announcement of a $3m donation to UNESCO's Multi-donor Emergency Fund.

"I would like to express my gratitude for this contribution, which is a sign of support for the Organization. It is also a strong message coming from a country that wants to focus on education, science, culture and communication, and relies on multilateral organizations to help meet the challenges of development," she said.

"As I have said previously, funds from developing countries will be invested to support their efforts to grow and develop," she continued.

UNESCO is already engaged in several activities in the Congo: promoting diversity of cultural expressions by supporting events like the Pan-African Music Festival (Fespam); coordinating research aimed at guiding public policy on education and supporting education on HIV/AIDS; fighting deforestation through its network of biosphere reserves and thus contributing to the preservation of ecological areas that contribute to the well-being of the planet; and working with the authorities in the struggle against Sickle Cell disease. This disease was recognized by UNESCO as a public health priority in 2005. The Director-General and Antoinette Sassou Nguesso, First Lady of the Republic of Congo, President of the Congo Assistance Foundation and sponsor of SCDIO celebrated World Sickle Cell Day on 19 June last year.

"This contribution will give a new dimension to these projects and strengthen South-South cooperation," the Director-General said.