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UN Democracy Fund Projects Add Value to UN Work

The Advisory Board of the UN Democracy Fund held its third meeting today since its establishment in March 2006. The Board reviewed progress on the implementation of the first batch of 125 projects which were approved by the Secretary-General in August 2006.

In his statement to the Board, Mr. Amir Dossal, Executive Director of the UN Fund for International Partnerships (UNFIP), expressed his satisfaction with the quality of the projects and the impact that they will have in sensitive areas such as strengthening the democracy-building capacity of civil society, encouraging greater transparency for citizens and in promoting gender equality. For him, the Fund is adding value to ongoing UN work in these areas by creating and defining its own niche.

The Board also reviewed procedures for monitoring, evaluation and accountability, including detailed financial reporting requirements for project recipients and mechanisms for monitoring and evaluation. The accountability procedures will be established on the basis of checks and balances and the due diligence process to ensure quality of projects selected for Democracy Fund funding; the consistency of the project with the approved proposal; the good standing and financial management record of the applicant; and the appropriateness of the proposed activities for the United Nations.

The Board also welcomed the widespread support for the Democracy Fund as a strategic and legitimate UN instrument that allows the Organization to become ever more effective in its democracy assistance work and to align itself more closely with civil society organizations and with peoples? needs and aspirations.

The Board also reviewed resource mobilization efforts, which include an additional US$ 13 million of new pledges and contributions in 2007.

The coming months will see the continued consolidation of the Fund's work as well as the start of its operations on the ground, the monitoring of the first phase of activities and the call for a second round of proposals.

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