QFFD, UN office sign funding agreement

The agreement was signed by QFFD Director General HE Khalifa bin Jassim al-Kuwari, and Special Representative of the UN Secretary-General for Children and Armed Conflict Virginia Gamba

Qatar Fund for Development (QFFD) signed an agreement with the Office of the Special Representative of the UN Secretary-General for Children and Armed Conflict to support the office's resources. The agreement was signed by Director General of Qatar Fund for Development HE Khalifa bin Jassim al-Kuwari, and Special Representative of the UN Secretary-General for Children and Armed Conflict Virginia Gamba. Under the agreement, Qatar will support the extra-budgetary resources of the office with $1mn for the period of 2022-2023. Qatar has also supported the establishment and funding of the Analysis and Outreach Hub of the Office of the Special Representative in Doha, in order to mediate and build capacity, to end and prevent grave violations against children in armed conflict. Commenting on the agreement, al-Kuwari said "Human rights, peace and development are at the top of QFFD's priorities, as they are in line with its vision to achieve peace and justice and empower all groups in society, including children, and prepare them to be active members of society. This important agreement is a translation to complete the journey of rebuilding the fragile, most vulnerable and marginalised communities, and rejecting conflicts." Gamba said: "The protection of conflict-affected children remains a central pillar of human rights, peace and security, peacebuilding, development, and humanitarian agendas. Children must remain at the heart of our efforts to build peaceful and prosperous societies." "With this partnership both entities show that they share the same objectives," she added. It is worth mentioning that this agreement builds on the ongoing cooperation between QFFD and the Office of the Special Representative of the UN Secretary-General for Children and Armed Conflict , where they signed a funding agreement for the Center for the Promotion and Protection of Children Affected by Armed Conflict, on the sidelines of 2019 Doha forum.