Global Solidarity Fund for Development
1 March 2006
Paris- Foreign Minister, Dr Nkosazana Dlamini Zuma, currently leading a
South African delegation to the two-day Ministerial Conference on Innovative
Funding Mechanism for Development in Paris, France, 28 February - 1 March 2006,
has announced that South Africa has become the 22nd country to join the Global
Solidarity Fund for Development.
Minister Dlamini Zuma in her address to the conference hosted by President
Jacques Chirac of the French Republic, indicated that South Africa was
considering utilising funds from the government pension scheme to finance
development projects aimed at accelerating the achievement of the millennium
development goals (MDGs).
Minister Dlamini Zuma, further highlighted the following:
* Commended the French, Chilean and Brazilian governments for pioneering the
Global Development Fund.
* Reminded delegates to the conference of the importance that South Africa
attaches to solidarity, having been a beneficiary to International solidarity
during the struggle against apartheid.
* Cautioned against spending funds from the Global Solidarity Levies only on
treatment of diseases at the expense of the prevention thereof.
* Emphasised that the contribution to the Global Solidarity Fund should not be
interpreted only as an act of charity to the poor but also an insurance for the
rich, through which their wealth can be secured and economic growth
guaranteed.
Minister Dlamini Zuma's announcement will serve to broaden international
consensus on meeting the MDGs and further upscale innovative funding mechanisms
designed to effectively address global challenges.
There is growing consensus that developing countries not only need more
resources but fundamentally, resources of better quality. The implementation of
innovative financing mechanisms would allow for the provision of additional
funding on a stable and predicable basis, which could be allocated more
effectively to long term programmes in a wide range of areas.
By adding its signature to the Global Solidarity Fund for Development, South
Africa has joined France, Brazil, Chile, Luxemburg, Norway, Cyprus, United
Kingdom (UK), South Korea, India, Cameroon, Cape Verde, Congo Brazzaville,
Germany, Madagascar, Mali, Morocco, Mauritania, Namibia, Lebanon, Mauritius and
Ivory Coast.
Minister Dlamini will return to South Africa on Friday, 3 March 2006.
Enquiries:
Ronnie Mamoepa
Cell: 082 990 4853
Issued by: Department of Foreign Affairs
1 March 2006
Source: SAPA
