1. The ninth meeting of the Committee on the Management of the Global Poverty Eradication Contribution system took place on July 5, chaired by Second Vice Foreign Minister Cho Tae-yul. At the meeting, the Committee reviewed the progress in the implementation of the Global Poverty Eradication Contribution system and approved six new assistance projects worth a combined 21.2 million US dollars, including two assistance projects for refugees from Sudan and other African countries (nine million US dollars); two projects for maternal and child health in poor sub-Saharan African countries (nine million US dollars); and a project to prevent infectious diseases (three million US dollars).

2. In particular, given the ongoing worst refugee crisis since the end of World War II, the Committee approved two projects worth nine million US dollars for rendering assistance to refugees from Sudan and other African countries.

3. At the meeting, Vice Minister Cho noted that the government of the Republic of Korea is focused on conducting projects designed to create synergistic effect from the Global Poverty Eradication Contribution system, an innovative resource for development, and official development assistance (ODA). He stressed that the government is working to improve the operational transparency of the system, including by reporting on the progress in its implementation to the National Assembly on a regular basis.

4. The ROK government, since introducing the Global Poverty Eradication Contribution system in 2007, has contributed a combined 120 billion won for projects involving maternal and child health and the prevention of infectious diseases through international health organizations and the UN’s development-related agencies, including the Global Alliance for Vaccines and Immunization (GAVI), the International Drug Purchase Facility (UNITAID), and the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria. By doing so, it has played a role in international efforts to eradicate infectious diseases. Going forward, the government will continue conducting under the Global Poverty Eradication Contribution system innovative development cooperation projects that are differentiated from other ODA projects and thereby enhance its international standing as an exemplary and leading donor country.


* unofficial translation