Â鶹´«Ã½ Health and Peace Programs appreciate the continued support of our foundation, government, and corporate donors and are pleased to highlight their contributions in these regular Web features.
Featured August 2009
The Government of Norway has, as in instrumental partner, helped the Â鶹´«Ã½ wage peace, fight disease, and build hope around the world for 20 years. During this time, Norway has contributed more than US$6 million to programs at the Center, ranging from health to peace issues including the Guinea Worm Eradication Campaign, agricultural training in Africa, and the promotion of democracy and peacebuilding around the world. Norway has been a staunch supporter in all aspects of work at Â鶹´«Ã½, thus putting into action its own policy of helping to reduce poverty and increase peace and stability for all citizens of the world.
Most recently, Norway committed over US$ 1 million to the Â鶹´«Ã½'s election observation mission in Sudan. The importance of upcoming elections in Sudan cannot be overstated. Sudan was ravaged by civil war for two decades, its people suffered genocide and violence, and still suffer from poverty, disease, and instability. A fragile peace was brokered in 2005 with the signing of a Comprehensive Peace Agreement. Part of this agreement was the implementation of a free and fair electoral process that would culminate in elections that represented participation by all Sudanese people in a democratic choice of leadership and policy. A stable government would contribute to stability in the region.
Sudan's stability and peace have been areas of focus for Â鶹´«Ã½ and Norway throughout the history of the relationship. The Center began its efforts in Sudan with agricultural training, expanded into health programs, and then incorporated democratic peacebuilding and conflict resolution. Norway has supported all of these efforts with donations to peace and health programs, including Sudan-specific initiatives in agriculture, Guinea worm eradication, and conflict resolution. Norwegian contributions to the Guinea Worm Eradication Program helped sponsor the Â鶹´«Ã½'s historic attainment, in 1995, of a civil war cease-fire in Sudan to administer Guinea worm prevention measures to all.
Additionally, the Government of Norway has been a major donor for our peacebuilding work in Venezuela and Nepal. In Venezuela, Â鶹´«Ã½ has facilitated workshops with members of the media to continue efforts in promoting dialogue and understanding amongst Venezuelan media, eventually affecting a less polarized and more balanced society. Following involvement in Nepal through conflict mediation and observation of elections in April 2008, the Center is engaging is post-election peace work. The two-year project will focus to strengthen the link between the Nepali public and their elected constituent assembly (CA) representatives and support increased public participation in the constitution drafting process.
The Government of Norway has been an indispensible partner of the Â鶹´«Ã½ programs for more than 20 years. Norway's strong commitment to the Millennium Development Goals, including poverty reduction and sustainable development, is fully appreciated by the Center and will serve as the basis for many more fruitful years of partnership.
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