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Her Excellency Permanent Representative of the State of Qatar to the United Nations Sheikha Alya Ahmed bin Saif al-Thani met with Administrator of the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) Alexander De Croo, who assumed his duties Wednesday, at the programme's headquarters in New York. During the meeting, the Permanent Representative of the State of Qatar affirmed that Qatar places great importance on strengthening its co-operation and strategic partnerships with the UNDP. For his part, the UNDP Administrator expressed his gratitude to Qatar for its continued support of the UN's efforts and initiatives, emphasizing his eagerness to work closely with the State of Qatar to serve the Sustainable Development Goals.  

On the sidelines of the 80th session of the United Nations General Assembly, Qatar Fund for Development (QFFD) and the Saudi Fund for Development (SFD), in partnership with the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), have announced a joint initiative to support Syria.Together QFFD and SFD are providing $89mn funding through UNDP to ensure the continuity of essential public services across Syria over a three-month period.The joint funding will provide vital budgetary support enabling the payment of a portion of salaries for government employees responsible for core government functions related to the delivery of essential basic services. By maintaining these critical services, the effort aims to strengthen social protection, foster stability, and promote inclusive socio-economic recovery throughout the country.SFD CEO Sultan bin Abdulrahman al-Marshad, stated that the grant provided comes as part of Saudi Arabia’s wise leadership efforts to enhance development support for brotherly Syria. He emphasised that the Fund works hand in hand with its partners to foster growth and advance the development journey in Syria.QFFD director-general Fahad Hamad al-Sulaiti stated: “This initiative reflects our shared vision to promote stability and build resilience for the brotherly Syrian people. We firmly believe that investing in essential public services is not only an urgent humanitarian necessity, but also a strategic long-term investment in achieving sustainable development, preserving human dignity, and laying the foundations for peace and prosperity.”Through this support, Saudi Arabia and Qatar reaffirm their dedication to advancing development and promoting strategic partnerships with the international community. These recovery efforts are designed to contribute to resilient governance, inclusive economic growth, and sustainable development throughout Syria.“The Government of Syria extends its sincere appreciation to both the Qatar Fund for Development and the Saudi Fund for Development for this joint initiative, contributing to financing a portion of the salaries of civil servants. This contribution conveys a message of support from the esteemed governments of Saudi Arabia and Qatar,” said Mohamad Yisr Barnieh, Minister of Finance of Syria, “This initiative aligns with the Syrian Government’s efforts to advance financial and economic reforms, reinforcing the foundations of stability and economic and social recovery in the service of the Syrian people.”Implementation of this initiative will closely align with Syria’s national priorities, laying the foundation for long-term recovery and sustainable development. “We are grateful for the generous contributions of the Qatari and Saudi funds for development, which address the immediate needs of the Syrian population while laying the groundwork for long-term recovery and development,” added, Haoliang Xu, UNDP acting administrator.