UNICEF raises grants for Indonesia

Jakarta (VNA) – The United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) has pledged to increase grants for Indonesia by 14 percent to 146 million USD 
for the next five years against 127 million USD allocated in the previous corresponding period. 

The Antara news agency cited Minister for National Development Planning Sofyan Djalil as saying that the money will be used for six key areas, comprising child development and survival, early childhood education, child protection, social policy, emergency preparedness and disaster risk reduction, and communication and public advocacy. 

The six areas are included in the Country Program Action Plan, which adapts to the principles of the National Medium Term Development Plan 2015-2019, of the documents of the UN Development Framework and the Sustainable Development Goals, as well as the Strategic Plan of the UNICEF. 

Sofyan Djalil affirmed that children represent 30 percent of Indonesia’s population, but they will determine 100 percent of the nation’s future. 

He said increasing per capita income in Indonesia in recent years has helped improve the quality of life of the children. However, the issue of child development is facing challenges relating to health services and inequality of opportunities. 

He also hoped that UNICEF’s assistance would not only be in the form of grants but also studies based on the experience of international organisations in resolving children-related issues in other countries.-VNA