H.
Fund raising
(Items 4 and 8 (a) of the agenda)
108. The Head of Fund Raising Services outlined the current financial situation and urged Governments to pledge the greatest level of support possible for the 1987 programmes at the next UNHCR Pledging Conference in order to assure sufficient funds at the start of the programme year.
109. Several delegations described their levels of financial assistance to UNHCR, pledged continued support and announced new contributions to UNHCR. One speaker expressed concern that the percentage of "earmarked" contributions had risen to 43 per cent and felt that this jeopardized the Office's effectiveness. Two speakers stressed that a significant part of their contribution was "unearmarked" in order to give UNHCR the flexibility to use available funds where they were most needed. One donor Government stated that it placed greatest priority on UNHCR's General Programmes.
110. One speaker welcomed what he saw as UNHCR's improved financial situation this year; two others expressed concern at UNHCR's funding difficulties and the size of the current shortfall. Two other speakers were anxious that UNHCR should not develop a condition of chronic financial shortfalls. One urged UNHCR to develop contingency plans in case full funding was not available for all projects. Another wished UNHCR to provide more information on expenditure to complement future papers on the funding situation.
111. The importance of the non-governmental organizations in fund-raising was stressed by a number of speakers. One delegate pointed out that only 56 non-governmental organizations were listed among UNHCR's donors, of which 26 were Japanese; efforts should be made to broaden the sources of contributions of non-governmental organizations. A number of speakers referred in positive terms to the "Refugee '86" campaign that had been undertaken in the Nordic countries.
112. Many speakers urged a better "burden-sharing" among donors. Some speakers suggested that UNHCR explore new sources of funding, particularly in the private sector. One observer felt that expenditure on public information should be seen by UNHCR as an investment which would be amply recovered in increased contributions to UNHCR programmes.
In the view of one delegate UNHCR should make optimum use of the mass media for fund-raising purposes.
113. The representative of the Commission of the European Communities stated that every effort would be made to integrate aid to refugees within the five-year development programmes agreed by the European Community and the developing states signatory to the Lomé Convention.
I.
Non-governmental organizations
(Items 4, 5, 6 and 8 of the agenda)
114. A large number of speakers expressed support for the role of voluntary organizations in promoting the refugee cause across the world and welcomed the High Commissioner's commitment to enhance UNHCR's close co-operation with non-governmental organizations. One pointed out that non-governmental
organizations were closer to the man-in-the-street than UNHCR's other interlocutors
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