Deputy visits United Nations’ HQ

Saturday 26 January 2019

The Minister for International Development has just returned from her visit to the UN headquarters in New York to discuss Jersey’s role in contributing to humanitarian aid funding.

International Development Minister Deputy Carolyn Labey was invited to the headquarters earlier this month, given that Jersey is the highest non-member contributor to the UN’s pooled resource for providing immediate relief should an international crisis or emergency strike.

Governments and private donors can contribute to the pooled resource to support humanitarian efforts efficiently. Currently, Jersey is the highest contributing non-member state to this pooled resource having first donated to it in 2016 with a grant of £495,000 to support humanitarian action in Syria.

Jersey also sits on the Advisory Board for the Syrian Humanitarian Fund, having donated £1.5million since 2016.

Deputy Labey met with the UN’s Chief of Pooled Funding Lisa Doughten at the Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) who thanked Jersey for its contributions and the two delegates discussed the efficiency of providing aid in this way. 

Pictured: Jersey's Minister for International Development met UN Chief of Pooled Funding during her trip to New York.

Commenting on her trip, Deputy Labey said: “Once again Jersey is punching above its weight and is being recognised for its role on the international stage. 

“It was a very welcoming visit and we are delighted to have established a direct relationship with the UN. For years we have been supporting Unicef via the UK but this link gives Jersey direct input and feedback with the UN.

“While Jersey’s relationship with the UN is through the work of Jersey Overseas Aid, it is important to develop international relationships with organisations and countries not only in the US but also around the world. This is ever more important as Brexit approaches.”