NEW YORK--(BUSINESS WIRE)--In a historic step towards accelerating global efforts to enhance the status of girls and women worldwide, the NAMA Women Advancement Establishment (NAMA) – an organisation dedicated to developing opportunities for women – has launched the ‘NAMA International Women Fund’ (NAMA Fund) on the sidelines of the 71st UN General Assembly held at the UN Headquarters in New York.
A pioneering initiative from NAMA, an organisation based in Sharjah - the third largest emirate in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) - the NAMA Fund seeks to mobilise essential financial and human resources to elevate the status of women worldwide by supporting programmes aimed at women's economic and professional empowerment and by investing in initiatives designed to hone their community development skills.
To kick-start the fund, an initial seed amount of US$ 2.7 million was released by Her Highness Sheikha Jawaher bint Muhammad Al Qasimi, Chairperson of NAMA and the wife of His Highness Dr. Sheikh Sultan bin Muhammad Al Qasimi, Member of the Supreme Council and Ruler of Sharjah, UAE. Part of the money will be donated to the ‘Girls Ambassadors for Peace’ programme; a Global Network of Women Peacebuilders initiative, which works with young women in countries afflicted by war and conflict to help them function as positive role models in peace-building.
"Societies that support and advance women are societies that ensure for themselves a bright present and future. Unfortunately there are far too many women around the world who suffer from gender discrimination in every sphere. At the NAMA Fund we are seeking to enhance the status of women and develop communities by supporting and financing women's advancement,” said Sheikha Jawaher Al Qasimi.
As part of its ongoing efforts, the NAMA Fund will support local, regional as well as international activities enabling women to play their chosen roles in society, paving the way for them to become permanent stakeholders in sustainable development. The Fund’s selection process will be aided by associate regional and international organisations and local and regional awareness campaigns will be included in its financial purview.
