The 3rd Meeting of the Committee on the Management of the Global Poverty Eradication Contributionwas held on July 1. The meeting, presided over by Foreign Minister Yu Myung-hwan, discussed the currentstatus of use of Global Poverty Eradication Contribution, the evaluation of projects being supported, andthe selection of new projects to be supported.※ The Korean government, under the relevant law, has implemented the "Global Poverty EradicationContribution" aimed at supporting the eradication of poverty and diseases in developing countries sinceSeptember 30, 2007, and has levied 1,000-won contribution on all international flight passengersfrom Korea. The Korean government contributes 7 million dollars, collected through the Global Poverty EradicationContribution, to an international drug purchasing facility (UNITAID) annually, and also provides about 4.3billion won to four development NGOs as well as three least developed countries to support diseaseeradication projects at the request of their governments.

At today’s meeting, participants reviewed the current status of the projects supported by the Contributionduring the 1st year (Oct 2007~Sep 2008), and approved continued support for the projects. Also, newprojects to be supported during the 2nd year (Oct 2008~Sep 2009) were selected.ㅇ As a result of the meeting, the Korean government will help nine least developed countries (OECD/DACcriteria) in Africa ? Niger, Malawi, Mali, Sudan, Senegal, Uganda, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Tanzania,and Zambia - to fight against diseases through the Global Poverty Eradication Contribution.

The government’s support for various projects through the Global Poverty Eradication Contribution isexpected to contribute to not only achieving the UN MDGs related to poverty eradication and disease control inleast developed countries in Africa, but strengthening capabilities of Korea’s development NGOs.