Malawi Receives a Quarter of ICEIDA’s Development Budget for 2007

ICEIDA plans to allocate about 280 million Icelandic kronur (ISK) to development projects in Malawi in the fiscal year 2007. Amounting to about a quarter of the approved budget for 2007. In a operating budget for 2007, recently approved by the Board of ICEIDA, the cost for approved projects in 2007 will be over 1,200 million ISK.

The approved funds to Iceland’s other partner countries vary; Uganda receives about 150 million ISK, Namibia 140 million ISK, Mozambique just over 130 million ISK, Sri Lanka just under 100 million ISK and Nicaragua in excess of 70 million ISK.

The Board has also approved the allocation of 80 million ISK to projects with non-governmental organisations, both Icelandic and foreign.

According to Sighvatur Björgvinsson, ICEIDA’s director, collaboration with non-governmental organisations has increased considerably in the past few years, entailing projects with both domestic and foreign organisations. All such projects are carried out in accordance with ICEIDA’s operational procedures, that is with formal contracts for specific projects in which implementation, budget, follow-up and accounting is stipulated. “Usually ICEIDA’s contribution is 50-60% and the NGOs contribution is 40-50%”, says Sighvatur and points out that every Icelandic NGO application for collaboration has been approved.

According to ICEIDA’s budget for 2007, Icelandic non-governmental organisations, such as the Icelandic Red Cross, the Icelandic Church Aid, ABC Children’s Aid and the Union of Icelandic Missionary Associations, receive more than 41 million Icelandic ISK and the foreign NGOs receive 37 million ISK.