Billions of dollars needed to alleviate GBV: UN

The world will need at least 264 Billion US Dollars in the next ten years to end preventable maternal deaths, eliminate gender-based violence and harmful practices, and meet the family planning needs of women in high-priority countries, according to new research released in Nairobi on Tuesday on the sidelines of the International Conference on Population and Development (ICPD25).

According to the United Nations, currently, only $42 billion in development assistance is expected to be spent on advancing these goals.

That means some 222 billion US Dollars in investments is required over the next decade, whether in the form of foreign investment, domestic allocation or private spending and yet achieving these results is a precondition to meeting the Sustainable Development Goals.

The breakdown of the funds is as follows:

• To end preventable pregnancy and child-related deaths in the 120 countries that account for over 95 per cent of maternal mortality will cost $115.5 billion. This includes paying for medical staff, drugs and obstetric supplies.

• To end unmet need for family planning in 120 priority countries – which comprise the majority of low- and middle-income countries – will cost $68.5 billion. The money would go towards ensuring a steady, reliable supply of quality contraceptives and other efforts to strengthen national health systems.

• Ending gender-based violence will require investing $42 billion in 132 priority countries.

• Ending female genital mutilation will require $2.4 billion for interventions related to education and changing social norms in 31 priority countries. The research shows that just $95 can prevent a girl from having her genitalia cut for non-medical reasons.

• To end child marriage is $35 billion.

The United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) Executive Director Dr. Natalia Kanem says to achieve these goals countries will need to work together

“We cannot wait another 25 years. It’s time to fill these resource gaps and make this a decade of delivery. It’s time to get the job done. With strong financing momentum we can achieve these transformative results, complete the ICPD Programme of Action and meet the Sustainable Development Goals on time by 2030,” says Dr. Kanem.

The Summit comes to a close on Thursday.