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UNITED NATIONS CAPITAL DEVELOPMENT FUND Microfinance |
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News | Queen Rania Al Abdullah of Jordan to Serve as Emissary for the International Year of Microcredit 2005 Continues Her Dedication to Poor Women in the Middle East New York -- The United Nations is pleased to announce that Her Majesty Queen Rania Al Abdullah of the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan has accepted an invitation to join the International Year of Microcredit 2005 Patrons Group. In her capacity as an Emissary for the Year, she will contribute to raising awareness of the aims, objectives and priorities of the United Nations in poverty alleviation, convey messages about the activities of the International Year of Microcredit, and extend its public outreach. "For many years now, I have been impressed by the power of a simple, small loan to those for whom fate and circumstance have resulted in disadvantage. Maintaining people’s integrity and showing them trust, whilst facilitating a way for them to rebuild their own lives is such a meaningful way of alleviating poverty. By placing microfinance in the global spotlight, awareness of this most effective anti-poverty tool will undoubtedly, and thankfully, increase," she said. Her position as an Emissary for the International Year of Microcredit represents a continuation of her experience in microfinance and dedication to the plight of poor and low-income women in the Middle East. She already serves on the Board of Director of FINCA International and is a supporter of microlending in her own country; she has started a community empowerment program in Jordan aimed at enhancing the economic and social well-being of women in underprivileged communities by establishing sustainable community-operated projects as part of her Jordan River Foundation. Her activities and interests encompass: developing income-generating projects, encouraging the advancement of best practices in the field of microfinance, protecting children from violence, promoting Early Childhood Development, and incorporating Information Technology into schools. The International Year of Microcredit – scheduled for launch 18 November – will promote the rapid growth of strong microcredit and microfinance sectors to serve the needs of a wide variety of poor clients. In addition, the Year will recognize the contribution of microcredit and microfinance toward the achievement of the Millennium Development Goals of poverty eradication and providing opportunities to tap the spirit of entrepreneurship existing in communities all over the world.
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