The United Nations Foundation Holds Board Meeting in Jordan with Participation of Queen Rania

(Office of Her Majesty – Press Department – Amman) - The United Nations Foundation is holding its bi-annual spring board meeting in Amman, marking the second time it has convened in the Jordanian capital since October, 2007.

Her Majesty Queen Rania, who has been a UN Foundation board member since 2006, is also attending the meeting.

The United Nations Foundation builds public-private partnerships to address the world’s most pressing problems, and broadens support for the United Nations through advocacy and public outreach. Through innovative campaigns and initiatives in issue areas including peace and security, health, climate, women’s and girls’ empowerment, and technology, The Foundation connects people, ideas, and resources to help the UN solve global problems.

The Foundation was founded in 1998 as a U.S. public charity by Ted Turner, entrepreneur, philanthropist, and Chairman of Turner Enterprises, Inc. with the mission of supporting the work of the UN.

The UN Foundation focuses on issues that can help countries progress, including by tackling infectious and deadly diseases, unlocking more finance for development, improving gender data to advance opportunity for women and girls, and finding ways to help the most vulnerable populations including refugees.

This year’s board meeting includes discussions and roundtable meetings with the participation of UN community members and influential Jordanian figures.

Led by Jordan’s UN Resident and Humanitarian Coordinator, Anders Pedersen, heads of UN agencies in the country will brief the board on their ongoing programs in Jordan and their future projects.

Additionally, prominent Jordanian figures will brief board members on pressing issues pertaining to Jordan and the region. These include Minister of Education Omar Razzaz, former Jordanian Minister of Foreign Affairs and former UN Special Envoy to Libya, Abdel Elah Al Khatib, former Jordanian Minister of Social Development, Reem Abu Hassan, and Editor-in-Chief of Alghad Newspaper Jumana Ghuneimat.

The board will also host a reception with the UN Community and a group of up-and-coming Jordanian social entrepreneurs, who will present their startup businesses and success stories.

Finally, the board will visit local community support centers supported by UNHCR that provide services to both Syrian refugees and Jordanian nationals.

In addition to Ted Turner, Chairman and Founder of the UN Foundation, and Queen Rania, the board currently has 13 other members, including Kathy Calvin, President and CEO; Valerie Amos, Director of SOAS University of London; Kofi Annan, former Secretary-General of the United Nations; Fabio Colletti Barbosa, former CEO of the Abril Group; Gro Harlem Brundtland, Vice Chair of the board, former Director-General of the World Health Organization (WHO) and former Prime Minister of Norway; Julio Frenk, President of the University of Miami; Igor Ivanov, President of the Russian International Affairs Council and former Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Russian Federation; N.R. Narayana Murthy, Co-Founder of Infosys Limited; Hisashi Owada, Judge, International Court of Justice; Hans Vestberg, Executive Vice President and President of Network and Technology at Verizon; Timothy E. Wirth, Vice Chair of the board and former U.S. Senator; Yuan Ming, Dean of Yenching Academy at Peking University; and Muhammad Yunus, Founder of Grameen Bank.