UNILEVER EMPLOYEES IN PAKISTAN FUND UN PROGRAMME WITH NEW PAYROLL SCHEME

UNILEVER EMPLOYEES IN PAKISTAN FUND UN PROGRAMME WITH NEW PAYROLL SCHEME New York, Aug 27 2008 1:10PM The United Nations food agency today announced the launch of a joint venture with the employees of industrial giant Unilever, who will donate a percentage of their pay to help combat child hunger in Pakistan.

Unilever has rolled out an "employee payroll programme" to support the UN World Food Programme (<"http://www.wfp.org/english/?n=31">WFP) under a three-year partnership deal in which the company provides expertise in nutrition and health as well as financial support.

The collaboration is also aimed at supporting Pakistan in achieving the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) of eradicating extreme poverty and hunger as well as achieving universal primary education.

Some 600 Unilever staff have committed to the initiative contributing around 2.5 million Pakistan rupees (about $33,000) a year. The money raised will go to around 3,000 WFP-assisted government girls' primary schools in rural areas.

"I am grateful for the commitment of Unilever employees providing financial support. This contribution will help WFP feed more schoolchildren in areas where literacy is particularly low and most families are below the poverty line," said the WFP Country Representative, Wolfgang Herbinger.

The WFP provides assistance to over 4 million people struggling for food in Pakistan, including nearly half a million girls under the school feeding programme.
2008-08-27 00:00:00.000

________________

For more details go to UN News Centre at http://www.un.org/news

To change your profile or unsubscribe go to:
http://www.un.org/apps/news/email/