(MENAFN- Kuwait News Agency (KUNA)) RIYADH, Dec 17 (KUNA) -- The Arab Gulf Programme for Development (AGFUND) has approved 10 projects in line with the United Nations 2030 sustainable development goals, including a microfinance bank in Yemen to ease the suffering of displacement due to the crisis there.

The projects also include support for Rohingya families, currently living as refugees in neighbouring Bangladesh, in response to calls made by the UN refugee agency (UNHCR), read a statement by AGFUND's board of directors.

The 10 programmes meet AGFUND's objectives and standards, which go in line with the SDGs, added the statement.

These include empowering physically abused women, educating mothers and their children, supporting people with special needs and boosting the role of NGOs in achieving development.

The projects are to be carried out through cooperation with several regional and international agencies and bodies.

Those international include the UNHCR and International Labour Organization (ILO) International Training Centre.

Also, regional bodies like the Arab Council for Childhood and Development, Arab NGO Network for Development, Centre of Arab Women for Training and Research, the Yemen-based Al-Amal Microfinance Bank, the Saudi National Family Safety Program and its Child Care Association among others.

The AGFUND Prize, which awards pioneering human development initiatives, has also been raised to USD one million and will this year carry a theme to "ensure inclusive and quality education for all and promote lifelong learning." The Riyadh-based regional fund was established in 1980 upon the initiative of Saudi Arabia's Prince Talal bin Abdulaziz Al-Saud.

It is supported by the leaders of the six Gulf Cooperation Council countries, Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, the United Arab Emirates and Saudi Arabia. (end) od.sd

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