A/RES/54/136 Page 3 9. Also requests the Fund to continue its efforts to mainstream a gender perspective in United Nations operational activities, in particular through its leadership of the Sub-Group on Gender of the United Nations Development Group and its convening of United Nations inter-agency thematic groups on gender to support the resident coordinator system; 10. Commends the Fund and the United Nations Development Programme, the United Nations Population Fund and the United Nations Volunteers as its collaborating partners for developing innovative mechanisms to expand the gender expertise available to the United Nations resident coordinator system at the country level, and encourages other United Nations organizations to develop similar initiatives that make use of the expertise and experience of the Fund in gender mainstreaming and the empowerment of women; 11. Recognizes that the Fund has been able to secure increased contributions for its work, and expresses its appreciation to Member States and private organizations, including the United Nations Foundation, and other foundations, whose increased contributions demonstrate their commitment to the issues on which the Fund is working; 12. Urges Member States, non-governmental organizations and members of the private sector that have contributed to the Fund to continue to contribute and to consider increasing their financial contributions, and invites others to consider contributing to the Fund. 83rd plenary meeting 17 December 1999