NIAMEY, Nov. 20, 2009 (Xinhua News Agency) -- Spain has released 3 million euros (4.5 million U. S. dollars) to support a joint program for "childhood, nutrition and food security" in Niger, the government announced.

The financial aid, which was signed on Wednesday in the Nigerien capital Niamey, is one of the programs being supported by the United Nations Development Program (UNDP).

"These funds are expected to give better results centered on the improvement of the nutritional situation and reinforcement of Niger's food security," the coordinator of the United Nations System (UNS) in Niger, Khardiata Lo N'diaye, declared during the accord signing ceremony.

She pointed out that the management of these funds will be done by three bodies, which will include the national directorate committee composed of the UNS coordinator, the Spanish ambassador and a director from Niger's prime minister's office; a technical management committee bringing together UN agencies; and a coordination unit for the program from the prime minister's office.