A/HRC/16/31 and their family members, as well as requests for 25 projects amounting to $858,754 for training sessions and seminars to be implemented in 2011. 9. As foreseen at its thirty-second session in February 2010, because of the decrease in the level of contributions received and the absence of pledges made in 2010, the Board was not in a position to maintain the level of funding of 2010 and had to decide on strategic cuts for the 2011 grants cycle. A decrease of 20 per cent was applied to all projects located in countries in the Group of Western European and Other States, while all projects located in other regions were reduced by 10 per cent. As a rule, support to new grantees was capped at a maximum of $20,000 instead of the usual $50,000. In addition, consideration of funding for training and seminars for professionals assisting victims was postponed to the thirtyfourth session in February 2011, subject to the availability of resources. 10. The Board of Trustees made recommendations for grants for the period from January to December 2011 for over 280 ongoing and 23 new projects of direct assistance in more than 70 countries, for a total amount of $9,525,050, to be paid in January 2011. The High Commissioner approved the recommendations on 22 November 2010 on behalf of the Secretary-General. 11. The Board recommended that $1,116,950 be set aside for projects that the Board could not consider at its thirty-third session because information to be submitted by the applicants was pending or visits had not yet been undertaken by a United Nations staff member, and which would be considered by the Board at its thirty-fourth session in February 2011. In addition, the Board decided to set aside $300,000 for emergency and intersessional requests for 2011, in particular for projects located in priority regions (Africa, Central Asia and Asia) identified by OHCHR field presences. 12. Further information on the activities of the Fund, including detailed information on, inter alia, the distribution of grants by region, policy decisions, meetings of the Board with Member States and relevant actors in the field of assistance to victims of torture will be available after the thirty-fourth session of the Board, to be held from 31 January to 4 February 2011. III. Financial situation of the Fund and estimated needs for 2012 13. Between 2006 and 2010, the Board had progressively increased the amount awarded in grants to projects worldwide. This had been possible since the income used during that period included both the yearly voluntary contributions and unallocated amounts carried over from previous years. These amounts resulted from more efficient management of the Fund, including the change in cycle, closer monitoring of grantees and stricter reporting requirements. The Board had decided to use the carry-overs to increase the level of funding to projects, particularly in priority regions. 14. However, for 2011 the Board faced a shortfall of some $3 million to continue to meet requests from grantees at the 2010 level, and thus decided on strategic cuts for the 2011 grants cycle (see para. 9 above). If no additional contribution is received in 2011, the Board will still face a significant shortfall and might have to maintain or increase these strategic cuts for the 2012 grants cycle and place additional limits on the support it provides to new projects. 15. On the basis of the requests received for 2011, it is expected that approximately $22 million will be requested by organizations for 2012. 4