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New Fund supports Southern-owned and led projects across the developing world
New York – Following the establishment of the India-UN Development Partnership Fund on 8 June 2017, as a partnership between the Republic of India and the United Nations Office for South-South Cooperation (UNOSSC), India yesterday enlarged its support to sustainable development through the multilateral system by making a supplemental contribution of one million dollars to the fund.
“India’s approach to cooperation can be summarised as Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam, or the whole world is one family,” said H.E. Mr. Syed Akbaruddin, Ambassador and Permanent Representative of India to the United Nations in New York. “With this approach, we engage in South-South cooperation.”
“UNDP believes that the India-UN Development Partnership Fund plays an important role in funding South-South cooperation for effective development, and thereby contributes to meeting both national development goals and the commitments of Agenda 2030,” said Achim Steiner, UNDP Administrator.
Managed by UNOSSC, the India-UN Development Partnership Fund will support Southern-owned and led, demand-driven, and transformational sustainable development projects across the developing world. Focusing on Least Developed Countries (LDCs) and Small Island Developing States (SIDS), United Nations agencies will implement the Fund’s projects in close collaboration with partnering governments.
“India is a champion of the Global South,” said Mr. Jorge Chediek, Envoy of the Secretary-General on South-South Cooperation and Director of UNOSSC. “India is also a champion of multilateralism. Through its example, and with the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, it is becoming a leader of South-South cooperation.”
The Fund, launched by H.E. Mr. M. J. Akbar, Minister of State for External Affairs of India, during the United Nations Oceans Conference in New York, prioritises reducing poverty and hunger, improving health, education and equality, and expanding access to clean water and energy.
The Government of India made an initial one million dollars contribution when the fund was created, which was allocated for the implementation of a project benefiting seven Small Island Developing States in the South Pacific. This project was formulated by India and UNDP in consultation with the Governments of the Cook Islands, the Republic of Kiribati, the Republic of the Marshall Islands, the Federated States of Micronesia, the Republic of Nauru, the Solomon Islands and the Kingdom of Tonga. It will increase resilience to natural disasters in these seven Pacific island countries, and as such contribute toward Sustainable Development Goal 12, Climate Action.
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