By Jaya Ramachandran
NEW YORK (IDN) – The India-UN Development Partnership Fund, a dedicated facility within the United Nations Fund for South-South Cooperation established in 2017, has drawn the focus following the announcement by Prime Minister Narendra Modi of the launch of a US$50 Million Commonwealth window.
This support, announced at the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting 2018 on April 19 in London, is in addition to US$100 million pledged in 2017 for the Fund, thus increasing India’s multi-year contribution to US$150 million. The United Nations Office for South-South Cooperation (UNOSSC) manages the Fund.
The India-UN Development Partnership Fund supports Southern-owned and led, demand-driven, and transformational sustainable development projects across the developing world, with a focus on least developed countries and Small Island Developing States (SIDS). United Nations agencies implement the Funds projects in close collaboration with partnering governments.
The Fund’s new Commonwealth window aims to catalyze the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) in developing countries of the Commonwealth. The countries supported by this fund are located in various parts of the world and include some of the most vulnerable Member States of the Commonwealth.
Grenada in the Caribbean and Tuvalu and Vanuatu in the Pacific are the first three development partners engaged under this newly created Commonwealth window.
The India-UN Development Partnership Fund Commonwealth window supports demand-driven, country-owned, and concrete initiatives that focus on the implementation of 17 Goals adopted in 2015 to transform our world.
The establishment of the Fund and the dedicated Commonwealth window has therefore been broadly welcomed. UN Deputy Secretary-General Amina Mohammed stated: “South-South cooperation is one of the world’s most important pathways to prosperity. I am therefore delighted that India is demonstrating such strong leadership to helping others through the India-UN Development Partnership Fund.”
India’s commitment is also timely, she added, as the world strives to advance the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. “India’s focus on multilateral action generates genuine hope that we can build a world where no one is left behind.”
Fekita Utoikaman, UN Under-Secretary General and the Secretary-General’s High Representative for the Least Developed Countries, Landlocked Developing Countries and Small Island Developing States also welcomed “India’s leadership and dedication to improve the living conditions of people living in the countries that are most affected by poverty, hunger, and impacts of climate change.”
Ambassador Syed Akbaruddin, India’s Permanent Representative to the UN in New York said: “The establishment of a dedicated Commonwealth window of the India-UN Development Partnership Fund is a unique model of South-South development Cooperation. The Commonwealth membership is built on a shared past, respect for common values, broadly similar government structures, and institutions. We are, therefore, excited to initiate this partnership to contribute to our collective efforts to implement Sustainable Development Goals.”
UNDP Administrator Achim Steiner commented: “Over the past two decades, India has made huge economic strides and lifted millions out of poverty. It has shown itself again to be a leader in South-South cooperation with this new opportunity to support vulnerable countries in the Commonwealth achieve the Sustainable Development Goals and fulfill the central promise of Agenda 2030 to leave no one behind.”
UN Secretary-General’s envoy on South-South Cooperation and UNOSSC Director Jorge Chediek said: “The Commonwealth Window of India-UN Development Fund is an admirable example of South-South cooperation,” adding: “UNOSSC is pleased and gratified to collaborate with the Government of India in bringing this initiative to fruition.” [IDN-InDepthNews – 29 April 2018]
Photo: The Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting 2018 where Prime Minister Modi (in the second row) announced the launch of a US$50 Million Commonwealth window. Credit: www.royal.uk
IDN is flagship agency of the International Press Syndicate.
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