The Government of India (GoI) contributed USD 15.46 million to the India-UN (United Nations) Development Partnership Fund. The contribution highlights India’s commitment to support developing nations in their developmental priorities across all Sustainable Development Goals (SDG). During a ceremony, held within social distancing guidelines, at the Permanent Mission of India to the UN, the Permanent Representative of India, T S Tirumurti, handed over the cheque of USD 15.46 million to the UNOSSC Director, Jorge Chediek.
The tranche of $15.46 million includes $6 million to the overall fund, in which all the developing countries are eligible for partnership, and $9.46 million dedicated to the Commonwealth countries. The India-UN Development Partnership Fund is managed by the UNOSSC and implemented under the leadership of partner developing countries leveraging the strengths of United Nations Agencies, Funds and Programmes.
The Fund supports developing countries in achieving their 2030 Agenda of Sustainable Development. Currently, there are 36 projects being implemented in 37 countries with the help of the fund. The fund mainly focuses on the development of Least Developed Countries, Landlocked Developing Countries and the Small Island Developing States.
“The India-UN Fund has accomplished remarkable results in its initial years,” said Chediek. He further added , that “India’s renewed commitment to continue growing the fund, its portfolio of impactful projects and its partnership network is true South-South solidarity and a demonstration of India’s leadership in combating the challenges facing the world’s most vulnerable.”
The UNOSSC said that the call for solidarity among countries of the South has found a magnified echo in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic. As developing countries across the world struggle to prevent their achievements in public health, poverty reduction and social wellbeing from being set back, the need for mutual support and cooperation is greater than ever, it added.
About India-UN Development Partnership Fund
The India-UN Development Partnership Fund was established in 2017, to promote multilateralism and shared prosperity to support developing countries towards the realization of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. The fund is supported and led by the Government of the Republic of India, managed by the United Nations Office for South-South Cooperation (UNOSSC), and implemented in collaboration with the United Nations system. So far, India has contributed 41.8 million USD towards the fund. India has committed 150 million USD towards the funds in the next decade.
