nDescribing India as a “valued supporter” of South-South cooperation, UN chief Antonio Guterres has praised the India-UN Development Partnership Fund for “championing greater prosperity” for all through its myriad projects benefitting the least developed, landlocked and small island nations.
India has also been at the forefront of our efforts to reform the UN Development System, the UN Secretary General said.
“India is a valued supporter of South-South cooperation. The India-UN Development Partnership Fund is a welcome contribution that is championing greater prosperity and opportunity for all,” Guterres said in his message.
The message was read out on the occasion of the commemoration of the second anniversary of the India-UN Development Partnership Fund here Thursday organised by the Permanent Mission of India to the UN together with the UN Office for South-South Cooperation (UNOSSC).
Guterres said with its focus on ‘Least Developed Countries’, ‘Landlocked Developing Countries’ and ‘Small Island Developing States’, the Fund embodies the core promise of the 2030 Agenda to leave no one behind and reach those furthest behind first.
He commended India for its “strong commitment to international cooperation, shared prosperity and the vision of ‘One UN’ as the world strives to advance the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.”
The Fund was established in June 2017 to work with developing countries by providing assistance to projects that aim to implement the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), as per their request. It is a dedicated facility within the UN Fund for South-South Cooperation.
It is managed by the UNOSSC and implemented in collaboration with the UN system. In the last two years, the Fund has developed a portfolio of 36 projects in partnership with 37 developing countries and 21 of these projects are under implementation with many nearing completion.
The Government of India has committed a total of USD 150 million for this Fund over the next decade to support projects that are in alignment with the 2030 Agenda.