New York, 3 August 2020 – 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.
Against this backdrop, the Government of India has renewed its commitment to supporting fellow developing countries in their national developmental priorities across all Sustainable Development Goals. Since its inception in 2017, to date, 55 projects and proposals have been approved with a total contribution of $41.8 million towards a $150 million multi-year pledge to the India-UN Development Partnership Fund. This facility is managed by the United Nations Office for South-South Cooperation (UNOSSC) and implemented under the leadership of partner developing countries leveraging the strengths of United Nations Agencies, Funds and Programmes.
In a ceremony, kept small and within social distancing guidelines, at the Permanent Mission of India to the United Nations in New York, the Permanent Representative of India handed-over to the Director, UNOSSC, the next tranche of $15.46 million including $6 million to the overall fund, in which all developing countries are eligible for partnership, and $9.46 million dedicated to Commonwealth countries.
“The India-UN Fund has accomplished remarkable results in its initial years,” said Jorge Chediek, Director of UNOSSC and Envoy of the Secretary-General on South-South Cooperation, emphasizing, “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 India’s leadership in combatting the challenges facing the world’s most vulnerable.”
For more information contact:
- Ines Tofalo, Chief, Programme Support Unit, UNOSSC ines.tofalo@unossc.org
- Sumeeta Banerji, Policy Specialist, UNOSSC Sumeeta.banerji@unossc.org