UN chief Antonio Guterres praises India's commitment to South-South cooperation

Describing India as a "valued supporter" of South-South cooperation, UN chief Antonio Guterres has praised India-UN Development Partnership Fund for "championing greater prosperity" for all through its myri projects benefitting least developed, landlocked and small island nations.

India has also been at forefront of our efforts to reform UN Development System, UN Secretary General said.

"India is a valued supporter of South-South cooperation. India-UN Development Partnership Fund is a welcome contribution that is championing greater prosperity and opportunity for all," Guterres said in his mess.

mess was re out on occasion of commemoration of second anniversary of India-UN Development Partnership Fund in UN on June 6 organised by Permanent Mission of India to UN toger with UN Office for South-South Cooperation (USSC). 

Guterres said with its focus on 'Least Developed Countries', 'Landlocked Developing Countries' and 'Small Island Developing States', Fund embodies core promise of 2030 nda to leave one behind and reach those furst behind first. 

He commended India for its "strong commitment to international cooperation, shared prosperity and vision of 'One UN' as world strives to vance 2030 nda for Sustainable Development. 

Fund was established in June 2017 to work with developing countries by providing assistance to projects that aim to implement Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), as per ir request. It is a dedicated facility within UN Fund for South-South Cooperation. 

It is mand by USSC and implemented in collaboration with UN system. In last two years, Fund has developed a portfolio of 36 projects in partnership with 37 developing countries and 21 of se projects are under implementation with many nearing completion. 

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Government of India has committed a total of USD 150 million for this Fund over next dece to support projects that are in alignment with 2030 nda. amount includes 50 million dollars under a separate Commonwealth Window', which has been established with aim of working specifically with Commonwealth developing countries to promote common understanding and shared interests.  

Fund heres to principles of South-South cooperation, and places a priority on national ownership and leership, equality, sustainability, development of local capacity, and mutual benefit. 

India's Permanent Representative to UN Ambassor Syed Akbaruddin called Fund a "start-up" effort at tangibly strengning South-South cooperation at UN. 

"India's development cooperation is rooted in our social ethos, defined variously, but encompassed by philosophy of Sarvodaya, meaning development and progress of all'. Our working with fellow developing countries translates this philosophy into reality," he said. 

Akbaruddin stressed that through Fund, India supports Sourn-owned and led, demand-driven, and transformational sustainable development projects, with focus on least developed countries and small island developing states. 

Hailing India's contribution in vancing cooperation among developing countries through Fund, United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) ministrator Achim Steiner said, Through its own development, India has so many lessons, so many techlogies, so much to share. 

"From broer perspective of multilateralism, from objective of strengning South-South Cooperation, from unique development attributes and assets that India has accumulated in its own remarkable path of development, to way you have committed to work through Fund," Steiner said.

Echoing sentiment, Executive Director of United Nations Office for Project Services (UPS), operational arm of world body, Grete Faremo said India's experience with its own development can help inform development goals and aspirations of or sourn countries. 

President of UN Ecomic and Social Council Inga Rhonda King said Fund is a "shining example" of 2030 nda and Sourn-owned and led sustainable development. She ded that Fund has served numerous developing countries, including her own nation Saint Vincent and Grenines. 

Speakers at commemoration agreed that India-UN Fund portfolio is a prime example of South-South and triangular cooperation with development projects and partnerships in Africa, Asia and Pacific, Latin America and Caribbean and Eastern Europe. 

Project sizes range from less than USD 500,000 to USD 1 million under India Fund and USD 2 million under Commonwealth Window. 

projects cover a range of SDGs/matic areas including climate resilience, environmental sustainability, equality, renewable energy, improving women's and maternal health, water and sanitation, education, employment and livelihoods, disaster recovery and risk manment, agricultural development and infrastructure.  

Fund levers strengths of UN system to implement projects at country level, in close partnership with national governments.  

"Over past two years, we have seen remarkable progress of Fund in implementing transformative commitments of 2030 nda for Sustainable Development," USSC Director and Envoy of Secretary-General Jorge Chediek said. 

India is partnering with USSC, as Fund Manr and Secretariat of fund, because USSC's global and UN-wide mandates allow for office to respond to requests and implement projects through various UN system ncies, funds, and programs.  

Currently, UN ncies such as UNDP, United Nations Population Fund, UNESCO, UNICEF, UPS, International Labour Organization, United Nations Industrial Development Organization and World Health Organization are implementing projects supported by Fund. 

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