New Delhi [India], November 12 (ANI): Ministry of External Affairs Secretary (West) Sibi George met with United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) Acting Administrator Haoliang Xu to discuss India-UNDP collaboration in achieving Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and advancing digital transformation, according to a post on X by Randhir Jaiswal, Official Spokesperson of the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA).
Jaiswal stated that the discussions included “India’s project assistance to foster South-South cooperation to achieve SDGs and address climate action in developing countries.” He added that the two sides also discussed the evolving dynamics within the UN system and the need for reforms as the organization approaches its 80th anniversary.
The meeting underscored India’s growing collaboration with the UNDP and reaffirmed its commitment to promoting sustainable development and South-South cooperation. This commitment has been reflected in India’s development initiatives at the global level, particularly through the India-UN Development Partnership Fund.
Recently, India’s Permanent Mission to the United Nations highlighted the impact of the India-UN Development Partnership Fund, which has supported green energy initiatives across 10 Pacific nations.
On October 21, the Mission shared in a post on X that solar energy has been provided to 12 public buildings across 10 Pacific nations, and 74 local technicians have been trained under the project. The post stated, “India-@UN Development Partnership Fund is offering green solutions. Solar energy has been provided to 12 public buildings across 10 Pacific nations. Seventy-four local technicians have been imparted training under the project.”
The United Nations Office for South-South Cooperation (UNOSSC) also highlighted the initiative, noting that the project funded by India now “energizes 12 public buildings across 10 Pacific nations: 74 local technicians trained, 16,500+ beneficiaries, and 9,600 tons of CO₂ avoided over 25 years.”
According to the official website of UNOSSC, the introduction of solar energy to the State House in Fiji was made possible through the India-UN Development Partnership Fund. The project, part of a joint advocacy demonstration initiative involving 11 Pacific Island nations, enabled Fiji to power its State House with an 18.25 kW solar generation system launched in 2023. The installation supplies approximately 20,000 units of clean electricity annually, reduces carbon emissions, and saves about $3,198 in annual energy costs.
UNOSSC further highlighted how the India-UN Development Partnership Fund, the India, Brazil and South Africa Facility for Poverty and Hunger Alleviation (IBSA Fund), and the Perez-Guerrero Trust Fund have collectively supported clean energy interventions across the developing world, particularly in countries with limited access to renewable resources.
It also noted that the India-UN Development Partnership Fund has improved water access in Haiti through a solar pumping system project that provides reliable and sustainable water for agricultural and domestic use, benefiting over 40,000 people.
UNOSSC emphasized that the India-UN Development Partnership Fund and the IBSA Fund exemplify the importance of South-South cooperation in driving global progress. “These funds not only deliver immediate benefits to communities but also lay the groundwork for long-term sustainability by fostering innovation, building local capacities, and promoting policy coherence,” it said. (ANI)
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