New Delhi [India], August 2 (ANI): India has launched the first phase of four projects in nine partner countries for achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) under the aegis of the India-UN Global Capacity Building Initiative.
The details were shared by the Ministry of External Affairs on Friday.
As per the MEA, the projects will focus on key areas including food security, health, vocational training, and census preparedness.
In a post on social media platform X, MEA stated, “Fostering South-South cooperation to achieve SDG goals. The first phase of four projects in nine partner countries, under the aegis of ‘India-UN Global Capacity Building Initiative’, was launched today by Secretary (West) @Tanmaya_Lal. Heads of Missions, UN Resident Coordinator Mr. Shombi Sharp, diplomats, officials from ITEC implementing institutes, UN agencies & other partner organizations graced the event. The projects focus on food security, health, vocational training & census preparedness.”
Fostering South-South cooperation to achieve SDG goals.
The first phase of four projects in nine partner countries, under the aegis of ‘India-UN Global Capacity Building Initiative’ was launched today by Secretary (West) @Tanmaya_Lal. Heads of Missions, UN Resident Coordinator… pic.twitter.com/7XdwH04VLh
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— Randhir Jaiswal (@MEAIndia) August 1, 2025
The United Nations in India also highlighted the scope of the initiative, stating that the first round of projects would support healthcare, vocational training, census preparation, and food security in countries across Asia, Africa, and the Caribbean.
The India-@UN Global Capacity-Building Initiative has launched, amplifying India’s development solutions for the Global South. The first round of #SSC initiatives address healthcare, vocational training, census prep & food security in partner co’s of Asia, Africa & the Caribbean. pic.twitter.com/hVjEL2EgLc
— United Nations in India (@UNinIndia) August 1, 2025
Speaking at the launch event, Secretary (West) in MEA, Tanmay Lal, said the initiative assumes greater significance in light of SDG 17, which emphasises partnerships and international cooperation.
In the spirit of SDG 17 & effective international cooperation, this new India-UN Global Capacity-Building initiative assumes even greater importance. It is aimed at sharing experience & empowering Global South partners in key areas of #SDGs: @MEAIndia Secretary (West) Tanmaya Lal pic.twitter.com/4WpSOVsIJ7
— United Nations in India (@UNinIndia) August 1, 2025
UN Resident Coordinator Shombi Sharp highlighted that under the ethos of ‘Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam’, India is expanding on its already long-standing leadership role in driving South-South Cooperation for SDG acceleration, leveraging the innovation & partnership power of Indian institutions and the UN system.
“Under the ethos of ‘Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam’, #India is expanding on its already long-standing leadership role in driving #SouthSouthCooperation for SDG acceleration, leveraging the innovation & partnership power of Indian institutions and the UN system: #UNRC 🇮🇳 @ShombiSharp pic.twitter.com/DNka0MVsv0
— United Nations in India (@UNinIndia) August 1, 2025
“The India-UN Capacity-Building Initiative is enriched through a strategic collaboration with the MEA’s globally recognised ITEC programme & will take India’s best practice models and institutional excellence to partner countries”, the UN Chief of Staff India, Radhika Kaul, mentioned.
“The India-UN Capacity-Building Initiative is enriched through a strategic collaboration with the MEA’s globally recognised ITEC programme & will take India’s best practice models and institutional excellence to partner countries”: #UNRC 🇮🇳 Chief of Staff @RadhikaKaul pic.twitter.com/6wOkAGLYDJ
— United Nations in India (@UNinIndia) August 1, 2025
The India-UN Global Capacity-Building initiative, made possible through a generous grant by @BMGFIndia also operationalises the United-Nations-India SDG Country Fund.@PMOIndia @UNDP_India @unescoindia @UNWFP_India @UNFPAIndia @gatesfoundation #GlobalGoals #India #UnitedNations pic.twitter.com/ieQmmp8vHq
— United Nations in India (@UNinIndia) August 1, 2025
External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar initially announced the initiative in September 2023 during the 78th session of the United Nations General Assembly in New York. Since then, the Ministry of External Affairs and the UN team in India have been working jointly to identify and plan SDG-focused projects under the programme.
Under the India-UN initiative, UN agencies will assist partner governments in identifying SDG-linked priority areas. At the same time, India will support implementation through training provided by ITEC-affiliated institutions, as per the MEA statement. (ANI)