NITI Aayog-UNDP collaboration has grown from strength to strength, says Subrahmanyam
The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) stands ready to enhance its support for localization of India’s Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), data-driven decision-making through various indices, the Aspirational Districts and Blocks programme, and SDG financing.
This was reaffirmed by Shoko Noda, Resident Representative, UNDP India, adding, “Midway to 2030, India’s leadership is critical for making the SDGs a reality.”
“India nearly halved multidimensional poverty between 2015-2016 and 2019-2021, demonstrating that despite complex challenges, accelerating progress towards the Goals is possible,” noted Noda following the signing of Memorandum of Understanding by UNDP and NITI Aayog on fast tracking SDGs.
“Through this MoU with NITI Aayog, UNDP will also provide support for NITI Aayog’s work on women’s livelihoods, innovation, and Mission LiFE (Lifestyle for Environment),” said Noda.
Reiterating a mutual commitment towards fast-tracking progress towards the SDGs, the NITI Aayog-UNDP India MoU, signed on 29 Aug, aims to formalise a framework of cooperation on a range of areas, including SDG localisation, data-driven monitoring, Aspirational Districts and Blocks, among others.
The MoU was signed in the presence of B. V. R. Subrahmanyam CEO, NITI Aayog, by Dr Yogesh Suri, Senior Adviser (SDGs), NITI Aayog, and Noda.
Welcoming the partnership, Subrahmanyam said, “Over the years, NITI Aayog and UNDP’s collaboration has grown from strength to strength. With monitoring going beyond districts down to the block level, we see this partnership fostering data-driven policy interventions and programmatic action.
“Standing at the midpoint of the 2030 agenda, we look forward to working together with the States in the true spirit of cooperative federalism. We also look forward to partnering with UNDP to showcase and share India’s successes in realizing its development priorities to its peers”
The MoU was signed for a period of five years. NITI Aayog is the nodal Institution for coordinating the adoption and monitoring of SDGs at the national and sub-national levels. UNDP plays the integrator role in coordinating efforts to fast-track progress on the SDGs within the UN system. Fiinews.com
