NITI Aayog, UN Join Hands To Speed Up Sustainable Development In India

Indian government's policy think-tank NITI Aayog and the United Nations in India have come together to accelerate sustainable development work in the country. To take the initiative to its logical conclusion, they have signed an agreement, titled "Government of India-United Nations Sustainable Development Cooperation Framework (GoI-UNSDCF) 2023-2027."

The agreement, aimed at advancing India's sustainable development goals, was formalised in the presence of Niti Aayog CEO B.V.R. Subrahmanyam, its Vice-Chairman Suman Bery and UN Resident Coordinator in India, Shombi Sharp, among other dignitaries, in New Delhi, the government said in a release yesterday.

The GoI-UNSDCF serves as a strategic roadmap for achieving the country's sustainable development targets, with a specific focus on gender equality, youth empowerment, human rights, and overall sustainable development, as reported by Mint newspaper.

The framework, inspired by the 2030 Agenda, is built upon four pillars -- People, Prosperity, Planet, and Participation -- and encompasses six key outcome areas, including health and well-being, quality education, economic growth, environment and climate, and empowerment of individuals and communities.

By endorsing the GoI-UNSDCF, India solidifies its commitment to localising the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and enhancing collaboration through South-South cooperation, emphasising its role as a global leader in sustainable development initiatives. The framework also seeks to showcase India's successful models of development on the international stage.

"The formulation of the GoI-UNSDCF 2023-2027 was led by Niti Aayog, on behalf of the Government of India, with robust participation of line Ministries, State Governments, and Union Territories. The UN Resident Coordinator led and coordinated inputs from the UN development system in India," the Niti Aayog said in a release.

"Partners from civil society, think tanks, private sector, cooperatives and labour unions also contributed to the development of the document, ensuring a whole of society, whole of government and whole of UN approach. The GoI-UNSDCF was informed by a third-party evaluation of the previous Cooperation Framework (2018-2022) and a Common Country Analysis (CCA) undertaken by the UN in India," it added.

The implementation, monitoring, and reporting of the framework will be jointly overseen by the Government of India and the United Nations in India through a dedicated Joint Steering Committee (JSC). This collaborative mechanism will enable effective coordination and synergy in driving sustainable development efforts across the country.

"The next five years will be pivotal for an innovation driven, inclusive, resilient, and sustainable India. For India, the principle of "Leaving No One Behind" is particularly important due to its vast and diverse demography, as well as its potential due to tremendous demographic dividend," Aayog deputy Suman Bery said.

"The GoI-UNSDCF, through its agreed partnerships, outcomes and outputs will contribute towards achievement of national development priorities. The Cooperation Framework has to be a living and dynamic framework and should adapt in the light of how India changes and the world changes," he added.

Signing the cooperation framework, Aayog CEO Subrahmanyam said: "India has advanced steadily in its ability to deliver development and resilience at scale. This includes transforming India's social welfare system and safety nets, underpinned by a robust ecosystem of digital public infrastructure and a range of national missions. India's leadership in climate action and resilience continues to grow."

"The time has come to completely address the challenges of the last century and take on the challenges of Amrit Kaal to become Viksit Bharat. The Cooperation Framework will focus on and support India in its transformation where it is not just access to basic requirements such as water, electricity, internet etc that would be important, but the quality of these issues that are more relevant for future," he added.

Signing of the framework assumes great significance as the world reaches a critical halfway mark towards achieving the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. In line with the vision of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, India aspires to become a developed nation, aligning its objectives with the goals outlined in the Cooperation Framework.

Presenting the Cooperation Framework at the launch, UN official Sharp said, "India is a key shaper of the 2030 Agenda. With the goal of 'Leave No One Behind' reflected in the Government of India's message of 'Sabka Saath, Sabka Vikas'. India has aligned its flagship national initiatives with the SDGs and translated Agenda 2030 into local actions at all levels, while delivering development gains at scale."

"Meeting the expectations and aspirations of India's youthful population ahead will require further accelerating progress in addressing remaining development challenges and investing in human capital to leverage a unique demographic dividend. As the United Nations Secretary-General has said, India is the country that can make achieving the SDGs a global reality," Sharp added.