NITI Aayog, UN sign the GoI-UN Sustainable Development Cooperation Framework 2023-2027

On June 16, 2023, a ‘Government of India – United Nations Sustainable Development Cooperation Framework 2023-2027’ (GoI-UNSDCF 2023-2027) was signed between the National Institution for Transforming India (NITI) Aayog and United Nations (UN) office in India.

• Aligned with India’s national development vision, GoI-UNSDCF 2023-2027 is a collaborative effort of the UN Development System (UNDS) for India to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) while promoting gender equality, youth empowerment, and human rights.

Signatories:

GoI-UNSDCF 2023-2027 was signed by the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) B V R Subrahmanyam, NITI Aayog; and Shombi Sharp, UN Resident Coordinator, India.

Formulation of the GoI-UNSDCF 2023-2027:

i.The formulation of the GoI-UNSDCF 2023-2027 was led by NITI Aayog while the UN Resident Coordinator led and coordinated inputs from the UNDS in India.

ii.Line Ministries, State Governments, Union Territories, the UN Resident Coordinator, civil society organizations, think tanks, private sector entities, cooperatives, and labour unions actively contributed to its development ensuring a whole of society, whole of government and whole of UN approach.

iii.The GoI-UNSDCF was informed by a third-party evaluation of the previous Cooperation Framework (2018-2022) and a Common Country Analysis (CCA) conducted by the UN in India.

Note – As the previous Government of India – United Nations Sustainable Development  Framework 2018-2022(GoI–UNSDF 2018–22), an agenda of cooperation, results and strategies to achieve national development priorities and the SDGs completed its 5 years of implementation, GoI and UN renewed it for another five years via GoI-UNSDCF 2023-2027.

Implementation:

The implementation, monitoring and reporting of GoI-UNSDCF 2023-2027 will be co-led by the Government of India and the United Nations, India through a Joint Steering Committee.

Highlights of GoI-UNSDCF 2023-2027 Framework:

i.It is structured around four strategic pillars: People, Prosperity, Planet, and Participation.

• These pillars are inspired by the 2030 Agenda.

ii.The framework focuses on six outcome areas derived from above mentioned four interlinked pillars.

• These outcome areas are Health and Well Being, Nutrition and Food Security, Quality Education, Economic Growth and Decent Work, Environment, Climate, Water, sanitation and hygiene (WASH) and Resilience, and Empowering People, Communities, and Institutions.

iii.To deepen cooperation, the GoI-UNSDCF will emphasize SDG localisation and South-South cooperation for the first time.

• This approach aligns with India’s commitment to accelerating the SDGs and its leadership in promoting South-South cooperation and showcasing Indian development models on a global scale.

Notes:

i.The United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) Resolution A/RES/72/279 designates UNSDCF as the principal planning and implementation instrument for the UN Development System at the country level.

ii.The framework’s timing is crucial as it coincides with the halfway mark towards achieving the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. It also aligns with India’s vision of a ‘Viksit Bharat’ (Developed India) over the next 25 years.

Recent Related News:

i.NITI Aayog released a report titled “Promoting Millets in Diets: Best Practices across States/UTs of India” which presents a collection of good and innovative practices adopted by state governments and organisations in various aspects of the millet value chain.

ii.On April 13, 2023 the Atal Innovation Mission (AIM), NITI Aayog (National Institution for Transforming India), and the Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare (MoA&FW) agreed to connect Atal Tinkering Labs (ATLs) with Krishi Vigyan Kendra (KVKs) and Agricultural Technology Management Agency (ATMAs) under the initiative.

About NITI Aayog (National Institution For Transforming India):

Chairman– Prime Minister Narendra Modi
Headquarters– New Delhi, Delhi