India-UN Global Capacity Building Initiative

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.

Launch Timeline: The initiative was announced in September 2023 on the margins of the 78th Session of the United Nations General Assembly.
Key Focus Areas: The projects will focus on Food security, Health, Vocational training, Census preparedness.
Implementation Plan: For these projects, Indian Technical and Economic Cooperation Programme (ITEC) training institutes have been identified and courses are expected to be implemented from September 2025.

About India-UN Global Capacity Building Initiative

Objective: To strengthen capacities of Global South nations by sharing India’s development experiences, best practices, and expertise.
Framework: Leverages India’s existing bilateral cooperation in development and training.
Focus Areas: Aligns with G20 Action Plan on SDGs and focuses on enhancing digital and tech infrastructure.
Partnership: The UN India and Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation will support the initiative through the Indian Technical and Economic Cooperation (ITEC) platform.
Nature of the Initiative: The India-UN Global Capacity Building Initiative leverages India’s technical expertise to train partner countries in achieving SDG-linked goals.
- It is a demand-driven, human resource–focused programme, combining efforts of UN agencies (project identification) and the Government of India (training via ITEC institutes).
G20 Legacy: Builds on India’s G20 Presidency, which emphasized inclusion of Global South voices.

Projects in First Phase

Partner Country	Focus Area	Collaborating UN Agency
Nepal	Rice Fortification and Supply Chain Management	World Food Programme
Zambia and Lao PDR	Digital Health Platform	UNDP
Belize, Barbados, St Kitts & Nevis, Suriname, Trinidad & Tobago	Census Preparedness	UN Population Fund
South Sudan	Vocational Training Programme	UNESCO

PWOnlyIAS Extra Edge:

Global South: Refers to countries in Africa, Latin America, most of Asia (excluding Japan, Israel, South Korea), and Oceania (excluding Australia, New Zealand), generally marked by lower industrial and economic development.
Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs):
- Set of 17 global goals adopted by the UN in 2015.
- Aim to address poverty, inequality, climate change, and sustainable growth by 2030.
- Successor to the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs), with a broader scope covering economic, social, and environmental dimensions.
Indian Technical and Economic Cooperation (ITEC)
- Flagship capacity-building program of the Ministry of External Affairs, launched in 1964.
- Objective: Share India’s development and governance expertise with partner countries through training and technical cooperation.
- Cultural Exchange: Participants also experience Indian culture, institutions, and systems firsthand.
- Administration: Managed by Development Partnership Administration–II (DPA-II), Ministry of External Affairs fully funded by the Government of India
World Food Programme (WFP): A branch of the United Nations, is the world’s largest humanitarian organization focused on combating hunger and promoting food security
- Founded: 1961
- HQ: Rome
- Focus Areas: Food aid, nutrition, emergency response
- Award: Nobel Peace Prize (2020)
- In India: Collaborates on rice fortification and logistics innovation
UNDP (United Nations Development Programme): United Nations agency tasked with helping countries eliminate poverty and achieve sustainable economic growth and human development.
- Founded: 1965
- HQ: New York
- Focus Areas: Poverty alleviation, governance, climate resilience
- Notable Work: Publishes Human Development Index (HDI)
- In India: Supports digital public infrastructure and localised SDG efforts
UN Population Fund: An international development agency to support the execution of projects and programmes in the area of population and sexual and reproductive health
- Established: 1969
- HQ: New York, USA
- Formerly: United Nations Fund for Population Activities
- Mandate: To deliver a world where every pregnancy is wanted, every childbirth is safe, and every young person’s potential is fulfilled.
UNESCO (United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization): A specialized agency of the United Nations focused on promoting peace and security through international cooperation in education, sciences, and culture.
- Founded: 1945
- HQ: Paris
- Focus Areas: Education, culture, science, communication
- Key Role: Maintains World Heritage Sites, promotes vocational education and literacy
- Global Reach: Active in teacher training and cultural preservation

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