NITI Aayog and the United Nations in India signed the Government of India-United Nations
Sustainable Development Cooperation Framework 2023–2027. The Framework represents the UN development system’s collective offer to the Government of India, in line with the national vision for development, for achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), promoting gender equality, youth empowerment, and human rights. The United Nations General Assembly Resolution A/RES/72/279 designates the United Nations Sustainable Development Cooperation Framework as the central planning and implementation instrument for the UN Development System at the country level. The programme priorities of the UN entities working in the country are derived from the GoI-UNSDCF.
The framework is built on four strategic pillars derived from the 2030 Agenda: people, prosperity, planet, and participation. The four interlinked pillars have six outcome areas focusing on health and well-being; nutrition and food security; quality education; economic growth and decent work; environment, climate, WASH, and resilience; and empowering people, communities, and institutions.
The GoI-UNSDCF was signed by B. V. R. Subrahmanyam, CEO of NITI Aayog, and Shombi Sharp, UN Resident Coordinator, India, in the presence of the Vice Chairman of NITI Aayog, Suman Bery, senior representatives from NITI Aayog, central ministries, and heads of UN agencies in India.
“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 fundamental due to its vast and diverse demography and tremendous demographic dividend. The GoI-UNSDCF, through its agreed partnerships, outcomes, and outputs, will contribute towards achieving national development priorities. The Cooperation Framework has to be living and dynamic and should adapt in light of how India and the world change,” said Vice Chairman NITI Aayog, Suman Bery.
The Framework will specifically focus on SDG localisation and South-South cooperation to deepen cooperation in critical areas for the first time. It aligns with India’s leadership towards implementing and accelerating the SDGs and championing South-South cooperation. Showcasing Indian models of development globally will be central to the effort. 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.
The GoI-UNSDCF 2023–2027 formulation was led by NITI Aayog on behalf of the Government of India, with the 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. Partners from civil society, think tanks, the 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 Framework 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.
Signing the Cooperation Framework, CEO of NITI Aayog, B V R 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 accessed to basic requirements such as water, electricity, and internet that would be important, but the quality of these issues that are more relevant for the future.”
The new framework comes at a critical juncture as the world reaches halfway to achieving the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. India envisions a ‘Viksit Bharat’ over the next 25 years, in line with the clarion call of the Prime Minister.
Shombi Sharp, United Nations Resident Coordinator in India, presented the Cooperation Framework at the launch and 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 India’s youthful population’s expectations and aspirations 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”.
