First four initiatives under India-UN Global Capacity Building Initiative unveiled to boost South-South cooperation
India officially launched the first tranche of projects under the India UN Global Capacity Building Initiative on August 1, 2025, reinforcing its commitment to South-South cooperation and the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). The projects were unveiled by Secretary (West) Shri Tanmaya Lal of the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) in New Delhi, in the presence of UN Resident Coordinator Mr. Shombi Sharp, heads of various UN agencies in India, foreign envoys, and senior Indian officials.
The initiative, announced in September 2023 during the 78th session of the United Nations General Assembly by External Affairs Minister Dr. S. Jaishankar, builds upon India’s robust track record in development cooperation. The MEA and the UN Country Team in India jointly selected projects based on their relevance to national needs and alignment with the SDGs.
India strengthens global development partnerships with launch of targeted capacity building projects in collaboration with UN agencies
India’s flagship Indian Technical and Economic Cooperation (ITEC) programme has long supported global south nations, with over 225,000 training slots offered to nearly 160 countries in more than 400 specialised courses since its inception.
The India UN Global South Capacity Building Initiative enhances this model by integrating the expertise of UN agencies with India’s training infrastructure. The selected UN partners will collaborate with host governments to identify SDG-aligned priorities, while the training component will be delivered through ITEC institutions.
The four initial projects launched include:
- Rice Fortification and Supply Chain Management in Nepal, in partnership with the World Food Programme (WFP)
- Digital Health Platforms for Zambia and Lao PDR, in collaboration with UNDP
- Census Preparedness support for Belize, Barbados, St Kitts & Nevis, Suriname, and Trinidad & Tobago, through the UN Population Fund (UNFPA)
- Vocational Training Programme for South Sudan, implemented with UNESCO
Training under these projects is expected to commence in September 2025, with designated ITEC institutions facilitating specialised modules.
