Global South envoys praised India-UN fund projects during its annual event. Their testimonies underscored the value of nationally determined and locally tailored cooperation.

Representatives of several countries have praised the impact of the India-UN Development Partnership Fund, as New Delhi reaffirmed its commitment to sharing its development experience and supporting countries in the Global South, news agency Press Trust of India reported.

India has allocated about $82 million to 94 projects across 64 UN member states through the fund, which is designed to support developing countries facing significant challenges.

The Permanent Mission of India to the UN hosted the ninth India-UN Development Partnership Fund Annual Event at the UN headquarters on Thursday. A visiting delegation of Indian Members of Parliament attended the event.

India's Permanent Representative to the UN, Ambassador Parvathaneni Harish, thanked the United Nations Development Programme and the United Nations Office for South-South Cooperation for their continued support.

“Heard moving accounts from the ground level of the impact of the projects. India remains committed to share its development experiences and extend a hand of friendship and support to friends and partners in the Global South,” Harish said, according to PTI.

He said the Indian government had pledged $150 million in 2017 to help countries in the Global South achieve their development goals.

“The essence of this programme is to ensure national ownership, that the projects are nationally driven and tailor-made as per the host countries' requirements,” he said.

Harish said India's approach to development cooperation was rooted in the civilisational ethos of Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam, or the belief that the world is one family.

“The India-UN Fund gives practical expression to this conviction by bringing together the priorities of developing countries, India's commitment to South-South cooperation and the United Nations' expertise and presence on the ground. At its heart is a simple principle that our partner countries determine their own development priorities,” he said.

The fund is intended particularly to assist least developed countries, landlocked developing countries and small island developing states. India has said it is halfway through its allocation, with about $82 million supporting 94 projects in 64 member states.

Several UN ambassadors, including representatives of countries in the Global South, spoke at the event about the fund's impact and projects supported by India.

Sri Lanka's Permanent Representative to the UN, Ambassador Jayantha Jayasuriya, said: “The India-UN Fund caters to diversified thematic structures and these projects respond to needs identified by the countries themselves... its underlying philosophy is that respect for national priorities matters.”Dominica's Permanent Representative, Ambassador Philbert Aaron, thanked India for the resources provided for a project in the Commonwealth of Dominica.

“The identity of the Kalinago-based indigenous people who benefit from this project is important. Our President, who is the first female and a person of indigenous community, has attested to the value and importance of this generous grant from India to strengthen the livelihood of our community,” Aaron said.

Cuba's Permanent Representative, Ambassador Ernesto Soberón Guzmn, said that in an increasingly unjust international order, “the India-UN Fund form of cooperation is more necessary than ever to overcome structural inequalities, and expand opportunities to strengthen the collective voice of the Global South”.

He said India's leadership in the Global South “demonstrates the power of partnerships built on equality, mutual respect and shared aspirations for sustainable development”.

Timor-Leste's Permanent Representative, Ambassador Dionisio Da Costa Babo Soares, said the fund had become an important expression of solidarity among developing countries.

“For us, this approach is particularly meaningful as we benefited directly from this cooperation. Our experience with the Fund demonstrates how South-South Cooperation can translate shared commitments into meaningful opportunities for our people, particularly the younger generations,” Soares said.

Mozambique's Permanent Representative, Ambassador Domingos Estvo Fernandes, said the fund was a concrete example of cooperation among developing countries based on national priorities, equality and non-interference. He added that it complemented cooperation between developed and developing countries.

“Mozambique commends India's leadership in advancing South-South cooperation and partnership,” Fernandes said.

Tanzania's Permanent Representative, Ambassador Togolani Edriss Mavura, expressed his country's appreciation to India and the fund for their continued support for sustainable development in Tanzania.

Tuvalu's Permanent Representative, Ambassador Tapugao Falefou, said the Indian investment would benefit hundreds of schools and institutions. He said the project demonstrated the value of development that responded to national priorities and local needs. “Tuvalu remains deeply grateful to the Government of India's development assistance,” Falefou said.

Saint Lucia's UN envoy, Ambassador Menissa Rambally, said the fund had multiple purposes and facilitated economic and social development across countries of the Global majority. She described its role in capacity-building as critical.

“The support provided by the India-UN Fund is instrumental as countries seek to meet the challenges in myriad areas of economic and social development,” Rambally said.

The event highlighted the fund's support for nationally determined projects in developing countries, with representatives citing its contribution to economic and social development. India reiterated that it would continue sharing its development experience and supporting its partners in the Global South.