Innovative Financing: UN India leads South-South Cooperation for SDGs 

The United Nations in India has launched the UN India SDG Country Fund (Pooled Fund) as an important platform for resource mobilisation for the UN Country Team (UNCT) to address the financing gaps in the Government of India-UN Sustainable Development Cooperation framework (CF). The Fund, administered by the UN Multi Partner Trust Fund (MPTF), will enable the UNCT to mobilise additional resources for the Outcomes/Thematic areas as reflected in the CF for implementation of projects and programmes. 

This groundbreaking development led by the Resident Coordinator and his office represents a strategic approach to resource mobilisation. The first initiative under the Fund is the operationalisation of the 'thematic window' on South-South Cooperation that will leverage the strength of the UN Resident Coordinator system to facilitate partnerships between UN agencies in India and their counterparts in Asia-Pacific, Africa, Small Island Developing States (SIDS), and Least Developed Countries (LDCs), to accelerate the achievements of the SDGs through diffusion of development solutions. With an initial USD 3 million contribution from the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, the Fund aligns with the Government of India-UN Sustainable Development Cooperation Framework 2023-2027. It is designed to strengthen UNCT India's engagement in expanding India's South-South Cooperation offer, while mobilising donor and partner support for transformative SDG–action. This is also in line with a number of system wide initiatives, including by the UN office of South-South Cooperation and further to the Buenos Aires Plan of Action for Promoting and Implementing Technical Cooperation among Developing Countries, BAPA+40 and the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, all of which have noted the important role of South-South Cooperation. 

Through an RCO India-led call for proposals, UNCT India member agencies will implement project proposals in collaboration with their offices in recipient partner countries. Each proposal can receive USD 150,000, structured as catalytic funding rather than stand-alone projects, ensuring that the bulk of investments are directed toward implementation in recipient countries. The selections under the first Call for Proposals are currently in the process of being finalised. Resident Coordinators across the targeted regions are encouraged to share this strategic opportunity with their UN Country Teams and connect with the UNRC and Head, UNRCO India to explore potential collaborations for subsequent Calls for Proposals. 

THE UN INDIA SDG COUNTRY FUND DRIVES INNOVATION IN FINANCING AND SOUTH-SOUTH COOPERATION, LEVERAGING STRATEGIC PARTNERSHIPS TO ACCELERATE SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT ACROSS REGIONS.