India expresses concern over decline in contributions to UNDP

India has expressed concern over the continuous decline in contributions to the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) at a time when the agency has to step up its activities and assist member states in their efforts to achieve the ambitious 2030 development agenda.

First Secretary in India's Permanent Mission to the UN, Mohd Noor Rahman Sheikh said at the annual session of the (UNDP) and UN Population Fund Executive Board that nations are entering the phase of implementation of the transformative Agenda 2030 to achieve Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

UNDP as the main development UN Agency has to play a key role in assisting member states in their efforts.

"In this context, it is worrying to note the continuous decline in contributions to UNDP while the need of the hour is for UNDP to enhance its activities," he said on Wednesday.

While India has been contributing to South-South Cooperation, he pointed out that North-South Cooperation is declining and needs to be scaled up to help meet objectives of 2030 agenda.

He said India concurs with the observation made in the UNDP Administrator Helen Clark's report that national ownership remains a key driver of performance for the agency's strategic plan.

Sheikh added that UNDP can focus more on projects relating to achieving greater energy efficiency, anti-corruption measures, basic services and global development financing.

UNDP also needs to continue to address cross-cutting issues and promote long- term growth and development in developing countries.

On Evaluation Policy, he said India has long held that the "independence" of the Independent Evaluation Office should be maintained beyond doubt.

Clark said that ensuring the success of the 2030 Agenda remains one of the organisation's greatest priorities.

"Supporting roll out of the 2030 Agenda is a top priority for UNDP," Clark said at the meeting.

"UNDP has specific thematic expertise to offer, not least around poverty eradication; reduction of inequalities; democratic governance; the environment, energy, and climate change; disaster risk reduction; gender, health; and our work in fragile contexts," she said.

"We will promote support for programme countries to access finance for sustainable development, and to find the right mix of funding, technology, and assistance to drive national progress on the SDGs," she added.