NEW DELHI: The Ministry of Development of North Eastern Region (DoNER) and the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), on Tuesday, inked a memorandum of understanding (MoU) to expedite progress and growth across the Northeast.
The MoU, signed at the Ministry’s headquarters in New Delhi, solidifies a framework for enhanced collaboration between the DoNER Ministry and UNDP, specifically focusing on localising the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and nurturing Sustainable Development Corporation Centres (SDGCCs).
Union Minister of State for DoNER, BL Verma, and Ulrika Modeer, Assistant Secretary-General and Director of the UNDP Bureau of External Relations and Advocacy, formalised the agreement, the local press reported.
“This MoU intends to provide a platform for expanded collaboration between DoNER Ministry (supported through appropriate financing) and UNDP on all aspects related to SDG localisation, and supporting states for establishing SDGCCs or any other emerging requirements,” the MoU outlines.
As detailed in the MoU, the collaborative effort strives to establish SDGCCs in each state of the Northeast. These centres will act as pivotal hubs for SDG localisation and enable knowledge sharing, capacity building, and innovative approaches to development.
Furthermore, a technical support unit focusing on SDGs will be instituted within the DoNER Ministry to drive an agenda-setting role on SDGs. This unit will facilitate identifying gaps, devising strategic plans, monitoring progress, and imparting training to officials.
“Through the partnership, UNDP will support the Ministry in the identification of gaps, preparation of strategic plans to address the gaps, designing assessments to track progress, creation, and implementation of monitoring mechanisms at state, district, and village levels, and conduct training programs for enhancing the capacity of officials,” the MoU outlines.
The scope of collaboration also encompasses technical and implementation support from UNDP for expediting development initiatives in identified backward and scheduled areas of the region. Innovative models for efficient public service delivery will be designed, ushering in a new era of rapid development.
