India-UN Capacity Building Initiative: First 4 Projects Begin
Why in the news
India rolled out the first four projects under the India-UN Global Capacity Building Initiative. The aim is to help Global South countries make progress on the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) through training.
Key facts
- Announced: September 2023, at the 78th session of the UN General Assembly.
- Lead ministry: Ministry of External Affairs, working with several UN agencies.
- Delivery: Indian institutes designated under ITEC will run practical, skill-focused courses.
- Start: Training courses are due to begin in September 2025.
| Partner country or region | Focus | UN partner |
|---|---|---|
| Nepal | Rice fortification and supply chain management | World Food Programme |
| Zambia and Lao PDR | Digital health platforms | UNDP |
| Belize, Barbados, St Kitts and Nevis, Suriname, Trinidad and Tobago | Census preparedness | UN Population Fund |
| South Sudan | Vocational training | UNESCO |
About ITEC
The Indian Technical and Economic Cooperation (ITEC) programme underpins the initiative. It offers over 12,000 training slots every year to nearly 160 countries, and more than 225,000 professionals have been trained across over 400 specialised courses.
Exam angle
- Remember the link between ITEC, the MEA and Global South outreach.
- Note the UN agency attached to each project, a likely match-the-following item.
- The initiative was announced at the 78th UNGA in 2023.