What happened?
On August 1, 2025, the Ministry of External Affairs launched the first four projects under the “India-UN Global Capacity Building Initiative.” The projects, supported by UN agencies, include rice fortification in Nepal, a digital health platform for Zambia and Lao PDR, census preparedness in Caribbean nations, and vocational training in South Sudan. The launch was led by Secretary (West) Tanmaya Lal, with implementation beginning in September through India’s ITEC programme.
Why it matters to India
The initiative reinforces India’s role as a development partner for the Global South and showcases its commitment to the SDGs. It builds on the ITEC programme and strengthens India’s global outreach by combining technical training with UN-backed development efforts.