New York, February 19 – India presented its annual contribution of $1 million to the India, Brazil and South Africa Facility for Poverty and Hunger Alleviation (IBSA Fund).
H.E. Mrs. Ruchira Kamboj, the Permanent Representative of India to the United Nations in New York, handed over the check to Ms. Dima Al-Khatib, the Director of the United Nations Office for South-South cooperation, which serves as Fund Manager and Board of Directors Secretariat.
Building on India’s extensive bilateral and multilateral engagements fostering sustainable development through South-South cooperation, this renewed commitment to the IBSA Fund is yet another example of India’s commitment to addressing development challenges such as poverty, hunger, and climate change across developing nations through a South-South cooperation lens.
Speaking on this occasion, Ambassador Ruchira Kamboj said, “The focus of India’s G20 Presidency was development of the people, by the people and for the people”. She added, “India is committed to support the IBSA Fund, as we believe that the Fund has made a positive impact on the lives of millions across the Global South and has strengthened the spirit of South-South cooperation.”
“Through the past years, India’s contributions to international development, including the IBSA Fund and the India-UN Development Partnership Fund, illustrate India’s championing of multilateralism, and their dedication to sharing its developmental journey with the Global South,” said Ms. Al-Khatib.
The IBSA Fund is a remarkable example of cooperation among India, Brazil and South Africa – three developing countries, which pioneered the implementation of South-South cooperation initiatives for the benefit of other Southern countries in partnership with the United Nations system. Its purpose is to identify replicable and scalable projects that can be disseminated to interested developing countries as examples of good practices in the fight against poverty and hunger.
The IBSA Fund, which was established in 2004 and became operational in 2006, supports projects on a demand-driven basis through partnerships with local governments, national institutions and implementing partners. The IBSA Fund-supported projects are concrete expressions of solidarity for the benefit of the most vulnerable and marginalized people, with the objectives of promoting food security, extending access to safe drinking water, and promoting quality education and gender equality, all with the aim of contributing to the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
A total of 45 development projects have been supported through the IBSA Fund in 37 countries, with $50.6 million allocated. A total 30 projects in 20 countries have already been completed, while the rest are currently under various stages of implementation.
