The India-UN Development Partnership Fund is scaling up its impact – this past quarter, community-led projects across Africa, Asia, Latin America, and the Caribbean are forging bold paths toward the SDGs. From digital health to literacy, irrigation to disaster resilience, here are the highlights:
Harvesting Resilience & Opportunity
- Burundi: In 30 municipalities, 1,500 youth are being equipped with entrepreneurship, e-commerce, and sexual and reproductive health skills – empowering a generation to build healthier, economically vibrant communities.
- Senegal: Clearing 69,000 m² of mine-contaminated land in Casamance is unlocking space for displaced families and enabling new development projects.
- Malawi: Through development of a framework for financial inclusion and enabling environment for a digital identity infrastructure, digital economies are advancing inclusivity and smart regulatory practices.
- El Salvador: Over 6,000 children in vulnerable areas now have access to inclusive reading materials – 67,000 books in print, Braille, audio, and sign language – paired with digital formats and school support.
- Nicaragua: Fifteen schools are becoming beacons of inclusive education, offering digital textbooks, teacher training, parental support, and creative student competitions.
- Nigeria: Communities within the country’s three biosphere reserves are acquiring new skills in Green Economy and Bio-Business development. These initiatives are fostering environmentally sustainable livelihoods and promoting conservation through green economic activities.
- Kyrgyzstan: Five maternity hospitals are piloting a new telemedicine platform featuring national clinical standards and tools for post-partum hemorrhage. A mobile app with 240+ Kyrgyz-language articles supports women’s health.
- Caribbean (CARICOM): Thirteen nations are collaborating to eliminate mother-to-child transmission of HIV, syphilis, and Hepatitis B – expectant mothers benefit from upgraded labs, clinical protocols, and regional workshops.
- Chaco, Paraguay: Partnering with Argentina, Bolivia, and Brazil, a regional effort is strengthening maternal-child health via upgraded clinics, trained health workers, and better sanitation.
- Honduras: Over 15,000 residents in Gracias a Dios will enjoy climate-resilient water, sanitation, and hygiene services, backed by community training and health monitoring.
- Lao PDR: The policy and technical groundwork for rice fortification is advancing – soon, fortified rice will reach over 16,000 people, with national outreach and South-South collaboration helping to scale impact.
- Suriname: New weather and water-level monitoring systems, coupled with geospatial data and South-South training, are bolstering early warning capacity and climate preparedness.
- Bahamas: A new multipurpose community center and disaster shelter is nearing completion in Abaco – designed to offer long-term resilience and learning exchange across the region.
- Jamaica: Women and youth in rural areas are receiving support for agri-innovation – from greenhouses to livestock, business training to peer mentorship – creating pathways out of poverty.
