Ministry of Tribal Affairs hosts meeting with UN Agencies and other Global Organizations to accelerate Tribal Development through Collaborative Partnerships

Union Ministry of Tribal Affairs, under the leadership of Secretary, Shri Vibhu Nayar, organized a significant meeting with UN Agencies and other global organizations at Bharat Mandapam, New Delhi today. The event, titled 'Viksit Bharat @2047 - Accelerating Tribal Development: Collaborative Global Partnerships,' was aimed at forging partnerships in key areas such as Service Delivery, Tribal Health, Tribal Education, Tribal Livelihood, Tribal Socio-Cultural Heritage and Infrastructure.

In her welcome address, Additional Secretary (Tribal Affairs), Smt. R. Jaya outlined the agenda of the meeting and expressed pleasure at the exploration of partnerships with UN and other international agencies in the realm of tribal affairs and tribal development.

During the meeting, positive discussions were held on potential collaborations between the Ministry of Tribal Affairs and international agencies in the outlined thematic areas. Shri Vibhu Nayar highlighted the importance of these partnerships in achieving the Sustainable Development Goals in India and emphasized the role of tribal communities in the country's development.

Shri Vibhu Nayar concluded the meeting by urging all stakeholders to collaborate and ensure the success of the event. He emphasized the need for increased discussions and engagement in five thematic areas and called for the identification and expansion of operations to bring about collaboration and coordination among organizations in similar areas across states. He also highlighted the importance of showcasing Indian tribal achievements globally and learning from best global practices.

The objective of the one-day program was to facilitate a dialogue between the Ministry of Tribal Affairs, UN Agencies, and international foundations to explore potential collaborations and partnerships in various sectors to enhance tribal development. The programme aimed to identify key areas of intervention, discuss possible projects and initiatives, and establish a framework for collaboration and partnership to ensure sustainable outcomes for tribal communities.

The event saw participation from UN Agencies/Global organizations such as UNICEF, UNEP, WHO, World Bank, UNDP, UN Habitat, Asian Development Bank, United Nations Volunteer, UN WOMEN, UNESCO, JICA, IFAD, ILO, WSP, etc.

Mr. Shombi Sharp, UN Resident Coordinator in India; Ms. Payden, Deputy Head of Country Office, WHO; Ms. Caitlin Wiesen, Country Head, UNDP; Mr. Auguste Tano Kouamé, Country Director, World Bank; Mr. Steve Hoe Yun Jeong, Deputy Country Director, ADB; Mr. Arjan de Wagt, Deputy Representative Programme - OIC Representative, UNICEF; Mr. Ulac Demirag, Director, IFAD; and many other representatives shared their organizations' experiences.

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NB/VM