The IBSA Fund, which has been established by India, Brazil, and South Africa that funds initiatives to reduce hunger and poverty has received a USD $1 million contribution from India.
UNOSSC Director Dima Al-Khatib received a check for USD one million from India’s Permanent Representative to the UN, Ambassador Ruchira Kamboj, as a contribution to the India, Brazil, and South Africa Facility for Poverty and Hunger Alleviation Fund (IBSA Fund).
Speaking at the event, Ms. Kamboj stated that “development of the people, by the people, and for the people” was the main goal of India’s G20 Presidency. since a result, she declared, “India is committed to supporting the IBSA Fund as we believe that the Fund has strengthened the spirit of South-South cooperation and made a positive impact on the lives of millions across the Global South.”
According to a press release from India’s Permanent Mission to the UN, the IBSA nations—South Africa, Brazil, and India—each donate one million dollars a year to the Fund as a means of fostering partnership and providing support for Southern-led, demand-driven, transformative projects in developing nations.
Over the IBSA Fund’s inception in 2004 and start of operations in 2006, India has contributed more than USD 18 million in total. The IBSA Fund’s secretariat and fund manager are UNOSSC.
According to a press release from India’s Permanent Mission to the UN, the IBSA nations—South Africa, Brazil, and India—each donate one million dollars a year to the Fund as a means of fostering partnership and providing support for Southern-led, demand-driven, transformative projects in developing nations.
Over the IBSA Fund’s inception in 2004 and start of operations in 2006, India has contributed more than USD 18 million in total. The IBSA Fund’s secretariat and fund manager are UNOSSC.
The IBSA Fund provides funding for initiatives that embody tangible manifestations of unity. According to the press release, its goals include increasing access to safe drinking water, combating HIV/AIDS, and boosting food security—all of which will help accomplish the Sustainable Development Goals.
To date, the IBSA Fund has granted USD 50.6 million to assist 45 projects in 37 global south nations. Three projects have already received approval from the IBSA Fund this year: “Investment in Agri-business development in Mubadrti” in Palestine; “Empowering Women and Youth to Drive Sustainable Agriculture” in South Sudan; and “Rural Electrification using Micro-grids” in Southern Belize.
According to UNOSSC, the Fund’s Board of Directors convened here late last month and approved the three requests for South Sudan, Belize, and Palestine, totaling USD $3 million in fresh investment. The design of a project in Mali scheduled to start in 2024 was also authorized.
In the Toledo district of Belize, the initiative will improve marginalized people’ access to renewable energy. The country’s greatest rate of poverty is found in this district. According to a statement from the UN agency, the initiative intends to supply solar technology to 166 families, a school, and a primary health center.
The Central Equatorial State’s nutrition, food security, and standard of living will all be enhanced by the initiative in South Sudan, which seeks to raise fish and vegetable production as well as distribution markets. There will be support for eight vegetable production groups with 48 heads of home and four fishery groups with 30 heads of household.
The project in Palestine seeks to establish long-term employment prospects in the agriculture industry and its supply chain for women, young people, and new graduates. This will entail both food processing and the manufacturing of agricultural commodities targeted at the market.
The proposed investments in agri-business, along with extensive training programs on farming techniques, crop management, harvesting methods, post-harvest handling, processing and packaging, marketing, and business management, will increase agricultural productivity in Palestine by approximately seventy farmers, unemployed youth, and engineers.
The Board approved the project’s comprehensive design in Africa, specifically for the Climate Change Resilient Community Farms and Women’s Empowerment in Baguinéda Irrigated Zone project in Mali, which is scheduled to start in 2024.
The objective of this project is to enhance the capacity of over 7,000 women producers, renovate two agribusiness centers, and provide better seeds to increase the resilience of youth and women farmers against the negative effects of climate change. According to the UN agency, equipment will also be given to four young Economic Interest Groups, and five market garden areas will have solar pumping systems installed.
