SAARC Development Fund-UNDP to jointly implement projects in SAARC Region to provide Regional & Economic Integration

New Delhi, Nov 22 (KNN) The SAARC Development Fund and UNDP will jointly implement its two projects on Women Empowerment and Value Chain Development in the SAARC Region to provide Regional and Economic Integration.

According to a press release, Dr. Sunil Motiwal, CEO, SDF said, “Both the organizations have already signed MoU in 2015 in order to provide strategic growth to the SAARC Region which is a key goal in collaboration to advance the 2030 Sustainable Development Agenda in the region. We are looking forward to work closely with UNDP in order achieve our mutual strategic goals.”

SDF and UNDP have agreed to collaborate for the projects on - Economic Empowerment of Women through Energy Access in Mountain Countries of South Asia​; and Support to Value Chain development, Entrepreneurship and Skill Development and Improved Connectivity.

The objective of the project - Economic Empowerment of Women through Energy Access in Mountain Countries of South Asia​ - is to empower women in the mountainous regions of South Asia (specifically in Nepal, Bhutan, Bangladesh and Pakistan) through access to sustainable energy services to contribute towards achieving the goals of economic empowerment of women while simultaneously targeting better health, and gender equality.

SDF has committed USD 3,101,763.00 for 50% of the total budget of USD 6,203,525.00 in the form of financial co-funding. The project is aimed to target 11,840 households, 50 women entrepreneurs & 500 community members as direct beneficiaries and 121,317 persons & 150 women entrepreneurs as indirect beneficiaries.

The Project - Support to Value Chain development, Entrepreneurship and Skill Development and Improved Connectivity - is a unique and innovative project which adopts a regional approach to enhance economic opportunities for MSMEs through value chain development, entrepreneurship & skill building in Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Nepal, Pakistan and Sri Lanka.

In and across six SAARC Member Countries UNDP country offices will work together closely on removing bottlenecks and barriers for vulnerable population to increase their access to social protection, financial inclusion, enterprise development and skill building.

SDF has committed USD 7,835,000.00 for 50% of the total budget of USD 15,670,000.00 in the form of financial co-funding. The project is aimed to target 163,400 persons as direct beneficiaries in the components of social protection, financial inclusion, SME export capacity strengthening and market improvement (under social and economic programme) and at least 0.5 million people as the indirect beneficiaries. (KNN Bureau)