logo
UNDP's 'Inspiring India' magazine showcases India's innovations for Sustainable Development Goals

UNDP's 'Inspiring India' magazine showcases India's innovations for Sustainable Development Goals

Times of Oman26-03-2025

New Delhi: The third edition of the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) India's flagship magazine, 'Inspiring India' highlights the stories of inspiring leaders, changemakers, and groundbreaking innovations driving progress across the country.
The magazine edition, launched recently, features a special message from Jagat Prakash Nadda, Minister of Health and Family Welfare, and Minister of Chemicals and Fertilizers. It brings forth stories showcasing transformative initiatives like strides in digital health U-WIN, growing entrepreneurial ecosystem with a feature on Nikhil Kamath, co-founder of Zerodha, and his WTFund, Nigar Shah, the trailblazer scientist behind the country's first solar mission and an inspiration for women in STEM, UNDP India Youth Champion Sanjana Sanghi who shared her reflections as a young artist.
UNDP National Advocate for SDGs Bhumi Pednekar has emphasised on how small actions and mindful choices can drive sustainable change.
Through spotlighting powerful stories and groundbreaking ideas, this edition of 'Inspiring India' celebrates the people, and the actions and innovations driving meaningful change across the country.
Angela Lusigi, Resident Representative, UNDP India said, "This edition marks the third in the Inspiring India series, and we at UNDP are excited for you to explore the incredible stories of innovation within. With these interviews and features, we invite you into a world where simple solutions spark extraordinary change. We hope you are inspired to start your own journeys because innovation is not just about a good idea--it is a way of life in India, where even the smallest actions can create a better future for us all."
The issue includes an exclusive interview with UNDP Goodwill Ambassador Michelle Yeoh, who continues to advocate for gender equality globally.
The magazine also features a compelling story on the iconic Jaipur Foot and sheds light on its impact on mobility and dignity for persons with disabilities. The magazine showcased how women farmers in Telangana have pioneered an ingenious new seed storage method in response to climate change disruptions. A feature on the IIT Madras student-led innovation lab highlighted cutting-edge solutions emerging from India's youth, the statement highlighted.
The issue further highlights six standout stories from the Youth Co:Lab National Innovation Challenge supported by the Atal Innovation Mission to enable social entrepreneurs, along with five groundbreaking inventions accelerating progress on Sustainable Development Goals.

Orange background

Try Our AI Features

Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:

Comments

No comments yet...

Related Articles

Oman records notable progress in UN's sustainable goals
Oman records notable progress in UN's sustainable goals

Muscat Daily

time3 days ago

  • Muscat Daily

Oman records notable progress in UN's sustainable goals

Muscat – Oman has recorded a notable progress in achieving the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), with the country's population now surpassing 5.3mn, according to new data from the National Centre for Statistics and Information (NCSI). As of June 2025, Oman's total population stands at 5,303,578, comprising 3,006,387 Omani nationals (56.69%) and 2,297,191 expatriates (43.31%). The demographic update was released alongside the SDG Statistical Report – May 2025, which confirms that Oman has eradicated extreme poverty, with zero per cent of the population living below the international poverty threshold of US$1.25 per day – five years ahead of the 2030 deadline. The report indicates continued economic improvement, with the average monthly household income at RO1,174 and per capita income at RO234. Health indicators show sustained improvement, with maternal mortality at 17.1 per 100,000 live births and under-five mortality at 11 per 1,000, both meeting global standards. In education, the primary school completion rate has reached 95.6%, while adult literacy is recorded at 97.9%. However, the report highlights a gender gap in post-basic education, where 74% of females complete this level compared to 50.4% of males. In the area of renewable energy, clean sources now account for 4% of total consumption, following the operational launch of the Ibri solar power plant – a marked increase from zero in 2020. Oman has also fully implemented its disaster risk and climate mitigation strategies in line with the Sendai Framework. Disaster-related deaths have declined to 0.06 per 100,000 population, and all wastewater in the country is now treated. The report positions Oman as a regional example of integrating economic development with social equity and environmental responsibility, reinforcing its commitment to Vision 2040.

Oman hits zero poverty as SDG progress gains pace
Oman hits zero poverty as SDG progress gains pace

Observer

time3 days ago

  • Observer

Oman hits zero poverty as SDG progress gains pace

Muscat: Oman has eliminated extreme poverty and achieved near-universal access to electricity, safe drinking water, and essential healthcare, marking a major milestone in its pursuit of the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), according to a new national report. The SDG Statistical Report – May 2025, issued by the National Centre for Statistics and Information (NCSI), confirms that zero per cent of the population lives below the international poverty line of $1.25 per day—a target met well ahead of the 2030 deadline. Average monthly household income was reported at OMR 1,174, with per capita income at OMR 234. Meanwhile, maternal mortality fell to 17.1 per 100,000 live births and under-five child deaths to 11 per 1,000, in line with global benchmarks. In education, Oman maintained a 95.6 per cent primary school completion rate, with literacy among adults reaching 97.9 per cent. However, gender gaps persist in post-basic education, with 74 per cent of females completing compared to 50.4 per cent of males. The report also highlighted growth in clean energy: renewables now account for 4 per cent of final energy consumption, up from zero in 2020, following the launch of the Ibri solar plant. Public spending on education represented 15 per cent of government expenditure in 2023, while social protection coverage reached 36.9 per cent, supported by the rollout of the new Social Protection Fund. Oman has also reduced disaster-related deaths to 0.06 per 100,000 and achieved 100 per cent wastewater treatment, reinforcing its resilience strategy. The report indicates that 72 per cent of SDG indicators now have national data, with continued alignment between Oman's development policies and the targets of Vision 2040.

Rebuild aid consensus
Rebuild aid consensus

Observer

time4 days ago

  • Observer

Rebuild aid consensus

In 2015, the United Kingdom's then-prime minister, David Cameron, stood before the United Nations General Assembly and challenged other donor countries to follow the UK's lead and back the newly-minted Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) for eradicating poverty with their aid money. 'We haven't just achieved the UN's 0.7 per cent [aid-to-GNI spending] target, we've enshrined it in law,' he declared. That was then. As heir to an extraordinary bipartisan consensus forged under the post-1997 Labour government, Cameron's Conservative government had established Britain as the most generous aid donor in the G7, and one of just four countries to meet the 0.7 per cent aid target. Now, a Labour government has torn up the remnants of that consensus, joined a global attack on aid, and set a course that will leave the UK among the world's least generous countries. The fact that a UK government led by the Labour Party, with its long tradition of internationalism and solidarity, has all but abandoned its leadership role on an issue encoded in its DNA illustrates the political forces shaping a new world order, notably US President Donald Trump's view of international cooperation as a zero-sum game played by losers. But it also challenges development advocates in the UK to focus on strategies aimed at minimising harm and rebuilding the case for aid. British Prime Minister Keir Starmer announced the decision to cut foreign aid and channel the savings to an expanded defence budget ahead of a meeting with Trump. The aid budget is set to fall from 0.5 per cent to 0.3 per cent of Gross Nation Income – the lowest level since the late 1990s. After removing the roughly one-quarter of the official development assistance spent on refugees in the UK, Britain will slip from ninth to 22nd in a ranking of countries' Overseas Development Assistance as a share of GNI. While there has been opposition to the aid cuts, a new consensus has taken root. Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch applauded the decision to convert ODA into defence spending. The far-right Reform UK party's election manifesto called for the aid budget to be halved. When Jenny Chapman, Britain's development minister, delivered ODA's death warrant, she told a parliamentary committee in May that 'the days of viewing the UK government as a global charity are over.' Some two-thirds of Britons, including most Labour supporters, support increased defence spending at the expense of overseas aid. The UK is hardly alone. The United States Agency for International Development (USAID), which accounted for more than 40 per cent of all humanitarian aid in 2024, has been dismantled. In Germany, the world's second-largest donor, Chancellor Friedrich Merz's new government will reduce an already-diminished aid budget. France is set to slash ODA by 40 per cent, while the recently collapsed right-wing government in the Netherlands, a longstanding member of the 0.7 per cent club, has decreased aid spending by more than two-thirds. The human toll of the cuts is already starting to emerge. The demolition of USAID has left acutely malnourished children without food, HIV/AIDS patients without antiretroviral drugs, and clinics unable to treat deadly diseases like childhood malaria. According to a recent study, Trump's suspension of aid could result in 14 million additional deaths, including 4.5 million children under five, by 2030. Cuts by the UK and other donors will inevitably add to these human costs. An already chronically under-financed humanitarian aid system now confronting famine threats and food emergencies from Sudan to Gaza and the Sahel has been pushed to the brink of collapse: less than 10 per cent of the 2025 UN appeal is funded. The political currents fuelling the attack on aid vary across countries. In the US, nihilistic anti-multilateralism has been a driving force. In Europe, fiscal pressures have interacted with right-wing populist narratives linking aid to migration, pressure on public services, waste, and corruption. Starmer now cites Russian security threats to justify deeper cuts. So, what can be done to rebuild an aid consensus? The first priority is to minimise harm. Maintaining the UK's £1.9 billion ($2.6 billion) commitment to the World Bank's International Development Association is critical because every dollar contributed can leverage $3-4 of financial support for the poorest countries. The UK could also make the most of a shrinking aid budget by channelling more humanitarian aid through local actors, rather than bureaucratic UN agencies. Still, tough choices must be made. There is a strong argument to protect spending on life-saving programmes, such as child nutrition, vaccinations, and HIV/AIDS, and for minimising cuts in areas where the UK is a global frontrunner, like girls' education and social protection. Even with a diminished aid budget, the UK could exercise greater leadership. With debt-service costs now crowding out spending on essential services in many low-income countries, Starmer's government could demand comprehensive debt relief at this month's UN International Conference on Financing for Development. Ultimately though, the case for aid must be fought and won in a public square increasingly dominated by right-wing populists. Political leaders in the UK and across the West need to communicate the hard truth that global challenges like climate change, war, and poverty require international cooperation. And they need to tap into the deep reservoirs of generosity, solidarity, and moral concern that define public sentiment even in the midst of our troubled times. Copyright: Project Syndicate, 2025. Kevin Watkins The author, a former CEO of Save the Children UK, is a visiting professor at the Firoz Lalji Institute for Africa at the London School of Economics.

DOWNLOAD THE APP

Get Started Now: Download the App

Ready to dive into the world of global news and events? Download our app today from your preferred app store and start exploring.
app-storeplay-store