Consistent efforts made in the last few years have led to launching of several initiatives, contributing to a strong institutional base for multi-sectoral and multi-country alliances and bringing in far greater gravitas for sustainable and inclusive development.
Inspired by the discussions among leaders of the Global South during the 1st Voice of Global South Summit held on 12-13 January 2023, Prime Minister Narendra Modi announced that India would establish a Global South Centre of Excellence (Dakshin).
As India moves towards Viksit Bharat 2047, the strategies, roadmap and guard rails would define the trajectory of its partnership at international level. The idea of Viksit Bharat would get further strengthened by the emerging trends across such partnerships that would be particularly relevant for the Global South. Consistent efforts made in the last few years have led to launching of several initiatives, contributing to a strong institutional base for multi-sectoral and multi-country alliances and bringing in far greater gravitas for sustainable and inclusive development.
It is with this perspective that the seven institutional initiatives that have been launched are going to take forward access, equity and inclusion (AEI) for the Global South, particularly in the realm of sustainability. Some of these are: International Solar Alliance (ISA), 2015; Coalition for Disaster Resilient Infrastructure (CDRI), 2019; WHO Global Centre for Traditional Medicine, 2022; Global Biofuels Alliance (GBA), 2023; International Big Cats Alliance (BCA), 2023; Global South Centre for Excellence (Dakshin), 2023; and One Future Alliance (OFA) for Digital Public Goods, 2023.
India’s efforts for sustainability emanate from its own development experience and insights. The idea of International Solar Alliance (ISA) and the Global Biofuels Alliance (GBA) is directly going to contribute to the future energy security requirements at the cost that is affordable for developing economies. With climate change adversely affecting growth prospects and eroding GDP base of a country, the institutional framework of Coalition for Disaster Resilient Infrastructure (CDRI) would provide necessary support for building resilient infrastructure and quick support for ensuring prompt response when a country faces natural disaster. In continuation of efforts for resilient infrastructure, the G20 Presidency of India also added the dimension of digital public infrastructure, after its proved relevant during the Covid-19 crisis, when some of the most marginalised sections could leverage the strength of digital payment architecture. The idea of Big Cats Alliance (BCA) is supplementing the efforts for nurturing conservation and biodiversity sustenance through a common platform. Sharing of ideas and experiences for managing Big Cat population would be a crucial objective.
Inspired by the discussions among leaders of the Global South during the 1st Voice of Global South Summit held on 12-13 January 2023, Prime Minister Narendra Modi announced that India would establish a Global South Centre of Excellence (Dakshin). In fulfilment of India’s commitment, Dakshin was inaugurated by him during the 2nd Voice of Global South Summit held on 17 November 2023. Dakshin will serve as an accelerator and multiplier of social and economic development growth in the Global South; facilitate cross-continental exchanges of ideas; development of evidence-based policy frameworks; ensure the availability and accessibility of global public goods; and promote transformational opportunities for development cooperation and encouragement of peer learning for outcome driven development strategies. Given these institutional initiatives, it would be pertinent to collate development insights that emanate out of working of these institutions which may help in setting new agenda for Multilateral Development Banks (MDBs) as their reforms are being discussed and their mandate is being redefined.
India pioneered a home-grown initiative for sustainable and healthy lifestyle called LiFE, Lifestyle for the Environment, which is expected to emerge as a credible approach to reorient individual lifestyles towards sustainability, circularity, resource efficiency, regenerative actions, and re-establishing harmony with nature and trans-species balance.
LiFE is more than a concept; it is a clarion call for a profound reorientation in our individual and collective behaviours, weaving together sustainability, ethics, and wellbeing into the fabric of our economic models. As the world grapples with the alarming pace of climate change, rising inequality, and the need for an ethical reformation of global relations, LiFE emerges as a practical pathway toward a sustainable, inclusive, and equitable future.
Viksit Bharat in 2047 would ensure a wider global participation of all the developing countries in India’s development journey. The spill-over effects of growth would nurture equity and inclusion with technology and sustainability. India’s own initiatives would reduce the carbon footprint and, in the process, would also ensure similar contribution of other countries from the Global South.
The writer is Director General, Research and Information System for Developing Countries (RIS), New Delhi. Views expressed are personal.
