Kanni Wignaraja, UN Assistant Secretary General and UNDP’s Regional Director for Asia and the Pacific, visited India from October 3 to 8, 2024. Her visit featured a diverse agenda, from bilateral meetings with government officials to a rain-soaked trek through a remarkable conservation effort in Northeast India. She also participated in policy dialogues, and engaged with young people and women leaders.
During her mission, she met with key government officials, including the Chief Minister of Meghalaya, Conrad Sangma; Vice Chairperson of NITI Aayog, Suman Bery; Tanmay Lal, Secretary West, Ministry of External Affairs; Mr. Ajay Seth, Department of Economic Affairs; Dr. Devesh Chaturvedi, Secretary of the Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare; Ms. Alka Upadhyaya, Secretary of the Department of Animal Husbandry and Dairying and Mr. Amit Yadav, Secretary of the Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment.
The Regional Director visited the northeastern state of Meghalaya, where she participated in a roundtable discussion on Advancing Gender Equality (SDG5) in the Northeast Region, organized in partnership with UN Women and engaged with young entrepreneurs supported by UNDP through its Youth Co:Lab initiative. She interacted with women healthcare workers at a UNDP-supported community health centre. She also visited the Living Root Bridges in Pynursla, a project under the North East Biodiversity Initiative, supported by Germany and UNDP.
Despite the rain, the UNDP Regional Director and team trekked to the centuries-old Living Root Bridge, a breathtaking marvel shaped by generations of Khasi elders in Meghalaya. These bridges are created by the local community, who guide and intertwine the aerial roots of rubber trees (Ficus elastica), providing vital connections between remote villages in rugged, landslide-prone terrains where traditional infrastructure is difficult to build. Living root bridges epitomize the sustainable lifestyle and culture of the Khasi Tribe in Meghalaya.
She also met with local communities working to preserve these natural wonders and awarded certificates of excellence to the community and the Living Bridge Foundation. Read more
She also met with young entrepreneurs from the Northeast region, supported by UNDP's Youth Co:Lab initiative. She applauded them for driving innovation in the region through their innovative entrepreneurial spirit, reaffirming that UNDP was committed to fostering youth-led innovation to achieve the SDGs.
At the Pynursla Community Health Centre, she saw firsthand how digital innovations are empowering female healthcare workers - backbone of the digital healthcare revolution who ensure vaccines reach the last mile - showcasing the power of technology in transforming healthcare delivery.
She also delievered the keynote address at a roundtable on gender empowerment in the Northeast, in collaboration with UN Women. During the roundtable, Ms. Wignaraja listened to women leaders from across the region and discussed ways to increase female representation in decision-making and governance.
Ms. Wignaraja took part in several key policy engagements during her visit:
- SDG Financing Workshop: She participated in a National Workshop on SDG Financing, organized with the Ministry of Finance and NITI Aayog, where she announced the upcoming launch of a Sustainable Finance Facility platform. This initiative aims to support states with innovative financing solutions to advance the SDGs.
- Policy Dialogue on Climate and Health: In collaboration with the Confederation of Indian Industry (CII), she joined a policy dialogue addressing the health impacts of climate change. The discussion focused on integrating environmental, human, and animal health systems to better manage climate-related risks and future pandemics.
- Roundtable on the Care Economy:She launched a project focused on boosting female labour participation by strengthening the childcare economy for lower-income households in urban areas at a roundtable in New Delhi. The consultation at the roundtable delved into identifying successful local childcare models in India, exploring innovative financing options, and discussing upcoming skilling initiatives aimed at creating an accessible, affordable, and high-quality urban childcare ecosystem in the country.
In a meeting with Mr. Shombi Sharp, the UN Resident Coordinator in India, Ms. Wignaraja emphasized strengthening collaboration across agencies during her mission, with a focus on accelerating progress towards the SDGs, leveraging the joint SDG fund, and enhancing South-South cooperation. In her meeting with Dr. Auguste Tano Kouamé, India Country Director of the World Bank, she explored UNDP's efforts in biodiversity conservation, tribal development, and creating climate-resilient cities. At a meeting with the UN Country Team and UNFPA Executive Director, Dr. Natalia Kanem, she highlighted key outcomes from the Summit of the Future, including the SG's SDG stimulus and the Global Digital Compact
Ms. Wignaraja’s visit wasn’t just about meetings—it was about connection and collaboration, too. She addressed UNDP India staff, sharing her vision for the visit and applauding the team’s innovative approach to development.
Ms. Wignaraja's visit generated significant interest in the national media:
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Meghalaya CM, UN assistant secretary-general hold meet, discuss key collaborations
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