UNDP Asia-Pacific Chief Kanni Wignaraja to visit India to strengthen India-UNDP cooperation on sustainable development

 New Delhi: Kanni Wignaraja, UN Assistant Secretary-General and UNDP Regional Director for Asia and the Pacific, will visit India from October 3 to 8 to deepen cooperation on sustainable development. This visit aims to build on UNDP’s longstanding partnership with the Government of India, focusing on critical areas such as climate action, One Health, and digitalization for development.

Ms. Wignaraja will engage with senior officials from various ministries, including the Ministry of External Affairs, Ministry of Finance, Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare, Ministry of Development of North Eastern Region, Ministry of Animal Husbandry and Dairying, Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment, and NITI Aayog. The discussions will cover key topics such as the localization of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), SDG Financing, and India’s pivotal role in South-South Cooperation.

During her visit, Ms. Wignaraja will participate in high-level events, including:

• A roundtable discussion on the urban childcare ecosystem and care economy
• A national workshop on SDG Financing co-hosted by the Ministry of Finance and NITI Aayog.
• A policy dialogue on the One Health approach for pandemic prevention, preparedness, and response, co-organized by UNDP and the Confederation of Indian Industry.

Ms. Wignaraja will also visit the northeastern state of Meghalaya from October 5 to 6, where she is expected to meet the Deputy Chief Minister of Meghalaya and participate in a roundtable discussion on Advancing Gender Equality (SDG5) in the Northeast Region, organized in partnership with UN Women. She will also engage with young entrepreneurs supported by UNDP through its Youth Co:Lab initiative, interact with women healthcare workers at a UNDP-supported community health centre, and visit the Living Root Bridges in Pynursla, a project under the North East Biodiversity Initiative, supported by the Government of Germany and UNDP.

Her visit will conclude in New Delhi on October 8. 

Ms. Wignaraja has served as the UNDP Regional Director for Asia and the Pacific since 2019 and brings over 25 years of experience in sustainable development, policy, and programme management across the UN system. Her deep understanding of the Asia-Pacific region strengthens UNDP’s mission to support inclusive growth, resilience, and sustainable development across India and beyond.