India wants post-2015 development agenda free from 'artificial conditionalities'

UNITED NATIONS: India has said that the architecture of the post-2015 development agenda should stay clear of "artificially-imposed conditionalities" and be shaped in a manner to allow each country to develop according to its own national priorities and circumstances.

"Economic development, social inclusion of all stakeholders and environmental sustainability are all equally critical as components of sustainable development architecture."

"The task before us is to give practical shape and content to this architecture in a manner that allows each country to develop according to its own national priorities and circumstances," First Secretary in the Indian Mission here D C Manjunath said at the first regular session of UN Development Programme (UNDP) and UN Population Fund here.

"As long as we factor these and stay clear of artificially imposed conditionalities, our attempt in shaping the post 2015 narrative would be in right earnest," he said.

On UNDP, he said that if the mandate of poverty eradication is to be given the highest priority, then resources committed in programming activities towards addressing this global challenge must also be duly accorded the highest or proportionate quantum.

India welcomed the review of UNDP's Evolution Policy, which has been recently conducted but said that the very purpose of any evaluation exercise is defeated if there is no compliance with any of its recommendations.

He said the international community must ensure and put in place, under the new Evalution policy being drafted, a mechanism for regular and time-bound compliance with the findings and recommendations of the evaluation reports.

He added that the crafting of a new evaluation policy should first take into account views and submissions of the Executive Board members rather than solely basing it itself on inputs of the management. "We would request that member States are consulted in the formulation of the new draft evaluation policy, which is currently under preparation," he said.

He said UNDP's strengths and capabilities are immense and if tapped to the fullest, the agency is the biggest force multiplier arm of the UN development system, which can help decimate poverty.