A two-day Consultative Workshop on "Contextualizing Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) in the SAARC Region and Revisiting the 2004 SAARC Plan of Action on Poverty Alleviation in light of the 2030 Development Agenda" kicked off this morning in Kathmandu. The event, hosted by the Government of Nepal, is supported by the Asian Development Bank (ADB) through financial and technical assistance.
Delegations from SAARC Member States, consisting of senior officials from ministries responsible for SDGs and poverty alleviation, as well as foreign ministries, are participating in the workshop. The key objective of the event is to assess the progress on the SDGs across the region and to realign the 2004 SAARC Plan of Action with the 2030 global agenda on sustainable development.
Prof. Dr. Shiva Raj Adhikari, Vice-Chairman of Nepal's National Planning Commission, delivered the opening address as the Chief Guest. He emphasized the importance of regional cooperation in achieving the SDGs, particularly in tackling poverty, climate change, and inequality in South Asia.
Mr. Dongxiang Li, Lead Regional Cooperation Specialist of ADB, shared his insights on regional development and cooperation, highlighting the need for a renewed focus on inclusive growth and sustainable solutions. Representing the SAARC Secretariat, Mr. Hari Odari, Director of Information and Poverty Alleviation, opened the workshop on behalf of the Secretary General of SAARC.
The workshop aims to enhance collaboration among SAARC nations in addressing shared challenges and to explore strategies that can accelerate the achievement of the SDGs in the region, with poverty alleviation at the core of the discussions.
The event marks a significant step forward in fostering regional dialogue on sustainable development and poverty reduction, aligning the SAARC region’s priorities with the global 2030 Agenda.
