30 November 2020, Colombo, Sri Lanka: The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and the United Nations Global Compact Network Sri Lanka (UNGCSL) recently signed a 4-year memorandum of understanding (MoU) to ensure urgent priority is given for public-private partnerships to accelerate Sri Lanka’s progress towards achieving the 2030 Agenda.

The MoU is an extension to the ongoing partnership and was signed by Mr. Robert Juhkam, Resident Representative of UNDP in Sri Lanka and Mr. Dilhan C. Fernando, Chairman of the UNGCSL with the presence of Mr. Rathika de Silva, Executive Director of UNGCSL.

Given its integrator role in the UN Development system, UNDP brings together partners, providing national policymakers with the tools to help align public and private investments. The alliance between UNDP and UNGCSL is integral at a time when UNDP is supporting the Government of Sri Lanka in advancing a sustainable development plan including financial strategies for COVID-19 recovery.

This Decade of Action, with only 10 years left to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), the partnership will ensure private sector engagement in carrying out projects that build green economies and strengthen national and local institutions and systems. The partnership will further ensure that businesses, including Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) are empowered and driven in their models to achieve the 2030 Agenda.