PIB Summaries 22 February 2024

CONTENTS

1. IBSA Forum
2. Raisina Dialogue

IBSA Forum

Context:

Recently, India has contributed USD 1 million to a fund established by India, Brazil and South Africa.

Relevance:

GS II: International Relations

Dimensions of the Article:

1. IBSA Forum
2. IBSA Fund

 IBSA Forum

• The IBSA Forum is a trilateral development initiative between India, Brazil, and South Africa that aims to promote cooperation and solidarity among these three countries. Here is a breakdown of the different aspects of the IBSA Forum:
• The IBSA Forum was established in 2003 as a response to the need for closer cooperation among emerging market countries to promote development, reduce poverty, and address issues of global governance.
• The name IBSA comes from the first letter of each country’s name.

Objectives:

The main objectives of the IBSA Forum are to strengthen the South-South cooperation and promote the interests of developing countries in the global arena. Some of the specific objectives include:

• Enhancing cooperation in the areas of trade and investment, agriculture, science and technology, and information and communication technology.
• Promoting cooperation in multilateral fora such as the United Nations, the World Trade Organization, and the G20.
• Sharing experiences and best practices in areas such as poverty reduction, health, education, and social welfare.
• Supporting peacekeeping and conflict resolution efforts in different parts of the world.
• Promoting cultural exchanges and people-to-people contacts.

IBSA Fund

• Development projects are executed with IBSA funding in fellow developing countries through the IBSA Fund (India, Brazil and South Africa Facility for Poverty and Hunger Alleviation).
• Established in 2004, IBSA Fund is managed by the United Nations (UN) Office for South-South Cooperation (UNOSSC). Each IBSA member country is required to contribute $1 million per annum to the fund.
• Over the years, the fund has contributed $39 million and partnered in 19 countries from global South to implement 26 projects.
• Projects have been funded in countries such as Guinea Bissau, Sierra Leone, Cape Verde, Burundi, Cambodia, Haiti, Palestine, Vietnam and others.
• The fund has also been recognised for its good work in the field and has received UN South-South Partnership award 2006, UN MDG (Millenium Development Goals) award 2010, and the South-South and Triangular Cooperation Champions award in 2012.

Raisina Dialogue

Context:

The ninth edition of the Raisina Dialogue will be held from February 21 to 23rd in New Delhi.

Relevance:

GS II: International Relations

Raisina Dialogue Overview:

Annual Conference:

• Started in 2016.
• Hosted in New Delhi.

Purpose:

• Addresses challenging global issues in geopolitics and geoeconomics.

Participants:

• Involves individuals from political, business, media, and civil society backgrounds.
• Structured as a multi-stakeholder, cross-sectoral discussion.

Organizers:

• Conducted by the Observer Research Foundation (ORF) in partnership with the Ministry of External Affairs, Government of India.

Theme 2024:

• “Chaturanga: Conflict, Contest, Cooperate, Create.”

Thematic Pillars:

• Divided into six thematic pillars for discussion during the three-day conference:
  • Tech Frontiers: Regulations & Realities
  • Peace with the Planet: Invest & Innovate
  • War & Peace: Armouries & Asymmetries
  • Decolonising Multilateralism: Institutions & Inclusion
  • The Post 2030 Agenda: People & Progress
  • Defending Democracy: Society & Sovereignty.