Launch of the SAWTEE Centre for Sustainable Development (SAWTEE-CSD)
On 6 August, the launch ceremony of the SAWTEE Centre for Sustainable Development (SAWTEE-CSD), which aims to promote sustainable and inclusive development in Nepal, was held in Kathmandu. A distinguished panel that included Hon. Mr. Pradeep Kumar Gyawali (Minister for Foreign Affairs) and Mr. Prakash Sharan Mahat (former Foreign Minister) launched the Centre amid participants that included policymakers, researchers, diplomats, and development partners.
SAWTEE-CSD, an independent, non-partisan research and advocacy institution, aspires to support accelerated, inclusive and sustainable development and structural transformation in Nepal, taking into account the convergence between the national development goals and the global development framework – SDGs. The Centre will be led by Mr. Gyan Chandra Acharya, former Under-Secretary-General of the United Nations; and former Foreign Secretary of Nepal.
The session was opened with welcome remarks by Dr. Posh Raj Pandey, Chairman of South Asia Watch on Trade, Economics and Environment (SAWTEE). He highlighted that the Centre would bring together politics, policies, and expertise – devoid of ideological content and material interest – through strictly adhering to scientific approach and non-partisan research.
The chair of the Centre, Mr. Gyan Chandra Acharya, elucidated the objectives and activities of the Centre. He pointed out that the Centre will initially focus on economic transformation in line with the SDG principles of inclusiveness, equity, sustainability, gender mainstreaming, multi-stakeholder approach, good governance and global partnership, while also looking at all the SDGs in an integrated manner.
Former Foreign Minister, Prakash Saran Mahat, in his speech, emphasized that Nepal’s Constitution envisages sustainable and inclusive development, but these noble goals could be attained only through rule-based implementation of the laws and rights provisioned by the Constitution.
The Chief Guest of the ceremony, Hon. Mr. Pradeep Kumar Gyawali, Minister for Foreign Affairs, congratulated SAWTEE for establishing the Centre and wished for its success. He underscored that Nepal has fully internalized the SDGs into the national policies and plans and remains committed to achieve SDGs by 2030. The next step is to mainstream and integrate them in the provincial and local level plans and programmes, said Hon. Pradeep Kumar Gyawali.
The attendees shared opinions, thoughts, and suggestions, and expressed optimism that the Centre would play a critical complementary role in Nepal’s pursuit of sustainable and inclusive development.
About SAWTEE Centre for Sustainable Development (SAWTEE-CSD)
Statement by Minister for Foreign Affairs, Hon. Mr. Pradeep Kumar Gyawali