The programme is a joint collaboration between the Government of India and UN Women, and part of the inter-ministerial Memorandum of Understanding between the governments of Norway and India. The purpose of this collaboration is to establish mutual cooperation and exchange ideas between the two countries on their experience in local governance.
With reservation for women at the local level more than a million women have come forward to become leaders in each round of election in India. Together with the state government UN Women will help empower elected women representatives in local governments.
- This is a very positive development from our perspective. It signifies that the project is on track in terms of government ownership and that we now have established working collaboration with the state governments under the programme. I congratulate both UN Women and the Government of Karnataka for this event. I have no doubt that moving forward, this will be a great partnership and we will see substantive results regarding gender equality and good governance, Minister Counselor Aslak Brun said with reference to the signing of the agreement.
Karnataka has a history of success regarding effective decentralization of authority, finances and resources to the local governments, and with this the state continues their frontline approach.
- We now have the building blocks for the collaboration in place, and the task before us is to transform this agreement into results on the ground. I look forward to a novel approach to the implementation of the programme in Karnataka and enhanced learning for all of us, Minister Counselor Aslak Brun concluded.