New UN China and Rockefeller Foundation Collaboration To Advance Climate Solutions in Africa and Asia

NEW YORK | October 18, 2024 ― The United Nations (UN) in China today announced a new policy development and knowledge exchange effort within the South-South cooperation framework. With a US$100,000 grant from The Rockefeller Foundation, the UN in China will host a series of dialogues to build climate capacity and increase financing for climate action in Africa and Asia. In collaboration with governments, UN entities, and other relevant stakeholders in the Global South, these dialogues will focus on the relationship between climate change and cross-cutting issues such as food security, energy, and health, with the goal of advancing cross-regional solutions.

The grant comes amid increasing efforts from the UN in China to advance its Cooperation Framework by leveraging China’s capabilities through global partnerships that accelerate efforts to achieve the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). It also builds upon previous collaboration with The Rockefeller Foundation to support the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation and host a series of dialogues.

L to R: Deepali Khanna, Vice President – Asia, The Rockefeller Foundation; Siddharth Chatterjee, United Nations Resident Coordinator in China; Elizabeth Yee, Executive Vice President of Programs, The Rockefeller Foundation; Natalye Paquin, Chief Operating Officer, The Rockefeller Foundation.

Mr. Siddharth Chatterjee, UN Resident Coordinator in China, said, “With the SDGs at risk, a world on fire cannot afford to be divided. Today, we enter a new partnership with The Rockefeller Foundation to help us convene, connect and catalyze partnerships that will deliver climate action and leave no one behind.”

Dialogues supported by the grant are also expected to follow up on outcomes of last September’s Summit of the Future, including implementation of the Pact for the Future, an inter-governmentally negotiated, action-oriented pact with chapters on five key areas, including sustainable development and financing for development.

The Rockefeller Foundation through its Asia Regional Office is supporting a series of efforts that boost capacity and capital mobilization, while enhancing Global South leadership to meet the needs of vulnerable communities. This includes developing and driving development solutions, through its history of working with the UN in China to advance shared priorities such as climate action.

Ms. Deepali Khanna, Vice President, Asia Regional Office, The Rockefeller Foundation, said, “This grant reflects our commitment to strengthening climate resilience, particularly in the Global South, by fostering partnerships that harness expertise, knowledge, and resources across borders. Through this collaboration with the UN in China, we aim to support impactful dialogues and policy development that will empower nations to drive climate action, enhance food security, and safeguard the health and well-being of vulnerable communities.”

Outcome documents from the activities supported by this collaboration will also be produced in the months ahead.

About The Rockefeller Foundation

The Rockefeller Foundation is a pioneering philanthropy built on collaborative partnerships at the frontiers of science, technology, and innovation that enable individuals, families, and communities to flourish. We make big bets to promote the well-being of humanity. Today, we are focused on advancing human opportunity and reversing the climate crisis by transforming systems in food, health, energy, and finance. For more information, sign up for our newsletter at www.rockefellerfoundation.org/subscribe and follow us on X @RockefellerFdn and LI @the-rockefeller-foundation.

About the United Nations in China

The United Nations (UN) has been a trusted development partner of China for over 40 years. The UN in China seeks to consistently build upon its position as a key partner, most notably by creating and reinforcing partnerships for the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals in line with national development priorities. For more information, visit china.un.org or follow us @UNinChina on X (Twitter).