SDF Board holds its 41st Meeting in Colombo

20 November 2025 – The 41st Meeting of the SAARC Development Fund (SDF) Board of Directors was held in a hybrid format – in-person in Colombo, Sri Lanka, and via video conference – on 20 November 2025. Board Directors from the Member States joined the session to review progress and discuss strategic priorities.

The Meeting was opened by the Chairperson of the Board, Member from Bangladesh. During the session, the Member from Bhutan was appointed as the new Chairperson of the SDF Board.

The Board extended its appreciation to the outgoing Chair for his leadership and efforts in strengthening SDF’s governance and operational processes, and welcomed the new SDF Board Chair. The Officer-in-Charge of SDF also welcomed the Board Directors and acknowledged the contributions of the Chair during his tenure.

During the meeting, the Board deliberated on a range of strategic issues related to the Secretariat’s functions and the Fund’s project collaboration mandate. Members provided several directives to guide the Secretariat’s work and operational priorities. The Board also conveyed its appreciation to the Government of Sri Lanka for hosting the meeting.

Doha, Qatar | 6 November 2025 — Ambassador Md. Golam Sarwar, Secretary General of the South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC) delivered a compelling address at the Plenary Meeting of the Second World Summit for Social Development, held from 4–6 November 2025 in Doha, Qatar. The Summit convened under the theme: “Questions Relating to the World Social Situation and to Youth, Ageing, Persons with Disabilities and the Family.”

Representing the collective voice of South Asia, the Secretary General extended warm greetings and expressed deep appreciation to the State of Qatar and the United Nations for convening the Summit after three decades under a theme that places human dignity and inclusivity at its core.

In his address, the Secretary General emphasized South Asia’s demographic significance, being home to nearly one-fourth of humanity. He acknowledged both the region’s rich cultural heritage and the pressing social challenges it faces, including poverty, inequality, ageing populations, and the exclusion of marginalized groups.

Highlighting SAARC’s commitment to inclusive development, the Secretary General underscored the role of the SAARC Charter and the SAARC Social Charter (2004) in guiding regional cooperation across key social sectors. He noted tangible progress in areas such as poverty reduction, gender equality, literacy, and life expectancy, attributing these gains to shared experiences and collaborative policy frameworks among SAARC Member States.

The Secretary General spotlighted youth as South Asia’s greatest asset, with nearly half the population under the age of twenty-five. Through initiatives like the SAARC Youth Charter and Youth Awards, the region is nurturing leadership, innovation, and entrepreneurship.

The Secretary General also reaffirmed SAARC’s commitment to supporting ageing populations through a forthcoming Plan of Action on the Elderly, aimed at promoting healthcare, income security, and intergenerational solidarity.

On the inclusion of persons with disabilities, the Secretary General noted that Member States are aligning national policies with the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities, advancing accessibility, inclusive education, and technology-driven empowerment.

Concluding his remarks, the Secretary General reaffirmed SAARC’s unwavering commitment to building societies that are inclusive, compassionate, and just. He called upon the international community to work in solidarity to ensure that every individual regardless of age, ability, or background can live with dignity, opportunity, and hope.

SAARC Secretariat
Kathmandu, 06 November 2025

Doha, 06 November 2025 – On the sidelines of the World Social Summit, Mr. Omar Abdi, Deputy Executive Director UNICEF met with Ambassador Md. Golam Sarwar, Secretary General of SAARC. The Secretary General and the Deputy Executive Director, UNICEF reaffirmed the longstanding and robust collaboration between SAARC and UNICEF. They engaged in constructive dialogue on avenues to further enhance cooperation in key areas including child protection, nutrition, education, health, and climate resilience.

The exchange underscored the critical need for a harmonized regional strategy to effectively address shared challenges impacting children, especially in the context of global disruptions and prevailing socio-economic inequalities.

This high-level engagement serves as a testament to the shared resolve of both organizations to foster collaborative efforts in addressing regional priorities, with a steadfast commitment to promoting inclusive development and ensuring that the rights and needs of every child are duly recognized and upheld.

Doha, Qatar | 5 November 2025 — Ambassador Md. Golam Sarwar, Secretary General of the South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC), attends the Second World Summit for Social Development held from 4-6 November 2025 in Doha, Qatar. Over 8,000 participants are at the World Social Summit 2025, including Heads of State, UN representatives, civil society, academia, private sector leaders, and youth.

Secretary General delivered a statement at the high-level Round Table discussion titled “Assessing progress and addressing gaps and challenges in the implementation of the commitments of the Copenhagen Declaration on Social Development and its Programme of Action and giving momentum towards the implementation of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.”

In his remarks, he highlighted SAARC’s Plan of Action on the 2030 Agenda, which aligns regional priorities with global goals. He underscored the role of SAARC’s specialized Centres and Working Groups in promoting data sharing, policy dialogue, and capacity building across Member States. He further emphasized SAARC’s close collaboration with UN agencies, including UNDP, FAO, WHO, UNFPA, and UNICEF to support evidence-based policymaking and strengthen regional cooperation mechanisms.

Secretary General stated “The people of South Asia one-fourth of humanity stand united in this vision. Through SAARC, we reaffirm our determination to build a region where every child is nourished, every adolescent is empowered, every woman is respected, and every individual can live with equality and hope.”

On the sidelines of the Summit, Secretary General will also hold bilateral meetings with the Heads of Delegation from UNICEF and Plan International Asia Pacific.