Central Idea: The article provides an explanation of the UN Democracy Fund (UNDEF), its history and objectives, as well as the involvement of India and the United States in its establishment.

Why in news?

• There is a controversy surrounding the fund’s support for NGOs funded by George Soros, who is on a watchlist in India.
• He had alleged the Adani turmoil will weaken Indian politics and lead to a “democratic revival” in the country.

What is UN Democracy Fund?

• The UNDEF was established in 2005 with an initial contribution of $10 million each from the United States and India.
• Its aim is to support projects that strengthen the voice and participation of civil society, promote human rights, and encourage the development of democratic institutions and processes.
• It is funded entirely by voluntary contributions from member states and is governed by an advisory board composed of 16 members representing different regions of the world.

Role in promoting democracy and civil society

• UNDEF’s mission is to support projects that strengthen the voice and participation of civil society, promote human rights, and encourage the development of democratic institutions and processes.
• The fund solicits and receives up to 3,000 proposals from NGOs around the world each year.
• An advisory board considers these proposals and recommends proposals for approval by the Secretary-General.
• Between 30 to 50 projects are chosen every year, and in 15 rounds of funding so far, UNDEF has supported over 880 two-year projects in more than 130 countries.

India’s involvement in the governance of UNDEF

• India has been a member of the UNDEF advisory board since the fund’s inception.
• The board is composed of 16 members representing different regions of the world, and it includes the eight largest member state contributors and six other states to reflect diverse geographical representation, including one “small island” and developing states.
• It also has two individual members and two CSOs.
• The CSOs currently serving on the board include CIVICUS and Transparency, Accountability and Participation Network.

India’s involvement in the establishment of UNDEF

• India played a key role in the establishment of UNDEF as it was one of the founding members of the fund.
• In 2005, India’s then PM, Manmohan Singh, and US President George W. Bush announced the US-India Global Democracy Initiative, which included support for the UNDEF.
• India has contributed to the fund on several occasions since its inception, although its contributions have decreased in recent years.

Contradictions with UNDEF

• India’s relationship with UNDEF has been marked by contradictions.
• While India has supported the fund and contributed to it, it has also put George Soros on a watchlist in India while UNDEF has no objections to the fund giving grants to NGOs funded by Soros.
• This underscores a contradiction between the imperatives of the Modi government’s high table diplomacy and its domestic political ideology.
• It requires only Delhi to deploy a soft touch in the former while playing hardball at home for domestic audiences.

India’s contribution so far

• India has contributed to UNDEF on several occasions since its inception, although its contributions have decreased in recent years.
• India gave $5 million to the fund in 2005, 2006, 2008, 2009 and 2011, but no contribution was made in 2007 and 2010.
• The contributions began dipping from 2012, with the amount being $4.71 million that year.
• In 2014, India slashed its funding, contributing only $200,000 that year and in 2015.
• In 2016, it was a mere $50,000, and no contribution was made in 2017.
• In 2018 and 2019, India was back with $100,000, and in 2020, 2021 and 2022, it gave $150,000.

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