NITI Aayog and the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) on Monday signed the Record of Discussions (RoD) for Phase II of the Japan–India Cooperative Actions towards Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), aimed at strengthening development interventions in Aspirational Districts and Blocks.
The agreement was signed in the presence of Rohit Kumar, Additional Secretary and Mission Director of the Aspirational Districts and Blocks Programme at NITI Aayog, and Takeuchi Takuro, Chief Representative, JICA India.
According to officials, the second phase of the project seeks to deepen India–Japan collaboration in achieving the SDGs, with a focus on institutional capacity-building and improving governance systems at the district and block levels.
Under the Aspirational Districts Programme (ADP) and Aspirational Blocks Programme (ABP), the initiative will work across six themes — global partnership, health and nutrition, education, agriculture and water resources, financial inclusion and skill development, and basic infrastructure.
The project will emphasise strengthening policy frameworks, improving monitoring and evaluation mechanisms, and localising SDGs through evidence-based planning and implementation.
Key activities include capacity-building exchanges, Japan–India knowledge forums, identification and dissemination of best practices, and targeted support to selected Aspirational Districts and Blocks.
Speaking on the occasion, Kumar said the partnership combines institutional strengths and field-level experience to accelerate inclusive development in underserved regions.
Takuro lauded the implementation of the ADP and ABP, noting that India’s district- and block-level monitoring systems are regarded as globally significant models. He said the initiative represents a mutually beneficial partnership that further deepens Japan–India cooperation.
