As the umbrella regional financial institution for SAARC projects and programmes, SDF is dedicated to promoting regional integration and economic cooperation among the SAARC Member States through project funding and collaboration. Since its establishment in April 2010, our Secretariat in Thimphu, Bhutan, has been at the forefront of these efforts.
Operating across three funding windows – Social, Economic, and Infrastructure – SDF would has over 90 projects approved by the SDF Board and being implemented in all the Member States. These initiatives span various sectors, each aimed at catalyzing sustainable development and fostering regional cooperation. As a regional financial institution, our mandate is clear: to drive forward the principles of unity and progress within the SAARC community, and promote regional integration and economic cooperation.
To be the leading regional financial institution driving sustainable development, economic cooperation, and integration
To be the leading regional financial institution driving sustainable development, economic cooperation, and integration
To promote the welfare of the people in the SAARC region by enhancing their quality of life, accelerating economic growth
To promote the welfare of the people in the SAARC region by enhancing their quality of life, accelerating economic growth
Regional Cooperation: Fostering unity and collaboration among SAARC Member States to achieve common development goals.
Regional Cooperation: Fostering unity and collaboration among SAARC Member States to achieve common development goals.
Explore Our Funding Windows: Economic, Infrastructure and Social
The Social Window primarily funds projects, inter alia, on poverty alleviation, social development focusing on education; health; human resources development; support to vulnerable/disadvantaged segments of the society; funding needs of communities, micro-enterprises, rural infrastructure development. The projects are in line with regional consensus as reflected in the SAARC Social Charter, SAARC Development Goals, SAARC Plan of Action on Poverty Alleviation and other SAARC agreed and endorsed plans, programmes and instruments....
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The Economic Window primarily extends funding to non-infrastructural projects related to trade and industrial development, agriculture, service sector, science and technology and other non-infrastructure areas. It can also be utilized for identifying, studying, developing and /or sponsoring commercially viable programmes/projects of regional priority including their pre-feasibility and feasibility studies....
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The Infrastructure Windows primarily funds projects in areas such as energy, power, transportation, telecommunications, environment, tourism and other infrastructure areas....
Read MoreStay Updated: Latest News and Insights from the SAARC Development Fund
Kathmandu, 20 June 2025: The SAARC Development Fund (SDF), in collaboration with Save the Children’s...
Thimphu, Bhutan, 05 June 2025 – In observance of World Environment Day, the SAARC Development...
In Nepal, the SABAH project has led a quiet revolution, one that is measured in...
Thimphu, Bhutan, 9 December 2024 – The SAARC Development Fund (SDF) celebrated the 40th SAARC...
Himmafushi Island, Maldives - In November this year, a significant event took place in the...
Learn More About SDF Projects Across Member States
