South-South cooperation is essential to achieving sustainable development goals
South-South Cooperation (SSC), born of shared experience and founded on solidarity, enables developing countries to effectively mitigate and adapt to the effects of climate change, address global health emergencies, and pay specific attention to other cross-cutting objectives. It is a collaborative effort between developing countries to address common development challenges by sharing resources, best practices and expertise.
In light of the mid-term progress made in implementing the goals of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, it is alarming to note that countries are on track for only 15% of the targets. However, South-South cooperation can make a significant contribution to closing this gap. Developing countries are increasingly drawing on the UN system to support this cooperation, notably by contributing to CSS trust funds managed by the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs.s by the United Nations Office for South-South Cooperation (UNOSSC), which have enabled 70 countries to promote sustainable development initiatives, working in partnership with over 20 UN agencies.
The challenges ahead may seem insurmountable, but on this United Nations Day for South-South Cooperation (September 12), UN Secretary-General António G.António Guterres reminds us that "when nations unite, they can overcome obstacles and accelerate sustainable development". By strengthening our solidarity and partnership with other developing nations, we can overcome adversity together.
Unleashing South-South potential
Southern countries, working in collaboration with Northern partners and the United Nations, can multiply and optimize their sustainable development successes by coordinating their efforts and benefiting from economies of scale.
We have a collective responsibility to build bridges and take urgent practical steps to increase the successes and lessons learned from South-South cooperation.
In these turbulent times, and especially since the COVID-19 pandemic has highlighted societal inequalities and exacerbated inequalities, we have truly seen the power of South-South partnership. We were proud to note many examples of South-South cooperation in action: countries providing medical aid and expertise to their neighbors, harnessing mutual knowledge resources, establishing humanitarian and trade corridors, hosting refugees and sharing joint research, among other actions. Such solidarity reminds us of the power of South-South cooperation to overcome even the most daunting obstacles, in all thematic fields.
Knowledge sharing and capacity building
Sharing knowledge is at the heart of South-South cooperation, as it enables us to understand what works and what doesn't when faced with common challenges. Through a mutual exchange of expertise in agriculture, science, technology, innovation or business, to name but a few, developing nations can improve their capacity for innovation and problem-solving.
For example, the Galaxie Sud-Sud platform, managed by the United Nations Office for South-South Cooperation, presents a range of proven South-South and triangular solutions. Currently, it includes a repository of over 900 development solutions addressing a wide range of cross-cutting development challenges across all the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and multiple thematic areas. It is open to all stakeholders for the exchange of solutions and their possible scaling-up.
The United Nations Office for South-South Cooperation, which works in collaboration with 30 UN entities, has drawn up a Strategy for South-South and Triangular Cooperation for Development. to promote a coordinated and coherent approach to the UN's programmatic work. It also deploys a new set of guidelines at country and regional levels to consolidate South-South and triangular cooperation in UN planning instruments.
The South-South Trust Funds, managed by the United Nations Office for South-South Cooperation, also encourage innovation and replication of successful initiatives, notably through replicable demonstration projects, that expandfinancial inclusion through pro-poor climate insurance schemes, develop e-learning for health, and enable vulnerable communities to make digital payments for public micro-services.
Encouraging economic partnership
Promoting economic partnerships will also create an interconnected network of trade relationships that will strengthen regional markets while supporting the development of global partnerships. The United Nations has facilitated the establishment of economic partnerships and regional trade agreements between developing countries, strengthening their economic resilience and self-reliance. For example, the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development has actively supported regional trade spaces and facilitated trade capacity-building initiatives, enabling developing countries to exploit their economic potential and strengthen their international trade relations. These partnerships not only stimulate economic growth, but also create opportunities for sharing economic strategies that prioritize sustainability and inclusion.
The international community must find ways to strengthen coordination on transparency and debt restructuring, particularly for countries in debt distress.
What is needed is to mobilize new and additional public resources to finance the SDGs. To this end, the Secretary-General of the United Nations has proposed a stimulus plan for the SDGs to the tune of $500 billion a year.
We need to channel these resources to countries that find themselves in particular conditions and face immense challenges specific to these conditions, for example, landlocked developing countries (LLDCs). We have the opportunity to contribute to the development of the successor to the Vienna Programme of Action (due to expire in 2024), by leveraging South-SouthSouth-South cooperation to help these countries overcome the obstacles of remoteness and distance from world markets. Increased investment in infrastructure development and technical support to build human and productive capacity will be essential for these countries, which are lagging behind on many sustainable development goals.
Climate justice
The quest for climate justice is another urgent area in which South-South cooperation must be harnessed. Developing countries are bearing the brunt of climate change. Through cooperative efforts, we can pool our resources and expertise to better adapt to it, and seek sustainable alternative energy sources.
The United Nations has played a key role in promoting South-South cooperation on climate change mitigation and adaptation. Through collaborative efforts, countries in the South pool their resources to develop and adopt technologies that mitigate these effects and promote sustainable growth.
It is essential to honor commitments to the proposed Loss and Damage Fund, double adaptation funding and replenish the Green Climate Fund.
Education and skills development
Finally, education and skills development are essential to achieving the SDGs. By collaborating on educational initiatives and sharing best practices in skills development, we can prepare generations to meet future challenges while ensuring social inclusion and progress. The United Nations has supported South-South cooperation in education by facilitating student exchanges, sharing educational resources and promoting training programs. In Nicaragua, for example, the India-United Nations Partnership Fund for Development and the United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF) have strengthened institutional capacities for integrating disabled children into the education system. The project has led to the creation of the country's first Master's degree in inclusive education, as well as infrastructure improvements in 15 schools that now serve as prototypes for scaling-up. In Viet Nam, an IBSA Fund project, administered by the World Health Organization, is implementing an innovative e-learning approach in coastal and rural communities.
These efforts are enabling developing countries to build a skilled workforce and strengthen human capital, laying the foundations for sustainable economic progress.
The way forward
As we celebrate UN Day for South-South Cooperation and prepare for the SDG and Climate Ambition Summits (New York, September 18, 19 and 20, 2023 respectively), the twenty-eighth Conference of the Parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (COP 28) (Dubai, United Arab Emirates, November 30 to December 12, 2023) and other future events, it is essential that we recognize that our path to the SDGs requires unity, understanding and partnership. South-South cooperation is essential to unlock the potential of every nation involved in this common endeavor.
The UN's contributions to South-South cooperation have been instrumental in helping developing countries achieve the SDGs. Through knowledge sharing, capacity building, economic partnerships, climate change mitigation and other initiatives, the United Nations has fostered a spirit of collaboration and solidarity among the nations of the South. In our increasingly interconnected world, South-South cooperation remains an essential element in achieving sustainable development and prosperity for all.
The Organization's ongoing commitment to supporting these efforts is vital to building a more inclusive, equitable and sustainable future.
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Source: www.un.org/
