Stakeholders in an India-UN Development Partnership Fund project in Fiji, focusing on developing a climate disaster risk financing framework and parametric insurance.
 
In recognition of the continued importance of South-South cooperation, the United Nations General Assembly, in its resolution 58/220, endorsed the observation of the United Nations Day for South-South Cooperation. 12 September marks the adoption of the 1978 Buenos Aires Plan of Action (BAPA), a pivotal framework for technical cooperation among developing countries.

By Omar Hilale and Dima Al-Khatib
NEW YORK, Sep 15 2025 (IPS)

As the United Nations commemorated the UN Day for South-South Cooperation last Friday, we are reminded that solidarity among the countries of the Global South is not just a matter of history or principle, but a proven pathway to building a fairer, more sustainable future.

This year’s commemoration took place at a defining moment.

We are past the midpoint of the 2030 Agenda, yet global progress is lagging. More than 800 million people still live in extreme poverty. Many developing countries continue to spend more on debt servicing than on essential public services like health, education, or infrastructure.

At the same time, shared crises – climate change, food insecurity, digital divides, conflict, and systemic inequalities – are colliding and compounding what the Secretary-General has called a polycrisis.

And yet, South-South and triangular cooperation are emerging as beacons of resilience and collective action. They are not abstract concepts, but vibrant modalities driving innovation, scaling tested solutions, and ensuring ownership by the communities most affected by today’s challenges. They show us that every nation – regardless of income level – has something to contribute to our common future.

Across the Global South, we see powerful examples of solutions that are both home-grown and widely adaptable. Through peer-to-peer learning and solidarity, countries are advancing digital transformation, expanding access to health coverage, creating resilient food systems, and mobilizing innovative financing such as blended finance, debt swaps, and impact investments.

Triangular cooperation – where Southern-led initiatives are complemented by the expertise of developed-country partners or multilateral actors – is amplifying these results, connecting experiences across regions and continents.

UNOSSC is providing best practices, offering peer-to-peer learning and innovation to connect and scale these efforts. Our South-South Galaxy makes tested solutions accessible to policymakers, practitioners, and development partners worldwide.

These range from climate adaptation strategies in Small Island Developing States to sustainable agriculture innovations in Africa and Latin America. Our new South-South and Triangular Cooperation Solutions Lab is incubating promising ideas and linking them with partners and financing mechanisms to achieve impact at scale.

But we must go further. At the 22nd Session of the High-level Committee on South-South Cooperation earlier this year, Member States made clear that the financing gap remains a critical obstacle. They called for sustained, predictable resources — and for the UN system itself to design innovative financing windows that align with the scale of ambition required.

Meeting this call to action is essential if South-South and triangular cooperation are to reach their full potential. As the primary intergovernmental body guiding South-South cooperation within the United Nations, the High-level Committee plays a vital role in shaping global policies, mobilizing political will, and ensuring that the voices of the Global South are heard at the highest levels. Its leadership is indispensable to driving collective action and fostering equitable partnerships.

The theme of the 2025 United Nations Day for South-South Cooperation – New Opportunities and Innovation through South-South and Triangular Cooperation – resonated deeply. It reflected the choice before us: to recommit and reimagine partnerships that leave no one behind, and to harness the creativity, leadership, and resilience of the Global South to transform today’s challenges into tomorrow’s opportunities.

As we marked this Day, we called on all partners and stakeholders – governments, international institutions, the UN family, civil society, and the private sector – to join hands in strengthening South-South and triangular cooperation. We must scale up what works, deepen cross-regional ties, and invest in institutional architecture that enables collaboration, innovation, and resilience.

The stakes could not be higher. But with an economically empowered and innovative Global South, we can pave the way toward a more just, inclusive, and sustainable future.

As we marked the United Nations Day for South-South Cooperation last week, let us celebrate the spirit of solidarity that unites us – and let us recommit to making it the force that carries us forward to 2030 and beyond.

Omar Hilale is Ambassador of Morocco and President of the 22nd session of the High-level Committee on South-South Cooperation; and Dima Al-Khatib is Director of the United Nations Office for South-South Cooperation.

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UNOSSC Director Dima Al-Khatib addresses the 21st Session of the High-level Committee on South-South Cooperation last year. UNOSSC serves as the Secretariat of the High-level Committee. Credit: UNTV
 
The 22nd session of the High-level Committee on South-South Cooperation will be convened 27-30 May 2025 to review progress made in implementing the Buenos Aires Plan of Action for Promoting and Implementing Technical Cooperation among Developing Countries, the New Directions Strategy, the Nairobi outcome document of the High-level United Nations Conference on South-South Cooperation and the Buenos Aires outcome document of the second High-level United Nations Conference on South-South Cooperation (BAPA+40).

By Dima Al-Khatib
UNITED NATIONS, May 26 2025 (IPS)

With just five years to 2030, the world stands at a pivotal juncture. The collective promises of our 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development – to end poverty, protect the planet, and ensure prosperity for all – remain urgent and vital. Yet, progress is uneven, and in many areas, we risk falling short.

Amid this global uncertainty, we must look not only at what is faltering, but also where the rays of hope are shine.

South-South and triangular cooperation brings hope.

Across continents and oceans, developing countries are rising – together. They are innovating, collaborating, and forging new paths toward sustainable development. It is in this context that the 22nd session of the High-level Committee on South-South Cooperation convenes under the theme: “Accelerating the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development: South-South Cooperation as a Driver for Transformation.”

This theme is not only timely; it is inspiring. South-South cooperation has emerged as a dynamic force, reshaping the global development landscape and offering new pathways to shared prosperity. It is a testament to the ingenuity, solidarity, and resilience of countries of the Global South – powerful agents of change.

Addressing Shared Challenges Through Collective Action

The world today faces complex, interconnected crises: persistent poverty, widening inequalities, the climate emergency, and the lingering impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic, among others. These challenges do not know borders, and no country can tackle them alone. South-South cooperation offers a powerful model for collective action – one that is inclusive, adaptable, and rooted in the lived experiences of developing countries.

A recent example is the African Union’s Peace Fund, which allocated $7 million to support peace initiatives in Burkina Faso, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, and other countries facing instability.¹ This commitment demonstrates how regional organizations of the Global South are mobilizing resources and expertise to address development challenges through solidarity and shared responsibility.

By supporting knowledge sharing and capacity-building activities, among others, the Peace Fund is helping to lay the groundwork for sustainable development and regional stability.

South-South cooperation also thrives in sectoral partnerships. For instance, Brazil and India have collaborated on satellite technology to monitor deforestation and boost agricultural production, while Mexico has invested in food security and job creation programs in Honduras and El Salvador, benefitting over 40,000 people.² These efforts underscore the diversity and adaptability of South-South solutions.

Leveraging Innovation and Digital Transformation

The digital divide continues to deepen. Over 2.6 billion people – most of them women and girls – remain offline, excluded from education, healthcare, and economic opportunity.

The promise of digital transformation must not become the privilege of the few. This is why South-South cooperation matters now more than ever.

Across the Global South, countries are harnessing digital technologies to leapfrog traditional development barriers. For example, AI is being deployed to strengthen early warning systems for climate resilience in Dominica, to improve crop forecasting with satellite data in Kenya, and to support multilingual education platforms in India.

In Brazil, AI is helping optimize public health responses, while Rwanda is using AI-driven tools to expand financial services to rural communities. When developed and deployed ethically, AI can offer scalable, low-cost solutions tailored to local realities.

UNOSSC’s South-South Galaxy platform is a living repository of such solutions, connecting practitioners and policymakers; and the South-South and Triangular Cooperation Solutions Lab is incubating and scaling up successful initiatives. From mobile banking in East Africa to e-governance initiatives in Asia, digital transformation is expanding opportunities and empowering communities.

Science, technology, and innovation (STI) are great equalizers – if we ensure equitable access. Artificial Intelligence holds enormous potential to transform development: optimizing crop yields, predicting disease outbreaks, advancing renewable energy. But it also brings real risks – of deepening inequality, displacing jobs, and eroding trust.

To ensure AI and frontier technologies serve people and planet, we must shape them with inclusive governance, ethical foresight, and robust international cooperation.

South-South and triangular partnerships are critical to this effort. By pooling resources, knowledge, and talent, countries in the Global South can leapfrog outdated systems and build resilient, inclusive digital economies. The Havana Declaration, adopted by the Group of 77 and China, underscored this collective commitment to harnessing STI for sustainable development.

The Transformative Power of South-South Cooperation

South-South cooperation is grounded in mutual respect, solidarity, and partnership. It is about countries with similar challenges and aspirations coming together to find solutions that work in their own contexts. Across the Global South, we see a myriad of homegrown innovations that are making a tangible difference. UNOSSC is proud to mandate trust funds that are scaling up these innovations.

The United Nations Fund for South-South Cooperation stands a beacon of this spirit. Over the past 30 years, 47 government entities have contributed to the Fund. Working in partnership with 45 United Nations entities, projects and initiatives supported by the Fund have reached over 70 countries and benefited people in 155 countries and territories globally — strengthening institutions, building capacity, and fostering lasting cooperation.

For example, thanks to the partnership with the Government of China, under the Global Development Initiative, over 1,000 development practitioners from 100+ countries have been trained in cross-border e-commerce and digitalization.

Since its establishment in 2017, the India-UN Development Partnership Fund has supported more than 75 demand-driven, transformational projects in 56 developing countries, with a strong focus on Least Developed Countries and Small Island Developing States. Its initiatives range from strengthening climate resilience in Pacific Island nations, to expanding renewable energy in Africa, and supporting pandemic response in the Caribbean.

During the COVID-19 crisis, the India-UN Fund quickly mobilized resources to provide medical supplies and personal protective equipment to 15 countries, demonstrating the speed and responsiveness that South-South cooperation can deliver in times of crisis.

Similarly, the IBSA Fund – a unique partnership among India, Brazil, and South Africa – has supported over 40 projects in more than 35 countries, focusing on poverty reduction, food security, access to clean water, education, and gender equality.

In Haiti, the IBSA Fund supported the construction of community health centers and the establishment of a solid waste management system, directly benefiting thousands of vulnerable people. In Sierra Leone, the Fund contributed to the rehabilitation of agricultural infrastructure, boosting food security and livelihoods in rural communities.

These projects are concrete expressions of solidarity and South-South learning, designed to be replicable and scalable across the developing world.

The Group of 77/Pérez-Guerrero Trust Fund for South-South Cooperation (PGTF), established by the United Nations in 1983, has been instrumental in promoting economic and technical collaboration among developing nations. Over the past four decades, the PGTF has supported over 400 projects benefiting 140+ countries, focusing on areas such as food security, renewable energy, trade, and technology.

For instance, in Uruguay, the PGTF facilitated refurbishment of small hydropower centers, enhancing access to sustainable energy in rural communities. Among others, in Africa, the Fund is supporting projects that strengthen food systems and empower women-led cooperatives.

By providing seed funding and fostering partnerships, the PGTF exemplifies principles of South-South cooperation, promoting shared knowledge and collective self-reliance among nations of the Global South.

The Role of Triangular Cooperation

While South-South cooperation is led and owned by developing countries, it is further strengthened through triangular cooperation – partnerships that bring together countries of the South, traditional donors, and multilateral organizations. These collaborations combine resources, expertise, and networks, amplifying the impact of development efforts.

A recent UNDP publication showcases how these partnerships are delivering results in environmental protection, disaster risk reduction, and gender equality, supporting global transformational shifts aligned to the SDGs.³

A notable example – with the support of the Republic of Korea – the UNOSSC PLINK initiative, focused on the Water-Energy-Food Nexus, is supporting vulnerable communities in the Lower Mekong Basin (Cambodia, Lao PDR, Thailand, and Viet Nam) to co-create and scale sustainable solutions to the compounding effects of climate change, unsustainable agriculture, and rapid urbanization. Such partnerships demonstrate the value of combining South-South leadership with global expertise.

To further institutionalize and expand the reach of such collaborations, UNOSSC has established a Triangular Cooperation Window under the United Nations Fund for South-South Cooperation (UNFSSC). Launched as a dedicated facility, the Triangular Cooperation Window is mobilizing resources, knowledge, and expertise from a wide range of stakeholders-including governments, UN entities, intergovernmental and non-governmental organizations, and private sector partners. Partnership to the Window has been provided by Colombia, Morocco, Portugal, and Spain.

A Call to Action

As we gather for the 22nd session of the High-level Committee on South-South Cooperation, and prepare for the 4th International Conference on Financing for Development, I urge all development partners and stakeholders to invest in the transformative potential of South-South and triangular cooperation.

Let us draw inspiration from the successes of the Global South and commit to sharing knowledge, building capacity, and mobilizing resources for sustainable development. Let us ensure that the voices and experiences of developing countries are at the heart of global decision-making.

¹ Report of the Secretary-General on Measures taken by United Nations organizations to implement decision 21/1 of the High-level Committee on South-South Cooperation through support for South-South and triangular cooperation to accelerate the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development SSC/22/2
² UNCTAD helps countries measure South-South cooperation
³ Strengthening South-South and Triangular Cooperation for People and Planet

Dima Al-Khatib is the Director of the United Nations Office for South-South Cooperation. She took up her duties as Director of UNOSSC on 1 March 2023. She is a Sustainable Development Professional bringing more than 25 years of leadership and management experience in several duty stations to her role. Prior to joining UNOSSC, Ms. Al-Khatib served as the UNDP Resident Representative in the Republic of Moldova. Prior to that, she held several positions including that of Programme and Policy Coordinator at the UNDP Regional Hub in Amman, UNDP Deputy Resident Representative in Kuwait, and UNDP Deputy Country Director in Libya.

Ms. Al-Khatib holds a Diplome d’Etudes Approfondies (DEA) in Environmental Health from the Lebanese University and France University of Bordeaux II, and a Bachelor of Science and a Teaching Diploma in Environmental Health from the American University of Beirut. Dima Al-Khatib tweets at @dimaalkhatib

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Credit: United Nations

By Dima Al-Khatib
UNITED NATIONS, Sep 12 2024 (IPS)

The annual United Nations Day for South-South Cooperation, commemorated annually on September 12, serves as a powerful reminder of the spirit of solidarity and cooperation that transcends geographic borders — a spirit that is crucial for securing a better and thriving future for all. In a world facing cross-cutting challenges, the importance of this South-South solidarity cannot be overstated.

We are now at a pivotal moment in our journey towards the 2030 Agenda. Regrettably, our progress has been far from satisfactory. Only 17 per cent of the Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) targets are on track to be achieved. Nearly half of the targets show minimal or moderate progress, and alarmingly, progress on over a third of them has stalled or even regressed.

These figures are not just numbers; they represent lives, futures, and the hope of billions around the world.

The global landscape is increasingly marked by a growing number of conflicts, escalating geopolitical and trade tensions, and the devastating impacts of climate change. These challenges have placed the SDGs in serious jeopardy, and it is the world’s most vulnerable populations who are bearing the brunt of these crises. In this context, the potential of South-South cooperation and triangular cooperation to catalyze progress towards the SDGs has never been more critical.

As we look ahead to the Summit of the Future, the commemoration of the United Nations Day for South-South Cooperation offers us a timely opportunity to reflect on the progress we have made together through this modality. More importantly, it compels us to recognize the vast potential that South-South cooperation holds in building a more equitable and sustainable future.

South-South cooperation is no longer a peripheral concept; it is now widely recognized as a powerful vehicle that fosters inclusive growth, mutual learning, and shared success.

Across the developing world, we are witnessing remarkable strides in resilience building, innovation, and collaboration. These achievements demonstrate that by mobilizing international solidarity and forging global partnerships through South-South and triangular cooperation, we can accelerate the achievement of the SDGs.

Dima Al-Khatib, Director of the United Nations Office for South-South Cooperation

This potential has been highlighted in numerous global discussions and summits, both within the United Nations and beyond. Whether the focus is on Least Developed Countries, Small Island Developing States, Middle-Income Countries, water, or trade, the message is clear: South-South cooperation is delivering results.

We are seeing incredible successes in the Global South, from improving health systems and enhancing agricultural productivity to advancing education and technology.

Consider the Republic of Congo, which is drawing on Brazil’s expertise in family farming and school feeding programs to improve food security and nutrition. Or Cuba, whose medical professionals have been on the frontlines, combatting disease across the South.

In the Pacific, UNESCO is facilitating exchanges among countries like Fiji, the Marshall Islands, Samoa, Solomon Islands, Tonga, Tuvalu, and Vanuatu to build teachers’ capacities. These are just a few examples of how countries of the Global South are not only sharing knowledge and resources, but are also building enduring partnerships that transcend borders.

The United Nations Office for South-South Cooperation (UNOSSC) plays a pivotal role in promoting, coordinating, and supporting these efforts globally and within the UN system. Our work involves identifying synergies and promoting collaboration between partners to attain all internationally agreed development goals.

One of the key tools we have developed in this endeavor is the South-South Galaxy — a digital platform that offers more than 950 Southern-grown SDG good practices. These practices are available to all countries for experience sharing and scaling up, providing a wealth of knowledge that has already lifted millions out of poverty and contributed to a more equitable world.

The South-South and Triangular Cooperation Solutions Lab, hosted on the same platform, is another innovative initiative. This Lab has begun incubating and testing scalable South-South and triangular cooperation solutions, driving forward new ways to tackle the complex challenges we face.

Our South-South Trust Funds are another testament to the solidarity of Southern partners. For example, the Government of India has channeled over $55.5 million into 63 projects that support sustainable development across more than 30 Small Island Developing States through the India-UN Development Partnership Fund.

Similarly, the IBSA Fund — supported by India, Brazil, and South Africa — continues to leverage the tried-and-tested power of South-South and triangular cooperation to bring tangible improvements to the daily lives of people across the globe. From providing safe drinking water to 12,000 people in Cabo Verde to developing a national universal health insurance program in Grenada, these initiatives showcase the impact of collaborative efforts.

Triangular cooperation – where South-South cooperation is supported by a developed country(ies) or multilateral organization(s) – also plays a critical role. For instance, the Republic of Korea and the Mekong River Commission are working together to share science and technology know-how, implementing the water, food, and energy nexus for vulnerable communities in Cambodia, Lao PDR, Thailand, and Viet Nam.

Later this year, we will launch a dedicated Triangular Cooperation Window to optimize this modality of support and enhance the sharing of experiences among partners.

Despite these achievements, we recognize that significant work remains ahead. We are navigating a world shaped by new and complex global challenges — what some have called a poly-crisis.

Climate change, economic uncertainties, debt injustice, conflict, and the ongoing recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic continue to test our resilience. Yet, I remain confident that through South-South and triangular cooperation, we can turn these challenges into opportunities for transformative equitably change.

On this United Nations Day for South-South Cooperation, I call on all stakeholders — including governments, our UN family, civil society, academia and the private sector — to join hands in strengthening South-South cooperation. Let us commit to expanding partnerships, deepening our collaborations, and ensuring that no one is left behind.

Together, we can achieve the Sustainable Development Goals and build a future that is prosperous, inclusive, and sustainable for all.

Please join us!

Dima Al-Khatib is the Director of the United Nations Office for South-South Cooperation. She took up her duties as Director of UNOSSC on 1 March 2023. She is a Sustainable Development Professional bringing more than 25 years of leadership and management experience in several duty stations to her role.

Ms. Al-Khatib holds a Diplome d’Etudes Approfondies (DEA) in Environmental Health from the Lebanese University and France University of Bordeaux II, and a Bachelor of Science and a Teaching Diploma in Environmental Health from the American University of Beirut. Dima Al-Khatib tweets at @dimaalkhatib1

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