Revisiting South-South cooperation

Conclusions and recommendations

In the final part of the report under review, it is affirmed that South-South cooperation, with its collaborative approach, galvanized the political will of the Global South to get back on track to achieve the UN 2030 Agenda.

A few specific recommendations are formulated.We will summarize them by reminding that in this context the UN Secretary-General encourages all UN Member States to:

Facilitate the development of, and access to, appropriate technology and support digital transitions, as well as exchanges of innovative practices to protect the interests of present and future generations, and to incorporate science, artificial intelligence and data analytics into national and international development choices;

Prioritize and scale up South-South and triangular cooperation initiatives relating to the 1.9 billion young people, mostly in the Global South, to enhance their digital skills, employability and entrepreneurship, with the support of the United Nations development system, and consider establishing a South-South youth innovation fund to support youth-led sustainable development initiatives, foster innovation and enhance the meaningful engagement of young people in policymaking processes;

Strengthen the use of South-South cooperation ideals of multilateralism, solidarity and mutual interest to avoid divisions and conflicts through exchanges of successful conflict prevention and peace building strategies and peer mediation to address emerging security challenges, including cyberthreats.

A special appeal is addressed to the United Nations development system which is called upon to support Member States to enhance the establishment and development of platforms for innovation-sharing in education and pedagogical methods and leverage technological advancements through South-South and triangular cooperation.(pp.17-18)

The report concludes by stressing that it is essential that United Nations resident coordinators continue to spearhead the integration of South-South and triangular cooperation into the work of United Nations country teams.

On 5 September 2024 the UN Secretary-General declared :"South-South cooperation is essential to build capacities and drive progress on shared development goals – while in no way reducing the responsibilities of the Global North.On the same day he added : "This month's Summit of the Future in New York will be a pivotal opportunity for renewal and reform – anchored in solidarity and justice."

Indeed,the Summit of the Future, to be held on 22-23 September 2024, is expected to provide a useful vantage point from which to further accelerate the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals through support for South-South and triangular cooperation.

The results of the Summit might have the role of diplomatically influencing the temperature and the tone of deliberations during the actual consideration of the report presented in these pages. Hopefully, the debate will be finalized, as in the past, with the adoption of a consensus resolution able to contribute to strengthening the cooperation between the Global South and developed countries during a difficult period characterized by planetary vulnerabilities, perplexities and discontinuities.