In sensible phrases, South-South cooperation is a course of whereby creating nations – no matter their precise geographical location – search to attain their particular person or shared improvement targets by the trade of data, expertise, and sources, in partnerships involving governments, regional organisations, civil society, academia, and the non-public sector.
The experiences and targets of most nations in what is called the World South, intersect as they proceed to chart their post-colonial future and try to fulfill the event wants of their individuals.
In recognition of mutual cooperation between these nations, the UN established the UN Workplace for South-South Cooperation (UNOSSC) in 1974, supporting these efforts on the worldwide stage and throughout the UN system.
Dima Al-Khatib talking on South-South and triangular sharing of experiences and modern approaches in multi-dimensional analysis, throughout a convention at FAO Headquarters in Rome, Italy.
Pioneering innovators
Forward of the Worldwide Day for South-South Cooperation, marked on 12 September, UNOSSC Director Dima Khatib informed UN Information that nations of the South – dwelling to 80 per cent of the world’s inhabitants – possess large ranges of untapped human and pure sources, and large potential to drive improvement ahead.
“We consider that nations within the World South not solely have challenges but additionally have options and improvements and we should help, encourage, and spotlight their pioneering function in these areas,” she declares.
Nonetheless, the challenges are actual and daunting, together with rising geopolitical tensions, debt burdens, a widening digital divide, and social complexities, at a time of declining humanitarian and improvement funding from developed nations.
This harsh panorama is motivating creating nations to search for improvement financing by cooperating extra intently with one another.
Ms. Khatib factors to latest research carried out by her workplace that reveal that South-South cooperation has the potential to alter the financial equation, create jobs, and construct native capability, in nations starting from Ethiopia, to Paraguay, Rwanda and others.
Shot of a 100% electrical bus close to Expo Metropolis in Dubai United Arab Emirates, the place the UN Local weather Change Convention (COP28) is beneath method.
Thrilling potential within the Center East
Within the Center East, it’s bearing fruit in areas comparable to renewable vitality, digital transformation, and local weather change adaptation. For instance, Morocco’s expertise with large-scale photo voltaic farms has been used as a mannequin for renewable vitality initiatives in components of sub-Saharan Africa.
Ms. Al-Khatib says that Gulf nations should not solely offering monetary help in instances of disaster however have additionally change into leaders in sharing their experience.
She factors to Saudi Arabia, which shares its in depth expertise in seawater purification with nations dealing with drought, and Masdar Metropolis within the United Arab Emirates, which conducts analysis – and develops capabilities that profit nations within the World South.
The UN official additionally notes that the Islamic Improvement Financial institution has been a key driver of progress, facilitating data trade amongst its 57 member states and supporting initiatives comparable to superior irrigation applied sciences, sustainable agriculture, and climate-resilient infrastructure.
A driving power for multilateralism
Ms. Khatib notes that nations within the World South should not solely coming collectively, but additionally demonstrating their skill to take the lead, citing the India-UN Improvement Partnership Fund and the India-Brazil-South Africa Fund, each of that are hosted by UNOSSC.
She emphasises that this demonstrates the ability of collective motion and sends a robust message that cross-border cooperation is each attainable and efficient.
Amid the tense worldwide political local weather the world is witnessing immediately, South-South cooperation is usually a driving power for renewing and strengthening multilateralism, however it isn’t a substitute for cooperation between all nations.
The senior UN official says there might be no divide between the nations of the World North and the World South, however fairly, “we should construct bridges,” a activity to which the United Nations is properly suited, given its core mandate to deal with all nations equally.
Quay cranes on docks in Sri Lanka. The worldwide financial system is critically depending on the worldwide service provider fleet of carriers and tankers to maintain commodities shifting swiftly, safely and effectively.
