Dr Bilawal Kamran
The International Day for South-South Cooperation is a global observance that aims to celebrate and raise awareness of the benefits and potential of South-South cooperation, which is the collaboration among developing countries in various political, economic, social, cultural, environmental and technical domains. The day also highlights the achievements and challenges of South-South cooperation and the role of the United Nations in facilitating and supporting it.
South-South cooperation is based on the principles of solidarity, mutual respect, equality and non-interference, and it seeks to foster the self-reliance and creative capacity of developing countries to find solutions to their own development problems. South-South cooperation can also involve triangular cooperation, which is when traditional donor countries or multilateral organizations provide financial or technical assistance to facilitate South-South initiatives.
The International Day for South-South Cooperation was established by the United Nations General Assembly in 2014, following the adoption of the Buenos Aires Plan of Action for Promoting and Implementing Technical Cooperation among Developing Countries (BAPA) in 1978. The BAPA was a landmark document that recognized the importance of South-South cooperation as a complement to North-South cooperation in achieving the development goals of the Global South. The BAPA also established the United Nations Office for South-South Cooperation (UNOSSC) as the focal point for promoting and coordinating South-South cooperation within the UN system.
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The theme for the International Day for South-South Cooperation in 2023 is “From Commitment to Action — Follow up to Buenos Aires Plan of Action. This theme reflects the need to implement the commitments and recommendations adopted at the Second High-level United Nations Conference on South-South Cooperation (BAPA+40) held in Buenos Aires in March 2019. The BAPA+40 conference reaffirmed the relevance and value of South-South cooperation as a key modality for international development cooperation and an essential tool for achieving the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. The conference also identified priority areas and concrete actions for enhancing South-South cooperation, such as strengthening institutional frameworks, scaling up good practices, leveraging partnerships, mobilizing resources, enhancing knowledge sharing, and fostering innovation.
The International Day for South-South Cooperation is a valuable platform for showcasing the achievements and best practices of South-South cooperation, as well as for raising awareness and advocacy among various stakeholders, such as governments, civil society, the private sector, academia and media. The day also serves as an opportunity to foster dialogue and exchange among developing countries and their partners on how to enhance the effectiveness and impact of South-South cooperation.
The International Day for South-South Cooperation is also a reminder of the challenges and gaps that still exist in South-South cooperation, such as lack of adequate data and monitoring systems, insufficient coordination and harmonization mechanisms, limited institutional capacities and human resources, inadequate funding and financial mechanisms, uneven quality and sustainability of initiatives, and low visibility and recognition. The day can motivate developing countries and their partners to address these challenges and gaps through concrete actions and follow-up measures.
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The International Day for South-South Cooperation is aligned with the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, which recognizes South-South cooperation as an essential means of implementation for achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). The day can contribute to advancing the global partnership for sustainable development and promoting a more inclusive, equitable and balanced world order. The day can also highlight the potential of South-South cooperation to address emerging issues and challenges that affect developing countries, such as climate change, health pandemics, digital transformation, migration and displacement, peace and security, human rights and gender equality.
