South-South Participation: An Engine for Transformational Modification in Attaining the 2030 Program
With just 5 years to 2030, the globe stands at a crucial juncture. The collective assurances of our 2030 Schedule for Sustainable Growth– to end destitution, secure the earth, and ensure success for all– remain urgent and vital. Yet, progress is uneven, and in numerous areas, we take the chance of failing. The 22nd session of the High-level Board on South-South Participation will certainly be convened from 27-30 May 2025 to assess progression made in implementing the Buenos Aires Strategy for Supporting and Implementing Technical Collaboration among Establishing Nations, the New Instructions Technique, the Nairobi outcome paper of the Top-level United Nations Meeting on South-South Cooperation and the Buenos Aires outcome document of the 2nd High-level United Nations Seminar on South-South Participation (BAPA +40).
Amidst this global uncertainty, we need to look not only at what is failing but also where the rays of hope are shining. South-South and triangular cooperation bring hope. Across continents and seas, developing nations are rising– together. They are innovating, working together, and building new paths towards sustainable advancement. It is in this context that the 22nd session of the High-level Board on South-South Cooperation convenes under the theme: “Accelerating the 2030 Schedule for Sustainable Advancement: South-South Collaboration as a Driver for Improvement.” This theme is not only prompt but also inspiring. South-South participation has emerged as a dynamic force, improving the global development landscape and providing new paths to shared prosperity. It is a testimony to the resourcefulness, solidarity, and durability of countries of the Global South– effective agents of change.
Addressing Shared Challenges Through Collective Action
The world today faces complex, interconnected dilemmas: persistent poverty, expanding inequalities, the climate emergency, and the enduring effects of the COVID-19 pandemic, among others. These challenges do not recognize boundaries, and no nation can tackle them alone. South-South collaboration offers an effective model for collective action– one that is inclusive, adaptable, and rooted in the lived experiences of developing nations. A recent example is the African Union’s Peace Fund, which allocated $7 million to support peace initiatives in Burkina Faso, the Autonomous Republic of the Congo, and other nations facing instability.
This commitment demonstrates how regional entities of the Global South are mobilizing resources and expertise to address development challenges with coherence and shared responsibility. By supporting knowledge sharing and capacity-building activities, among others, the Peace Fund is helping to prepare for sustainable development and regional stability. South-South collaboration also thrives in sectoral partnerships. For example, Brazil and India have collaborated on satellite technology to monitor deforestation and increase agricultural production, while Mexico has invested in food security and job creation programs in Honduras and El Salvador, benefiting over 40,000 people.
Leveraging Innovation and Digital Transformation
The digital divide continues to grow. 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 a few. This is why South-South cooperation matters now more than ever. Across the Global South, countries are leveraging digital technologies to leapfrog traditional development barriers. For example, AI is being deployed to enhance early warning systems for climate resilience in Dominica, to improve crop forecasting with satellite data in Kenya, and to support multilingual education systems in India.
In Brazil, AI is helping optimize public health responses, while Rwanda is using AI-driven tools to expand financial services to rural areas. 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 database of such solutions, connecting experts and policymakers; and the South-South and Triangular Cooperation Solutions Laboratory is incubating and scaling up successful initiatives. From mobile banking in East Africa to e-governance campaigns in Asia, digital transformation is expanding opportunities and empowering communities.
The Transformative Power of South-South Cooperation
South-South collaboration is based on shared respect, solidarity, and cooperation. It is about nations with similar challenges and aspirations coming together to find solutions that work in their own contexts. Throughout the Global South, we see a myriad of organic innovations that are making a tangible difference. UNOSSC is proud to steward funds that are scaling up these innovations. The United Nations Fund for South-South Cooperation stands as a symbol of this spirit.
Over the past three decades, 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 areas around the world– strengthening institutions, building capacity, and promoting sustainable collaboration.
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 nations of the South, traditional donors, and multilateral organizations. These partnerships integrate resources, expertise, and networks, enhancing the impact of development initiatives. A recent UNDP publication showcases how these partnerships are delivering results in environmental management, disaster risk reduction, and gender equality, supporting global transformative shifts aligned to the SDGs.
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 integrating South-South leadership with global expertise.
To further institutionalize and expand the reach of such partnerships, 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, expertise, and knowledge from a range of stakeholders–including governments, UN entities, intergovernmental and non-governmental organizations, and private sector partners. Commitment 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 fourth 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 Actions 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 Schedule for Sustainable Development SSC/22/2 2 UNCTAD assists countries measure South-South cooperation 3 Enhancing 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 assumed her duties as Director of UNOSSC on 1 March 2023. She is a Sustainable Development Specialist bringing over 25 years of leadership and management experience in several duty stations to her role. Before joining UNOSSC, Ms. Al-Khatib served as the UNDP Resident Representative in the Republic of Moldova. Prior to that, she held various positions including that of Programme and Policy Officer at the UNDP Regional Center 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 IPS UN Bureau © Inter Press Service (2025)– All Rights Reserved. Original source: Inter Press Service
