Working on South-South and Triangular Cooperation

Every year, 12 September is observed as the United Nations Day for South-South Cooperation (SSC). The United Nations General Assembly set the day to outline a radical framework for development partnerships between countries that go beyond classic North-South engagement.

The concept of cooperation among developing countries originated from the Afro-Asian Conference held in Bandung in 1955. This conference led to the establishment of the Non-Aligned Movement in 1961 and the creation of the Group of 77 (G-77) in 1964. The G-77 mainly promotes cooperation South-South in the 1960s and 1970s.

‘SSTC’s impact extends to various sectors, from agriculture and health to education and technology’ | Photo Credit: SPECIAL ARRANGEMENT

This article highlights the continued relevance and urgency of using it in a world that is witnessing an increasing crisis of climate change, conflict, and food insecurity. I draw from emerging Indian leaders or global voices on collaboration and solutions – technical and policy – ​​that adhere to the essential traits of SSC: inclusive, context-driven, unconditional, and locally owned.

The United Nations World Food Program (WFP) actively supports SSC around the world, enabling governments and stakeholders to find long-term solutions to create food security and improve social protection mechanisms. These engagements add to the so-called South-South and Triangular Cooperation (SSTC), which refers to collaboration involving multilateral bodies.

Collaborative development pact

During the past decade, the countries of the global south have emerged as the main voice in global governance, champions of new platforms and institutions, and agents of development action to realize the 2030 Agenda. SSC contributes to changing the norms and principles of international cooperation.

This collaborative approach involves developing countries sharing knowledge, skills, and resources to achieve common development goals while working with developed countries and multilateral organizations. SSTC’s impact spans multiple sectors, from agriculture and health to education and technology, and its success stories inspire a more inclusive and equitable global development landscape.

One of the critical strengths of the SSTC lies in its foundation for mutual benefit, respect for national sovereignty, and unconditionality. This partnership fosters a sense of empowerment, self-reliance, and shared learning among participating countries, ultimately contributing to a more resilient and sustainable society.

WFP and SSTC

Since 2019, WFP headquarters has used several funding mechanisms, including the South-South Trust Fund managed by the United Nations Office for South-South Cooperation, that is, the India-UN Development Partnership Fund, India, Brazil and the South. Africa Facility for Poverty and Hunger Alleviation (IBSA Fund). The SSTC Trust Fund is managed by WFP ($9.75 million).

Driven by the growing interest in collaboration between countries, WFP is increasing its engagement in supporting governments through the SSTC. For example, in 2023, 60 out of 85 WFP Annual Reports show involvement in facilitating and supporting collaboration among southern countries. This marks a significant increase compared to 2021 and 2022, indicating the growing recognition of SSTC as a means of strengthening national capacity.

These engagements include the direct exchange of knowledge, experience, skills, resources, and technical know-how among developing countries, often facilitated by donors or organizations such as WFP. This triangular cooperation may include funding, training, technical assistance, and other types of support.

These include social protection and safety nets, nutrition and food fortification, empowering small farmers and connecting them to markets, rural development and poverty alleviation, post-harvest loss management, disaster risk reduction, climate adaptation, early warning emergency preparedness and response to strengthen resilience. and building a supply chain.

Leveraging WFP’s extensive fieldwork in more than 80 countries, WFP has facilitated more than 70 SSTC initiatives to date, driven by the requests of host governments. The initiative has benefited the most vulnerable people at risk of hunger and malnutrition in 69 countries around the world.

Indian leadership narrative

India has been at the forefront of SSTC, with notable initiatives such as the Pan-African e-Network Project, the India-Brazil-South Africa Fund, and the International Solar Alliance (ISA). The initiative underscores India’s unwavering dedication to sharing expertise and resources with other developing countries, translating into tangible improvements in education, healthcare, agriculture, and renewable energy initiatives. India has been practicing SSTC since 1947, investing around $107 billion.

India has achieved exceptional food and nutrition security through strong policies and implementation mechanisms. It has one of the largest food safety nets in the world, reaching a billion people, and a national level fortification program. In addition, India has introduced innovations in the supply chain for public distribution systems and focused on the most vulnerable people. The experience inspired other southern countries and led to a real transformation in food safety nets and supply chain innovation.

In 2022, WFP is facilitating an SSTC exchange on food security between Nepal and India. This allowed Nepalese officials to learn about India’s implementation of food rights and security laws. As a result, Nepal recognized the Right to Food (RtF) Act as a framework for reforming the food system. This has had a positive impact on food security and led to the incorporation of food system actions by most provincial governments for the fiscal year 2023-24.

To strengthen the SSTC, some aspects to focus on include innovative funding mechanisms and diverse sources of funding, a demand-driven approach focused on the priorities of participating countries, sharing knowledge of best practices, experiences, and innovations, and sustainability environment. , social, and economic dimensions.

The emergence of countries in the global South as leading voices in global governance and agents of development action represents a significant change in the norms and principles of international cooperation. The active involvement in championing new platforms and institutions and the steps taken through the SSTC mark a promising trajectory towards achieving the ambitious targets outlined in the 2030 Agenda.

Elisabeth Faure is India Representative and Country Director, UN World Food Programme