South-south cooperation can lead to a better future

The UN Day for South-South cooperation observed annually on September 12, serves as a powerful reminder of the spirit of solidarity and cooperation that transcends geographic borders. This dynamic is generally accepted as vital for securing a better and thriving future for all.
South-South cooperation is closely related to the term "South" and the two "Souths" have different meanings and implications depending on the interpretation. The term South is defined as regions in the world that have similar political, social and economic histories rooted in disparities which occurred during the colonial or imperialist era. The South is understood as an ideological expression of the concerns facing developing regions, which are increasingly diverse in economic and political experience.
South-South Cooperation (SSC) is a term historically used by policymakers and academics to describe the exchange of resources, technology, and knowledge between developing countries, also known as countries of the Global South. It would be correct to observe that the Global South is making increasingly significant contributions to global development. The economic and geopolitical relevance of many countries has grown. In the past, south-south cooperation focused on sharing knowledge and building capacities, but the countries of the Global South and new financial institutions have recently become increasingly active in development finance. This collaboration refers to the long-term historical project of liberating communities and nations from the remnants of colonialism, poverty, oppression and backwardness.
This cooperation becomes the main organising concept and set of practices in achieving historical change through a vision of mutual benefit and solidarity among groups that can be said to be 'disadvantaged' in the world system. This conveys the hope that cooperation through development can be achieved by these 'disadvantaged' communities through their mutual assistance to each other.
Analyst Dima Al- Khatib has observed that our world is facing numerous challenges of different dimensions and that there is only one least common denominator for overcoming these difficulties-- South-South solidarity. As Director of the United Nations Office for South-South Cooperation, Al-Khatib has pointed out that the world is now at a crucial moment in its journey towards the 2030 Agenda.
However, many feel that our progress towards this direction has been far from satisfactory. Only 17 per cent of the Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) targets are on track of being achieved. Other analysts and geo-strategists think that nearly half of the targets have shown minimal or moderate progress, and alarmingly, over a third of them appears to have slightly relapsed. Al- Khatib, with a degree of disappointment, has indicated that we must not consider the associated figures as just numbers. They also represent lives, futures, and the hope of billions around the world.
However, due to its diversity, the Global South faces various constraints. The problems faced by the poorest low-income countries are quite different from those in East Asia, where foreign exchange constraints are less of a problem.
The global landscape is increasingly marked by a growing number of conflicts, escalating geopolitical and trade tensions, and the devastating impacts of climate change. These challenges have placed the SDGs in serious jeopardy, and it is the world's most vulnerable populations who are bearing the brunt of these crises. In this context, the potential of South-South cooperation and triangular cooperation to catalyse progress towards the SDGs has never been more critical.
As we look ahead to the Summit of the Future, the commemoration of the United Nations Day for South-South Cooperation offers us a timely opportunity to reflect on the progress we have made together through this modality. More importantly, it compels us to recognise the vast potential that South-South cooperation holds in building a more equitable and sustainable future.
South-South cooperation is no longer a peripheral concept; it is now widely recognised as a powerful vehicle that fosters inclusive growth, mutual learning, and shared success.
Across the developing world, we are witnessing remarkable strides in resilience building, innovation, and collaboration. These achievements demonstrate that by mobilising international solidarity and forging global partnerships through South-South and triangular cooperation, we can accelerate the achievement of the SDGs.
This potential has been highlighted in numerous global discussions and summits, both within the United Nations and beyond. Whether the focus is on Least Developed Countries, Small Island Developing States, Middle-Income Countries, water, or trade, the message is clear: South-South cooperation is delivering results.
We are seeing incredible successes in the Global South, from improving health systems and enhancing agricultural productivity to advancing education and technology.
Consider the Republic of Congo, which is drawing on Brazil's expertise in family farming and school feeding programmes to improve food security and nutrition. Or Cuba, whose medical professionals have been on the frontlines, combating disease across the South.
In the Pacific, UNESCO is facilitating exchanges among countries like Fiji, the Marshall Islands, Samoa, Solomon Islands, Tonga, Tuvalu, and Vanuatu to build teachers' capacities. These are just a few examples of how countries of the Global South are not only sharing knowledge and resources, but are also building enduring partnerships that transcend borders.
The United Nations Office for South-South Cooperation (UNOSSC) plays a pivotal role in promoting, coordinating, and supporting these efforts globally and within the UN system. Our work involves identifying synergies and promoting collaboration between partners to attain all internationally agreed development goals.
One of the key tools we have developed in this endeavour is the South-South Galaxy - a digital platform that offers more than 950 Southern-grown SDG good practices. These practices are available to all countries for experience sharing and scaling up, providing a wealth of knowledge that has already lifted millions out of poverty and contributed to a more equitable world.
Hosted on the same platform, the South-South and Triangular Cooperation Solutions Lab is another innovative initiative. This Lab has begun incubating and testing scalable South-South and triangular cooperation solutions, driving forward new ways to tackle the complex challenges we face.
The creation of the South-South Trust Funds has become another testament to the solidarity of Southern partners. For example, the government of India has channeled over US Dollar 55.5 million into 63 projects that support sustainable development across more than 30 Small Island Developing States through the India-UN Development Partnership Fund.
Similarly, the IBSA Fund - supported by India, Brazil, and South Africa - continues to leverage the tried-and-tested power of South-South and triangular cooperation to bring tangible improvements to the daily lives of people across the globe. From providing safe drinking water to 12,000 people in Cabo Verde to developing a national universal health insurance programme in Grenada, these initiatives showcase the impact of collaborative efforts.
Triangular cooperation - where South-South cooperation is supported by a developed country or multilateral organisations - also plays a critical role. For instance, the Republic of Korea and the Mekong River Commission are working together to share science and technology know-how pertaining to the implementation of water, food, and energy nexus for vulnerable communities in Cambodia, Lao PDR, Thailand, and Viet Nam..
However, despite these achievements, it is generally recognised that significant work still remains ahead. We must not forget that we are steering through a world shaped by new and complex global challenges that many analysts have termed poly-crisis. Climate change, economic uncertainties, debt injustice, conflict, and the ongoing recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic still continue to test our resilience. We now have the Mpox in parts of Africa. Nevertheless, one needs to remain confident according to Dima Al-Khatib, the Director of the UN Office for South-South Cooperation.
In light of its ideological commitment to South-South Cooperation (and motivated by a pragmatic desire to increase food security), China has established a series of Agricultural Technology Demonstration Centrfes in Africa. These are a highly visible component of agricultural cooperation between China and African countries. The function of these centres is to transmit agricultural expertise and technology from China to developing countries in Africa while also creating market opportunities for Chinese companies in the agricultural sector.
We need to understand that there are challenges but they can be transformed into opportunities through South-South and triangular cooperation and meaningful participation and collaboration by civil society, academia and the private sector. Together, we can achieve the Sustainable Development Goals and build a future that is prosperous, inclusive, and sustainable for all.

Muhammad Zamir, a former Ambassador, is an analyst specialised in foreign affairs,
right to information and good governance.
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