Senior United Nations officials, including UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon and Director-General of the International Labour Organization (ILO) Guy Ryder on 12 September 2016 highlighted the importance of South-South Cooperation in their respective messages on the occasion of the UN Day for South-South Cooperation.

“A manifestation of solidarity amongst developing countries, South-South cooperation continues to significantly drive progress,” said Mr. Ban in his message.

“Despite worldwide market volatility, South-South foreign direct investment is increasing,” he added, highlighting that countries of the South have become important actors in the global socioeconomic arena.

In his message, the Secretary-General also noted the need to further strengthen cooperation among developing countries to improve the lives of billions of people around the world.

Recalling that the role of South-South cooperation was emphasized in the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, the Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction, the Addis Ababa Action Agenda, the Paris Agreement on climate change and the Agenda for Humanity, Mr. Ban said that that these commitments now need to be translated into actions.

“This is essential to rising to the many grave challenges we face,” he said, noting that though living standards have risen across the global South, developing countries continue to struggle due to numerous and complex challenges that stall progress.

Making particular reference to combatting climate change, Mr. Ban pointed that South-South and triangular cooperation can play an important role in keeping global warming to well below 2 degrees Celsius.

In recognition of this potential, the Secretary-General said that his office, in partnership with the UN Office for South-South Cooperation, launched the Southern Climate Partnership Incubator, last April, to foster and support collaboration for climate action.

“Let us reaffirm our commitment to this invaluable means of achieving sustainable development and improving the lives of billions of people in the global South and beyond,” stressed the Secretary-General.

Similarly, in his own message on the Day, ILO Director-General Guy Ryder noted that traditional aid flows will not be enough to address development challenges.

Mr. Ryder also underlined the need for new partnerships with and among developing nations as one of the best ways to meet the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and the 2030 Agenda, within which the goal of decent work for all is deeply embedded.

To mark the importance of South-South Cooperation, the UN General Assembly decided to observe this Day on 12 September annually, commemorating the adoption in 1978 of the Buenos Aires Plan of Action for Promoting and Implementing Technical Cooperation among Developing Countries.

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We Must Seize New Opportunities to Boost Cooperation Among Developing Countries

Secretary-General’s Message for the United Nations Day for South-South Cooperation

The countries of the South have established themselves as indispensable participants in the global socioeconomic arena. Despite worldwide market volatility, South-South foreign direct investment is increasing. There are more and more institutionalized forms of South-South cooperation in the political and economic spheres. These trends prove that collaboration among developing countries is beneficial and thriving.

Now we must seize new opportunities to boost cooperation among developing countries, especially at this time of great promise as the international community carries out the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and aims to realize its bold vision of a life of dignity for all people.

A manifestation of solidarity amongst developing countries, South-South cooperation continues to significantly drive progress. Its role has been emphasized in the 2030 Agenda, the Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction, the Addis Ababa Action Agenda, the Paris Agreement on climate change and the Agenda for Humanity. Now it is time to match these commitments with actions.

This is essential to rising to the many grave challenges we face. While living standards have risen across the global South, developing countries continue to struggle in the face of numerous and complex challenges that stall progress. Collective action is crucial.

On combatting climate change, South-South and triangular cooperation can contribute to keeping global warming to well below 2 degrees Celsius. In recognition of that potential, last April my office, in partnership with the United Nations Office for South-South Cooperation, launched the Southern Climate Partnership Incubator. This new initiative will foster and support collaboration for climate action.

As we mark the United Nations Day for South-South Cooperation, let us reaffirm our commitment to this invaluable means of achieving sustainable development and improving the lives of billions of people in the global South and beyond.

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South-South co-operation has a key role to play in promoting decent work for sustainable development

Traditional aid flows will not be enough to address development challenges. New partnerships with and among developing nations are both the right thing to do and one of the best ways to meet the Sustainable Development Goals, says ILO Director-General, Guy Ryder.

The ILO welcomes South-South cooperation, which supports development based on the principles of equality, mutual benefit, national ownership, non-conditionality and non-interference.

It is equally welcome that new institutional actors have come to the stage, both at the global and regional levels, sharing their experience and supporting other countries on their way towards sustainable development.

The emergence of the South has also opened up new opportunities for countries in the South to participate with a stronger voice in the global development debate, actively shaping the course of change rather than being passive receivers.

We face tremendous global challenges: Persistent poverty and increasing inequalities, both within and among countries, energy and food insecurity, environmental risks and climate change and unemployment affect today northern and southern countries alike. These issues can only be successfully addressed through a global commitment to coherent action.

The Sustainable Development Goals are that global commitment. And all countries, irrespective of their level of development, have resolved to implement the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development in which the goal of decent work for all is deeply embedded.

Development can no longer be framed simply as a matter of foreign aid, but as a collaborative path towards these globally defined and nationally-owned objectives. Diverse forms of cooperation and innovative partnerships are needed, both with and among developing countries.

It is not by chance that the targets set for SDG 17 make explicit reference to South-South Cooperation as an instrument to enhance access to technology and innovation for developing countries, to build national capacity and, more broadly, to support the overall implementation of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.

Reflecting its commitment to South-South and Triangular Cooperation, the ILO is involved in a wide range of projects ranging from establishing gender-sensitive Social Protection Floors in countries in Africa and Asia to the activities of the South-South network against child labour in Latin America. And earlier this year, recognizing that capacity development is key to the success of South-South cooperation, the ILO organized – at its International Training Centre in Turin – the first South-South and Triangular Cooperation Academy, attended by participants from 55 countries.

Stepping up our support for South-South cooperation is not just the right thing to do. It is also the smart thing to do. The ILO is committed to facilitating such cooperation to promote decent work for sustainable development.