Background
On 16 July, DESA/DSDG and UNOSSC co-organized a roundtable dialogue on “South-South and Triangular Cooperation for Building Regional Capacities for Science, Technology, and Innovation (STI).” The meeting focused on the challenges and opportunities specific to building regional capacities and ecosystems for STI. It discussed relevant models and approaches from the Global South, facilitated the exchange of knowledge, tools, and resources—such as the DESA-led STI for SDGs Roadmaps—and explored regional and cross-regional cooperation to help accelerate progress on regional priorities in alignment with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). This dialogue contributed to the High-Level Political Forum (HLPF) processes, informed thinking on regional dimensions of challenges and opportunities related to STI, and highlighted the importance of regional South-South and triangular cooperation as means of implementation in the UN Multistakeholder Forum for STI. The dialogue engaged stakeholders from various regions and sectors, including governments, regional financial institutions, academia, civil society, the private sector, and UN entities, fostering new collaborations and enhancing existing ones.
Announcements
Amartya Sen Conference Room, FF Building, (Hybrid); July 16, 12:30 – 2:30 PM
SOUTH-SOUTH AND TRIANGULAR COOPERATION FOR BUILDING REGIONAL CAPACITIES FOR SCIENCE, TECHNOLOGY AND INNOVATION (STI)
Regional Exchange on Global South Models and Approaches
Roundtable Dialogue on the Side of 2024 HLPF | 16 July 2024 | 12:30 – 2:00 PM
10th Floor, Amartya Sen Conference Room, FF Building, 304 East 45th Street, NY
Co-Hosted and Co-Convened by UNOSSC and the UN Multistakeholder Forum for STI/DESA
PROGRAMME: 16 JULY 2024, 12:00 – 2:00 pm
Time | Segment |
12:30 – 12:45 | Welcome and Keynote Message: Dima Al Khatib, UNOSSC Director Framing Message: Dr. Astra Bonini, Chief of Policy Bureau, UNDESA
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12:45 – 1:20 | Perspectives from Stakeholders Across Regions (3-5 Minute Remarks)
UN Entities
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1:20 – 1:55 | Open Discussion (Discussants/Participants to also engage with Stakeholders and UN Entities)
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1:55 | Next Steps
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2:00 | Close |
From “where you sit” (from the perspectives of your constituency, your region, the work you do):
- What are the key trends around STI that you think have immense implications for sustainable development (both positive and negative)?
- What STI-related initiatives in your region are emerging that could serve as “models” for replication or adoption? What features of those initiatives are most instructive? (Looking at your own initiatives, ones you established or are involved in, what could Global South countries learn from them; where could they also help address needs?)
- How can multistakeholder partnerships, particularly South-South and triangular cooperation, be leveraged or strengthened to support technology diffusion and capacity development on STI, particularly at the regional level (with benefits that many countries can tap into).
- What gaps stand out in your region and how can they best be addressed? What policies or strategies (including partnerships) could close those gaps?
- What approaches look promising for fostering regional collaboration amongst scientific communities, industry stakeholders, financial institutions and policymakers to accelerate development of innovative approaches, technology enabled responses, and science driven solutions to development challenges?
- What concrete next steps do you propose to build from today’s dialogue? Where do you see entities around the table being impactful?
