Our Team United Nations Office for South-South Cooperation (UNOSSC)

1. In the past year, has the governing body of your organization taken any decisions to advance sustainable, inclusive, science- and evidence-based solutions for the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and ensure that no one is left behind? If yes, please briefly mention these decisions taken by your governing body in 2024 and provide the respective symbols. 

The High-level Committee on South-South Cooperation (HLC on SSC) is the main policy-making body of the United Nations General Assembly. It serves as a key intergovernmental body within the United Nations system dedicated to the review and assessment of global and system-wide progress in, and support for, South-South and triangular cooperation. The 21st HLC covers June 2023- May 2025, and relevant paras of the HLC decision 21/1 (A/78/39)include:

18. Welcomes the support of development partners for triangular cooperation towards the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals in the global South, and urges developed countries to continue providing financial, scientific and technological assistance to developing countries, to close the digital divides and to better harness science, technology and innovation to accelerate achievement of the Goals by 2030;

21. Urges Member States and United Nations entities to strengthen South- South and triangular cooperation on access to science, technology and innovation by creating synergies, developing expertise and boosting resources in various regions and institutions, and in this regard welcomes the convening of the summit on science, technology and innovation to be held in Havana as an effort to boost cooperation in this field to increase its benefit to all people.

2. During 2024, what actions have your entities taken to improve coordination among UN system entities across policy and normative activities as well as with ECOSOC subsidiary bodies with a view to increase impact and accelerate the implementation of the 2030 Agenda? Please provide any relevant links. 

UNOSSC convenes and coordinates the Inter-Agency Mechanism on South-South and triangular cooperation comprising over 40 UN entities. In coordination with DCO, Regional Commissions, and UN entities, which are part of the Inter-Agency Mechanism for South-South and triangular cooperation, UNOSSC has developed an E-Module 'Leveraging South-South and Triangular Cooperation to Accelerate Transformation Towards Sustainable Development' (based on the Guidelines for integration of South-South and triangular cooperation in the work of the UN Development System at country and regional level). The Module will equip UN Country Teams and Regional UN entities with the knowledge and skills to effectively support national partners to leverage South-South and triangular cooperation and to accelerate progress towards the SDGs and national priorities.  

To roll out the Guidelines, in 2024, UNOSSC organized webinars and briefings for UN Resident Coordinators/ UNCTs and Regional UN entities covering Latin America, Africa and SIDS.  

3. In the past year, has your organization organized any intergovernmentally mandated conferences, forums or events that contributed to the achievement of the SDGs, or has been in the process of planning and organizing any such mandated events to be held next year?  

4. In the past year, has your organization published or planned to publish any analytical work, guidance or reference materials, or toolkits to guide and support the implementation of SDGs at national, regional and global levels? Please select up to three to highlight, especially those that address interlinkages among the SDGs.  

5. The United Nations has defined six key transitions, or transformative entry points, that can have catalytic and multiplier effects across the SDGs and which have been guiding the UN development system work since the 2023 SDG Summit. In the past year, how has your organization contributed to  these transformative actions and how various actors are being rallied behind them to mobilize further leadership and investment to bring progress to scale? Please provide any relevant links.

In the 2024 Report of the Secretary-General on State of South-South Cooperation (A/79/230) the role of South-South and triangular cooperation in implementing the six key transitions have been emphasized. The conclusions and recommendations contained in the report focus on ways to leverage South-South and triangular cooperation to intensify support for six crucial transitions to accelerate the achievement of the Goals: (a) food systems; (b) energy access and affordability; (c) digital connectivity; (d) education and skills; (e) jobs and social protection; and (f) climate change, biodiversity loss and pollution. These recommendations were taken into account in the GA79 Second Committee resolution on SSC.

Some examples of UNOSSC initiatives in the six transitions:

1. Food systems
Under the UN Fund for SSC, the Global South-South Development Center (GSSDC) project supported by China, UNOSSC advanced the China-Africa Rice Value Chain Initiative, jointly with WFP China Center of Excellence, CICETE, Foreign Economic Cooperation Center of the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, the Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, the Alliance for a Green Revolution in Africa, Africa Rice Center, African Union, and many other countries and partner institutions.  The initiative has facilitated knowledge exchanges and training among China, Côte d'Ivoire, Senegal, and many other African countries on rice processing, storage, and post-harvest treatment. It also set up an agricultural machinery demonstration center in Côte d'Ivoire to provide technical demonstrations to local and neighboring communities leading to improved local rice yields and enhanced food security across Africa.  

2. Energy access and affordability
A water treatment and supply system powered by hybrid energy (solar and electricity) is being introduced to the Sdao community in Stung Treng Province, Cambodia under the ROK-UNOSSC Triangular Cooperation Facility Phase 3. This initiative aims to deliver clean, affordable water for both household and agricultural use. Once operating at full capacity, the facility will be able to produce one ton of water for less than 1 USD, significantly improving access to safe water (link).  

3. Digital connectivity
Under the ROK-UNOSSC Facility Phase 3, a smart water management system is being introduced in Bueng Kan Province, Thailand, to improve water quality and efficiency using real-time monitoring and big data. Set for installation in early 2025, the system aims to enhance water billing accuracy and create job opportunities for the community (link). Meanwhile, in Lao PDR, the pilot project has deployed AI-based flood forecasting and real-time data collection technologies to support the national water resource data management center. In Khammoune Province, a local flood forecasting and early warning system, integrated with the upgraded national system, is also being established to bolster resilience (link).  

4. Climate change, biodiversity loss and pollution  
UNGA high-level event on glacier preservation and the water agenda (co-convened with Member States, Regional Commissions and other UN entities, and experts)

Under the UN Fund for SSC, the Global South-South Development Center (GSSDC) project supported by China,  

in partnership with the Inter-American Institute of Cooperation on Agriculture (IICA), pilot project was implemented on “Building bridges in the Latin American/Caribbean region (LAC) to strengthen resilience in agriculture sector and adaptation of food systems to mitigate climate change impacts”. The pilot focused on developing capacities of agriculture policy makers and practitioners in promoting climate action and building climate resilient agricultural sector in the LAC region, accelerated through South-South learning.  

The initiative on “Capacity Building for Ecosystem Integration in the Lake Victoria Basin” aimed to strengthen local officials' capacity for managing forest and river systems, enhancing oversight mechanisms, and supporting forest protection, restoration, and sustainable management to prevent deforestation and promote reforestation in Tanzania and Kenya.  

Under the UN Fund for SSC, the the South-South Cooperation among Cities Project, supported by China, a pilot initiative was implemented in Santiago, Chile, in collaboration with UNDP and urban transit policymakers and technical experts from Hangzhou, China. This project transformed Santiago's cycling infrastructure into a sustainable, low-carbon urban transportation system. 

6. Please provide strategies (policies, guidance, plan) and/or collective actions taken to implement the 2024 Ministerial Declaration of the Economic and Social Council and the high-level political forum on sustainable development convened under the auspices of the Council. Please note any challenges foreseen and provide any relevant links.   

• The Ministerial Declaration recognizes that South-South cooperation is an important element of international cooperation for development as a complement to, not a substitute for, North-South cooperation. The UNOSSC’s current Strategic Framework (2022-25) focus on 3 outcomes: (a) advance South-South and triangular cooperation policymaking and implementation; (b) strengthen United Nations capacity to provide South-South and triangular cooperation support; and (c) promote South-South and triangular cooperation knowledge exchange, capacity development, and technology development and transfer to enable developing countries to pursue more resilient and sustainable development. Those outcomes are delivered through five services: (a) facilitation of, and reporting on, intergovernmental processes and reporting; (b) capacity development; (c) knowledge co-creation and management; (d) a South-South and triangular cooperation solution lab; and (e) trust-fund management.  
• The Ministerial Declaration also acknowledges the importance of triangular cooperation. In response, UNOSSC organized policy dialogue and stakeholder consultations on Triangular cooperation, and launched the Triangular Cooperation Window under the UN Fund for South-South Cooperation in 2024. This Triangular Cooperation Window aims to mobilize resources, knowledge and expertise from a wide range of stakeholders, including developed and developing countries, to accelerate progress towards sustainable development, particularly through the six key transitions: Food Systems, Energy, Digital Connectivity, Education, Jobs and Social Protection, and Climate Action. 

7. What collective efforts is your entity undertaking to support countries in accelerating the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals, especially in the areas of Goal 3 (Good health and well-being), Goal 5 (Gender equality), Goal 8 (Decent work and economic growth), Goal 14 (Life below water) and Goal 17 (Partnerships), which will go under in-depth review at the HLPF in 2025? Please note any achievements, challenges and gaps and provide any relevant links. 

• 2024 was marked by a series of high-level events, launches of new tools, and impactful collaborations for the UN Office for South-South Cooperation. The momentum began in January at the Third South Summit in Kampala, Uganda followed by the launch of Guidelines for integrating South-South and triangular cooperation into the UN's country and regional work. The Guidelines provide a roadmap for the UN development system to harness the potential of South-South and triangular cooperation in achieving the SDGs.
• UNOSSC partnered with the Islamic Development Bank to launch the Joint Global Advocacy Dialogue Series on triangular cooperation and leveraging the role of the private sector in the achievement of the SDGs.  
• UNOSSC joined forces with UNDP and GIZ to kick off the Data-to-Policy Network, equipping policymakers with the tools and data they need to make informed decisions.
• South-South Cooperation was highlighted as a strategic tool during the Fourth International Conference on Small Island Developing States (SIDS4). UNOSSC is also contributing through inputs on South-South Cooperation indicators to the development of a Monitoring Framework to measure progress against the deliverables of the Antigua and Barbuda Agenda for SIDS (ABAS).
• The 2024 High-Level Political Forum (HLPF) spotlighted the pivotal role of South-South and triangular cooperation in advancing the global development agenda in crosscutting thematic focus areas.
• The Pact of the Future calls for strengthening North-South cooperation, South-South and triangular cooperation, while taking into account different national circumstances, to build capacity for and improve access to science, technology and innovation, and to increase resources for the implementation of technical and scientific initiatives.
• Under the Trust Funds, managed by UNOSSC: During 2024 India-UN Development Partnership Fund supported 21 projects, total budget $19M, benefiting 27 countries. 24% of these projects contributed towards SDG 3 in at least four countries through provision of high-technology equipment, medical robots, trainings on maternal and child health care. One project in Micronesia was focused on SDG 5 by supporting women organizations in improving women lives. Two projects contributed towards SDG 17: One project in Moldova is supporting digitalization of the administrative data and population census, while another project in the Bahamas contributed for a strengthened public debt management.  

• Along with UNOHRLLS, UNOSSC is jointly planning a Ministerial Meeting on South-South and triangular cooperation to be held at the LLDC3 Conference (recently postponed and pending further notice) to demonstrate the efficacy of South-South and triangular cooperation in addressing LLDC priority areas incl. through evidence-based research and analysis / case studies.