The United Nations Office for South-South Cooperation (UNOSSC) extends its gratitude to Mr. Achim Steiner, United Nations Development Programme Administrator, as he concludes his tenure after eight remarkable years of service. Going beyond UNDP’s hosting of UNOSSC since 1974, Mr. Steiner’s visionary leadership has been instrumental in elevating South-South and triangular cooperation to the forefront of global development discourse and action.
Throughout his tenure, Mr. Steiner consistently championed the power of solidarity among countries of the Global South to drive transformative solutions. From the landmark BAPA+40 Conference in 2019, where he emphasized a stronger system-wide partnership between UNDP and UNOSSC, to his recent High-level Committee remarks highlighting the Global South’s dynamic transformation and its growing share of global trade, Mr. Steiner’s leadership has reaffirmed South-South cooperation as a cornerstone of development.
“We look forward to working closely with the UNOSSC to implement the decisions you have taken here this week and will forge a stronger collaborative partnership between the UN system-wide reach of the Office and the work of UNDP.” – Achim Steiner, Secretary-General of the 2019 Second High-level United Nations Conference on South-South Cooperation, or BAPA+40
In a world defined by interconnected crises, Mr. Steiner’s voice remained steady and forward-looking: “This era of polycrisis has prompted countries to find new ways to leverage the immense power of South-South cooperation,” he noted at the 21st Session of the High-level Committee on South-South Cooperation in 2023. At the International Day for South-South Cooperation that same year, he reminded us that “the challenges before us may seem insurmountable but remain within our grasp should we unlock the full potential of South-South cooperation.”
In 2024, marking the United Nations Day for South-South Cooperation, he reaffirmed UNDP’s commitment: “South-South and triangular cooperation are a core pillar of our Strategic Plan.” His belief in innovative, inclusive development has reshaped how cooperation is defined and delivered across regions.
UNOSSC thanks Mr. Steiner for his unwavering dedication, vision, and partnership. “Your dedication has made a lasting impact, and it has been an honor to collaborate in this shared mission,” said UNOSSC Director Dima Al-Khatib.
We wish him continued success in all future endeavors.
