Thirty Years of Impact: UN Fund for South-South Cooperation Commemoration Highlights Renewed Solidarity and New Flagship Facility
The United Nations Office for South-South Cooperation (UNOSSC) convened Member States, UN entities, and development partners at UN Headquarters to commemorate the 30th anniversary of the UN Fund for South-South Cooperation (UNFSSC). The gathering celebrated the Fund’s evolution from a pioneering voluntary trust fund established by UN General Assembly resolution 50/119 (1995) into a global platform enabling countries of the Global South to co-create solutions, share knowledge, and jointly address pressing development challenges.
More than 200 participants registered for the commemoration, representing over 30 Member States, 24 UN agencies, intergovernmental organizations, academia, and technical partners. The event also marked the co-launch of three flagship publications and showcased new programmatic milestones – including the operationalization of the China–UN Global South-South Development Facility and the expansion of Triangular Cooperation Window.
Moderator Ms. Xiaojun Grace Wang, Trust Fund Director, UNOSSC
The session was moderated by UNOSSC Trust Fund Director, Xiaojun Grace Wang, who welcomed participants and noted that “the Fund’s strength lies in its diversity of contributors, its ability to convene, and its commitment to co-creation and mutual learning.”
Setting the Stage: Strengthening South-South Cooperation for the Next Decade
Highlights of UNFSSC (2022-2025)
UNOSSC DirectorMs. Dima Al-Khatib, in her opening remarks, highlighted the Fund’s evolution since its creation noting that people across 155 countries have benefited from its initiatives, supported through partnerships with 45 UN entities and contributions from over 40 governments and international organizations. She emphasized that the Fund now enters a new era, focusing on digital transformation, climate action, food systems resilience, innovation ecosystems, and youth leadership. The commemoration featured the screening of the UNFSSC 30-Year Video.
UNDP Associate Administrator, Mr. Haoliang Xu reaffirmed UNDP’s long-standing partnership with UNOSSC and its stewardship of the UNFSSC since 1995. He reflected on the Fund’s evolution into a systemwide instrument for cooperation and praised its ability to generate practical, scalable solutions across climate action, governance, poverty reduction, and digital innovation. He emphasized that UNDP remains fully committed to strengthening collaboration with UNOSSC and supporting countries of the Global South to co-create homegrown, innovative pathways to achieve the SDGs.
UN Assistant Secretary-General for Youth Affairs, Mr. Felipe Paullier, applauded UNOSSC for launching the new Youth Footprint portfolio, emphasizing that young people across the Global South are already shaping climate action, digital transformation, and social innovation. He stressed that South-South cooperation provides a powerful platform for youth-led exchange and partnership, and underscored the importance of expanding investment in youth initiatives to accelerate SDG progress. He commended UNOSSC for placing youth leadership at the heart of its next decade of programming.
High-Level Interventions: Member States Reaffirm a Shared Vision
A distinguished lineup of Member States delivered interventions reaffirming the importance of South-South and triangular cooperation in addressing global challenges – including climate fragility, inequalities, food insecurity, and technological divides.
President of the UN General Assembly – H.E. Ms. Annalena Baerbock
H.E. Ms. Annalena Baerbock commended the Fund for supporting “practical development solutions shaped by national priorities and regional needs,” citing advances in renewable energy access, climate-smart agriculture, and ecosystem management. She encouraged the international community to reinforce financing mechanisms that ensure developing countries are not left behind.
The Gambia – H.E. Mr. Lamin Dibba, Permanent Representative, Chair of the Second Committee
The Gambia highlighted the Fund’s role in strengthening inclusive multilateralism and enabling the Global South to generate knowledge and co-create solutions tailored to local contexts. The Ambassador underscored the Second Committee’s commitment to advancing South-South cooperation as an essential pillar of global development. He also shared The Gambia’s experiences as a key partner benefiting from the Fund’s support, especially in advancing South-South cooperation in local development, cross-border E-commerce, youth volunteerism, COVID-19 response and recovery efforts, under the framework of the Global South-South Development Centre Project, with funding support from the Government of China.
Morocco – H.E. Mr. Omar Hilale, Permanent Representative, President of the High-Level Committee on South-South Cooperation
Morocco highlighted South-South cooperation as a strategic mechanism for accelerating SDG progress and applauded the rise of triangular partnerships as “bridges between experience, innovation, and shared responsibility.
China – H.E. Mr. Sun Lei, Deputy Permanent Representative
Deputy Permanent Representative of China, H.E. Ambassador Sun Lei, recalled, during the General Debate of the 80th session of the General Assembly, Premier Li Qiang announced that China will work with the UN to establish the “China–UN Global South-South Development Facility”.
He highlighted UNOSSC’s role as “irreplaceable and indispensable”, and reiterated that “China highly appreciates the Fund’s steadfast adherence to the fundamental principles of South-South cooperation over the past three decades. In supporting economic and technical cooperation, knowledge and experience sharing, and capacity building among developing countries, the Fund functions as an important platform for exchanges, mutual learning, and collaboration among nations of the Global South. By prioritizing support for countries in special situations – LDCs, LLDCs and SIDS – the Fund responds to the most urgent development needs. With the long-standing support of UNDP, the UNOSSC has effectively fulfilled its role as the Secretariat, undertaking extensive work in Fund management and operations, laying a solid foundation for the positive outcomes. This once again demonstrating the UN’s central role in advocating and promoting South-South cooperation.”
Russian Federation – H.E. Mr. Dmitry Chumakov, Deputy Permanent Representative
The Russian Federation underscored the importance of regionally-driven solutions and highlighted its funding support for FAO- and WHO-implemented initiatives, including sustainable agriculture in the Sahel and Central Asia, and an upcoming maternal and newborn health programme.
H.E. DPR recognized, “the indispensable role of the UN Fund for South-South Cooperation, over 30 years. It has proven to be a reliable long-term partner for building horizontal partnership, sharing best practices, and strengthening capacities. And implementing projects that make real difference to people’s lives.”
Thailand – H.E. Mr. Vathayudh Vichankaiyakij, Deputy Permanent Representative
Thailand showcased its long-standing engagement with UNOSSC, including GSSD Expo 2022 and cooperation through ASEAN and the G77. The DPR reaffirmed Thailand’s commitment to scaling technology-driven, community-based development solutions.
H.E. DPR expressed that Thailand highly values the close and long-standing partnership with UNOSSC and sees the fund as an indispensable mechanism for driving innovation, scaling solutions, and forging stronger regional and inter-regional cooperation, and called for continued organization of the GSSD Expo as a global platform.
Colombia – Ms. Eleonora Betancur González, Director of APC-Colombia (Video Message) and H.E. Ambassador Raúl Sánchez, Deputy Permanent Representative of Colombia (attended in person)
Colombia reaffirmed its leadership in pioneering triangular cooperation models across Latin America and beyond, including cultural industries, climate-resilient agriculture, and digital innovation. valued participation in our commemoration event.
Spain – Mr. David Izquierdo, Minister Counsellor
Spain highlighted its contributions to the Triangular Cooperation Window, emphasizing the importance of cross-regional collaboration in areas such as climate resilience, innovation, and blue economy partnerships.
Portugal – Mr. Duarte Valente, First Secretary
Portugal emphasized the successful launch of the Triangular Cooperation Window at the 8th International Conference on Triangular Cooperation in Lisbon (2024). The representative reiterated Portugal’s commitment to consolidating triangular modalities as catalysts for innovation.
South Africa – H.E. Ms. Mathu Joyini, Permanent Representative
H.E. Ms. Mathu Joyini of South Africa recalled the fundamental principles of South-South cooperation, welcomed the establishment of the Triangular Cooperation Window, and noted that South-South cooperation, complemented by triangular cooperation, has become a vital model in the global development architecture. She further called for more actions to be done to increase visibility for South-South cooperation initiatives.
Samoa – H.E. Mr. Fatumanava-o-Upolu III Pa’olelei Luteru, Permanent Representative
Samoa recognized the Fund has shown repeatedly that South-South partnership works. It has shown that creativity, expertise, and leadership flourish in every region, and that development is strongest when it is driven from within. And he further called for bold, raw, new direction, rooted in three transformative shifts. Firstly, we must deepen cooperation for climate resilience, digital innovation and South-South investment mechanisms, he said.
Kingdom of Saudi Arabia – Mr. Abdulaziz Fahad M. Alibrahim, Second Secretary
Saudi Arabia commended UNOSSC for three decades of advancing solidarity-driven development cooperation and underscored the importance of South-South and triangular cooperation in addressing shared global challenges. The representative highlighted Saudi Arabia’s growing investments in capacity-building, climate resilience, and technology-driven development across the Global South, reaffirming the Kingdom’s commitment to strengthening multilateral partnerships and supporting the work of the UNFSSC.
Azerbaijan – Ms. Husniyya Rafael Gizi Mammadova, Counsellor
Azerbaijan emphasized the central role of South-South cooperation in promoting inclusive development welcomed the UNFSSC’s contributions to expanding collaboration and knowledge exchange, and reaffirmed Azerbaijan’s commitment to advancing partnerships in key areas such as climate resilience, youth development, and digital innovation through South-South and triangular cooperation.
Permanent Representatives and Observers—including H.E. Mr. Jonibek Hikmat of Tajikistan, H.E. Mr. Riyad H. Mansour of the State of Palestine, and H.E. Mrs. Agnes Mary Chimbiri Molande of Malawi—as well as Deputy Permanent Representatives such as H.E. Mr. Jongin Bae of the Republic of Korea, H.E. Ambassador Raúl Sánchez of Colombia and Mr. Andrei Nicolenco of Moldova, joined many other distinguished delegates from Algeria, Azerbaijan, Bangladesh, Brazil, Costa Rica, DR Congo, Egypt, El Salvador, the EU, GIZ, Haiti, Japan, Lebanon, Nicaragua, Nigeria, Peru, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Serbia, Singapore, Tunisia, Türkiye, and Uruguay, among others. Participants attending in person and online expressed strong support for the Fund and underscored the importance of robust South-South cooperation ecosystems, locally adapted technologies, and multi-stakeholder partnerships to accelerate SDG progress.
Deep Dive: Technical Presentations Showcase Innovation and Practical Solutions
1. China–UN Global South-South Development Facility (CICETE)Presenter: Ms. Shuyin Li, Deputy Director General, CICETE Ms. Shuyin Li, Deputy Director General, CICETE presenting at the event
Ms. Li introduced CICETE’s history and role as the specialized agency which is responsible, under government authorization and trust, for organizing and coordinating project cooperation with UN Agencies, such as UNDP, UNIDO, UNV, etc., covering project initiation, implementation and joint supervision and evaluation. Since its establishment in 1979, CICETE has successfully organized and implemented cooperation projects valued at $1 billion, executing over 1000 projects and programs.
She presented the focus and design of the new China-UN Global South-South Development Facility, building on 15 years of collaboration under the GSSDC. She highlighted more than 200 knowledge products, small grants in 50+ countries, and demonstrative pilots such as bamboo-based construction in Rwanda and aquaculture chain upgrading in Tanzania.
The Facility (2025–2030): aims to expand thematic domains in: Agriculture and Rural Transformation; Green and Resilient Development; Digitalization and New Industrialization; Cultural and Creative Economy.
She later joined the UNDP Associate Administrator, the UNOSSC Director and Trust Fund Director in launching the GSSDC Small Grants Report.
UNDP Associate Administrator, UNOSSC Director, DDG CICETE, UNOSSC Trust Fund Director launching the GSSDC Small Grants Booklet
2. ROK–UNOSSC Triangular Facility – STEPIPresenter: Dr. Hwanil Park, Senior Research Fellow, STEPI
Dr. Park shared results from the Water-Energy-Food Nexus Triangular Cooperation Project in the Lower Mekong Basin, showcasing AI-enabled water management, renewable desalination systems, digital flood forecasting, and integrated agriculture-water solutions – evidence of STI-driven South-South and triangular collaboration. The project demonstrates how science, technology, and innovation (STI) – combined with triangular partnerships – can create scalable, demand-driven development models.
3. Portugal’s Triangular Blue Economy Initiative – Camões IP
Camoes IP highlighted its triangular cooperation initiative supporting coastal resilience and blue economy livelihoods in Angola, Chile, and Jamaica through scientific exchanges, marine monitoring, and academic partnerships. This initiative showcases how triangular partnerships connect scientific expertise, community needs, and policy action to advance sustainability.
4. FAO – Russian Federation-Funded South-South Cooperation Portfolio
FAO presented progress from two major regional programmes under the Russian Federation’s support:
Sahel Region: Enhancing irrigation, water management, and land restoration toward sustainable food systems.
Central Asia: Promoting climate-resilient agriculture and farmer capacity building through regional exchanges.
These programmes have strengthened multi-country collaboration and produced context-specific agricultural technologies adaptable across similar agro-ecological zones.
5. UNESCO – South-South University Cooperation Network (SUCN)
UNESCO highlighted the growth of SUCN, which now brings together 80+ universities across the Global South to co-develop solutions in STEM, climate innovation, and sustainability.
A Renewed Vision for the Next Decade
The commemoration underscored a shared message: South-South and triangular cooperation remains a powerful engine for global development, especially at a time when financing gaps and inequalities are widening.
With strong participation from Member States, UN agencies, and partners, the event reaffirmed the Fund’s role as a uniquely collaborative platform – from the Global South, for the Global South, with global benefit.
UNOSSC committed to deepening partnerships, scaling evidence-based solutions, and ensuring that Southern knowledge, innovation, and youth leadership continue to shape global development pathways in the years ahead.
Launch of Three Flagship Knowledge Products
During the high-level segment, UNOSSC launched:
UNOSSC Director Ms. Dima Al-Khatib, in her opening remarks, highlighted the Fund’s evolution since its creation noting that people across 155 countries have benefited from its initiatives, supported through partnerships with 45 UN entities and contributions from over 40 governments and international organizations. She emphasized that the Fund now enters a new era, focusing on digital transformation, climate action, food systems resilience, innovation ecosystems, and youth leadership. The commemoration featured the screening of the UNFSSC 30-Year Video.
UNDP Associate Administrator, Mr. Haoliang Xu reaffirmed UNDP’s long-standing partnership with UNOSSC and its stewardship of the UNFSSC since 1995. He reflected on the Fund’s evolution into a systemwide instrument for cooperation and praised its ability to generate practical, scalable solutions across climate action, governance, poverty reduction, and digital innovation. He emphasized that UNDP remains fully committed to strengthening collaboration with UNOSSC and supporting countries of the Global South to co-create homegrown, innovative pathways to achieve the SDGs.
UN Assistant Secretary-General for Youth Affairs, Mr. Felipe Paullier, applauded UNOSSC for launching the new Youth Footprint portfolio, emphasizing that young people across the Global South are already shaping climate action, digital transformation, and social innovation. He stressed that South-South cooperation provides a powerful platform for youth-led exchange and partnership, and underscored the importance of expanding investment in youth initiatives to accelerate SDG progress. He commended UNOSSC for placing youth leadership at the heart of its next decade of programming.
H.E. Ms. Annalena Baerbock commended the Fund for supporting “practical development solutions shaped by national priorities and regional needs,” citing advances in renewable energy access, climate-smart agriculture, and ecosystem management. She encouraged the international community to reinforce financing mechanisms that ensure developing countries are not left behind.
The Gambia – H.E. Mr. Lamin Dibba, Permanent Representative, Chair of the Second Committee
The Gambia highlighted the Fund’s role in strengthening inclusive multilateralism and enabling the Global South to generate knowledge and co-create solutions tailored to local contexts. The Ambassador underscored the Second Committee’s commitment to advancing South-South cooperation as an essential pillar of global development. He also shared The Gambia’s experiences as a key partner benefiting from the Fund’s support, especially in advancing South-South cooperation in local development, cross-border E-commerce, youth volunteerism, COVID-19 response and recovery efforts, under the framework of the Global South-South Development Centre Project, with funding support from the Government of China.
Morocco – H.E. Mr. Omar Hilale, Permanent Representative, President of the High-Level Committee on South-South Cooperation
Morocco highlighted South-South cooperation as a strategic mechanism for accelerating SDG progress and applauded the rise of triangular partnerships as “bridges between experience, innovation, and shared responsibility.
China – H.E. Mr. Sun Lei, Deputy Permanent Representative
Deputy Permanent Representative of China, H.E. Ambassador Sun Lei, recalled, during the General Debate of the 80th session of the General Assembly, Premier Li Qiang announced that China will work with the UN to establish the “China–UN Global South-South Development Facility”.
He highlighted UNOSSC’s role as “irreplaceable and indispensable”, and reiterated that “China highly appreciates the Fund’s steadfast adherence to the fundamental principles of South-South cooperation over the past three decades. In supporting economic and technical cooperation, knowledge and experience sharing, and capacity building among developing countries, the Fund functions as an important platform for exchanges, mutual learning, and collaboration among nations of the Global South. By prioritizing support for countries in special situations – LDCs, LLDCs and SIDS – the Fund responds to the most urgent development needs. With the long-standing support of UNDP, the UNOSSC has effectively fulfilled its role as the Secretariat, undertaking extensive work in Fund management and operations, laying a solid foundation for the positive outcomes. This once again demonstrating the UN’s central role in advocating and promoting South-South cooperation.”
Russian Federation – H.E. Mr. Dmitry Chumakov, Deputy Permanent Representative
The Russian Federation underscored the importance of regionally-driven solutions and highlighted its funding support for FAO- and WHO-implemented initiatives, including sustainable agriculture in the Sahel and Central Asia, and an upcoming maternal and newborn health programme.
H.E. DPR recognized, “the indispensable role of the UN Fund for South-South Cooperation, over 30 years. It has proven to be a reliable long-term partner for building horizontal partnership, sharing best practices, and strengthening capacities. And implementing projects that make real difference to people’s lives.”
Thailand – H.E. Mr. Vathayudh Vichankaiyakij, Deputy Permanent Representative
Thailand showcased its long-standing engagement with UNOSSC, including GSSD Expo 2022 and cooperation through ASEAN and the G77. The DPR reaffirmed Thailand’s commitment to scaling technology-driven, community-based development solutions.
H.E. DPR expressed that Thailand highly values the close and long-standing partnership with UNOSSC and sees the fund as an indispensable mechanism for driving innovation, scaling solutions, and forging stronger regional and inter-regional cooperation, and called for continued organization of the GSSD Expo as a global platform.
Colombia – Ms. Eleonora Betancur González, Director of APC-Colombia (Video Message) and H.E. Ambassador Raúl Sánchez, Deputy Permanent Representative of Colombia (attended in person)
Spain highlighted its contributions to the Triangular Cooperation Window, emphasizing the importance of cross-regional collaboration in areas such as climate resilience, innovation, and blue economy partnerships.
Portugal – Mr. Duarte Valente, First Secretary
Portugal emphasized the successful launch of the Triangular Cooperation Window at the 8th International Conference on Triangular Cooperation in Lisbon (2024). The representative reiterated Portugal’s commitment to consolidating triangular modalities as catalysts for innovation.
South Africa – H.E. Ms. Mathu Joyini, Permanent Representative
H.E. Ms. Mathu Joyini of South Africa recalled the fundamental principles of South-South cooperation, welcomed the establishment of the Triangular Cooperation Window, and noted that South-South cooperation, complemented by triangular cooperation, has become a vital model in the global development architecture. She further called for more actions to be done to increase visibility for South-South cooperation initiatives.
Samoa – H.E. Mr. Fatumanava-o-Upolu III Pa’olelei Luteru, Permanent Representative
Samoa recognized the Fund has shown repeatedly that South-South partnership works. It has shown that creativity, expertise, and leadership flourish in every region, and that development is strongest when it is driven from within. And he further called for bold, raw, new direction, rooted in three transformative shifts. Firstly, we must deepen cooperation for climate resilience, digital innovation and South-South investment mechanisms, he said.
Kingdom of Saudi Arabia – Mr. Abdulaziz Fahad M. Alibrahim, Second Secretary
Saudi Arabia commended UNOSSC for three decades of advancing solidarity-driven development cooperation and underscored the importance of South-South and triangular cooperation in addressing shared global challenges. The representative highlighted Saudi Arabia’s growing investments in capacity-building, climate resilience, and technology-driven development across the Global South, reaffirming the Kingdom’s commitment to strengthening multilateral partnerships and supporting the work of the UNFSSC.
Azerbaijan – Ms. Husniyya Rafael Gizi Mammadova, Counsellor
Azerbaijan emphasized the central role of South-South cooperation in promoting inclusive development welcomed the UNFSSC’s contributions to expanding collaboration and knowledge exchange, and reaffirmed Azerbaijan’s commitment to advancing partnerships in key areas such as climate resilience, youth development, and digital innovation through South-South and triangular cooperation.
Permanent Representatives and Observers—including H.E. Mr. Jonibek Hikmat of Tajikistan, H.E. Mr. Riyad H. Mansour of the State of Palestine, and H.E. Mrs. Agnes Mary Chimbiri Molande of Malawi—as well as Deputy Permanent Representatives such as H.E. Mr. Jongin Bae of the Republic of Korea, H.E. Ambassador Raúl Sánchez of Colombia and Mr. Andrei Nicolenco of Moldova, joined many other distinguished delegates from Algeria, Azerbaijan, Bangladesh, Brazil, Costa Rica, DR Congo, Egypt, El Salvador, the EU, GIZ, Haiti, Japan, Lebanon, Nicaragua, Nigeria, Peru, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Serbia, Singapore, Tunisia, Türkiye, and Uruguay, among others. Participants attending in person and online expressed strong support for the Fund and underscored the importance of robust South-South cooperation ecosystems, locally adapted technologies, and multi-stakeholder partnerships to accelerate SDG progress.
Ms. Li introduced CICETE’s history and role as the specialized agency which is responsible, under government authorization and trust, for organizing and coordinating project cooperation with UN Agencies, such as UNDP, UNIDO, UNV, etc., covering project initiation, implementation and joint supervision and evaluation. Since its establishment in 1979, CICETE has successfully organized and implemented cooperation projects valued at $1 billion, executing over 1000 projects and programs.
She presented the focus and design of the new China-UN Global South-South Development Facility, building on 15 years of collaboration under the GSSDC. She highlighted more than 200 knowledge products, small grants in 50+ countries, and demonstrative pilots such as bamboo-based construction in Rwanda and aquaculture chain upgrading in Tanzania.
The Facility (2025–2030): aims to expand thematic domains in: Agriculture and Rural Transformation; Green and Resilient Development; Digitalization and New Industrialization; Cultural and Creative Economy.
She later joined the UNDP Associate Administrator, the UNOSSC Director and Trust Fund Director in launching the GSSDC Small Grants Report.
Dr. Park shared results from the Water-Energy-Food Nexus Triangular Cooperation Project in the Lower Mekong Basin, showcasing AI-enabled water management, renewable desalination systems, digital flood forecasting, and integrated agriculture-water solutions – evidence of STI-driven South-South and triangular collaboration. The project demonstrates how science, technology, and innovation (STI) – combined with triangular partnerships – can create scalable, demand-driven development models.
3. Portugal’s Triangular Blue Economy Initiative – Camões IP
Camoes IP highlighted its triangular cooperation initiative supporting coastal resilience and blue economy livelihoods in Angola, Chile, and Jamaica through scientific exchanges, marine monitoring, and academic partnerships. This initiative showcases how triangular partnerships connect scientific expertise, community needs, and policy action to advance sustainability.
4. FAO – Russian Federation-Funded South-South Cooperation Portfolio
FAO presented progress from two major regional programmes under the Russian Federation’s support:
UNESCO highlighted the growth of SUCN, which now brings together 80+ universities across the Global South to co-develop solutions in STEM, climate innovation, and sustainability.
