Science, innovation and international cooperation must be harnessed with urgency to accelerate progress towards the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), Dima Al-Khatib, Director of the United Nations Office for South-South Cooperation (UNOSSC), emphasized in a video message to the 13th Africa-Europe Science Collaboration Forum. Convened in Brussels, 20 April 2026, the Forum brought together policymakers, researchers, investors and international organizations to strengthen collaboration between Africa and Europe through science, technology and innovation. Under the theme of advancing shared futures, discussions focused on aligning research, investment and policy frameworks to support sustainable growth, resilience and equitable partnerships across both regions. Across a series of high-level sessions, participants explored priority areas including digital transformation, global health, food security, and emerging technologies such as artificial intelligence and quantum computing. The Forum also highlighted the importance of mobilizing financing, strengthening research infrastructure, and enhancing talent mobility to build inclusive and interconnected innovation ecosystems capable of addressing global challenges. The Director underscored that with only a fraction of SDG targets on track globally, the international community faces a narrowing window to deliver on its commitments. She noted that intersecting challenges – including conflict, economic pressures and supply chain disruptions – are reversing development gains and placing additional strain on countries across the Global South.
Against this backdrop, she called for more strategic and results-oriented collaboration, highlighting the role of science and technology as critical enablers of sustainable development. The Forum, she noted, reflects the growing importance of cross-regional partnerships that bring together expertise, resources and innovation to address shared challenges. Central to her message was the value of South-South and triangular cooperation as practical and scalable approaches to development. These modalities, she stressed, enable countries to co-create solutions tailored to their contexts while leveraging proven experiences from across the Global South. The Director reaffirmed UNOSSC’s commitment to strengthening these efforts through a range of initiatives. She pointed to the forthcoming Global Alliance for South-South and Triangular Cooperation as a platform to connect partners and scale solutions, alongside the expansion of digital tools such as South-South Galaxy to facilitate knowledge-sharing and matchmaking. UNOSSC also continues to mobilize catalytic financing through its trust funds, supporting innovation-driven projects across key sectors including agriculture, education and digital transformation. Concluding her message, the Director called for renewed commitment to translating science, innovation and cooperation into tangible results, ensuring that partnerships deliver meaningful and lasting impact for sustainable development worldwide.
