During a meeting with Rome- based Agencies (RBAs), UNOSSC Director Dima Al-Khatib presented an overview of UNOSSC’s work in supporting intergovernmental South-South and triangular cooperation processes; the coordination of a High-level Committee on South-South Cooperation, and the development of guidelines to mainstream South-South and triangular cooperation in UN country team work.
It was noted that the South-South Galaxy and the South-South Solutions Lab are poised to offer data-driven policy implementation support and incubate solutions based on country demands.
Trust funds managed by UNOSSC, such as the Pérez-Guerrero Trust Fund (PGTF), the India UN trust fund, and the IBSA Fund, highlight the importance of targeted financial support for LLDCs, SIDS, and initiatives focused on food security and poverty alleviation.
In response, the RBAs shared their perspectives, with WFP outlining their recent policy update that aligns with the UN inclusion strategy, the integration of South-South cooperation into their forthcoming strategic plan, and their reorganization to prioritize South-South cooperation within their partnership function. They expressed an interest in engaging with UNOSSC’s knowledge initiatives, particularly in fragile settings.
FAO’s intervention focused on the critical need for resource mobilization and strengthening partnerships to support the food and agriculture nexus. They expressed interest in accessing the trust funds and the e-learning modules, highlighting the possibility of sharing FAO’s experiences and resources through the soon-to-be-launched FAO South-South cooperation gateway.
IFAD’s contribution centered on their approach to South-South and triangular cooperation, which is integrated into their Country Strategic Opportunities Programmes (COSOPs) and Country Strategic Notes. They highlighted the importance of establishing robust monitoring and evaluation systems.
Overall, the meeting underscored the RBAs’ commitment to South-South and triangular cooperation, and their willingness to collaborate more closely with UNOSSC to strengthen their impact in this area.
