Challenges

To make the 2030 Agenda a reality, a multi-faceted approach is imperative, necessitating the mobilization of a diverse range of public and private resources. This approach should also encompass the development of a robust national institutional framework, fostering the establishment of an effective “national ecosystem” that facilitates South-South and triangular cooperation.

The 2030 Agenda underlines the increasing significance of South-South cooperation (SSC) in forging partnerships to advance the Sustainable Development Goals. To optimize the impact of SSC resources, it is essential that they are deployed with utmost efficiency. This principle finds resonance in paragraph 11 of the Outcome Document of the Second High-Level United Nations Conference on South-South Cooperation (BAPA+40). This paragraph underscores the imperative of enhancing the development effectiveness of SSC while recognizing the distinctive nature of SSC partnerships.

In the case of Comoros, prior to the inception of the National Dialogue Platform on South-South and Triangular Cooperation, both national and international stakeholders encountered challenges in establishing connections and facilitating meetings. This situation posed a significant obstacle to the efficient identification and implementation of cooperative projects, hampering the overall development efforts in Comoros. The pivotal challenge was to create a national platform that could effectively facilitate interactions between national actors and their counterparts at regional and international levels

Toward a Solution

Under the supervision of the Comoros Agency for International Cooperation (ACCI), the COOPERATIONS Platform is an institutional arrangement established by Order No. 20-108/MAECID on November 26, 2020, related to the National Dialogue Platform on South-South and Triangular Cooperation.

The specific objectives of the platform are as follows:

1. Facilitating partnerships and cooperation among various stakeholders in Comoros.
2. Providing members with opportunities for international cooperation.

This approach, developed by ACCI, brings together public and private sector institutions, representatives from civil society, and observers. The COOPERATIONS Platform is designed to measure progress in the following areas:

1. Promoting South-South and Triangular Cooperation in Comoros, both regionally and with international partners.
2. Representing the Network of Francophone Actors of the South-South in the Indian Ocean.
3. Creating synergies among cooperation actors.
4. Identifying opportunities for South-South and Triangular Cooperation.
5. Contributing to the achievement of sustainable development goals.

To achieve the outcomes of the platform and fulfill its missions, ACCI has prioritized the development of South-South and Triangular Cooperation (SSTC) around specific pillars and a mode of operation.

Pillar:

As part of the development of the CSST (Comoros’ South-South and Triangular Cooperation), the SOUTH CENTER and the IsDB have jointly created the document titled “Strengthening National Ecosystems for South-South and Triangular Cooperation to Achieve the 2030 Sustainable Development Agenda.” This document encourages and supports states to establish a national CSST ecosystem. It identifies seven main pillars essential for establishing such an ecosystem:

1. Political will
2. the existence of national strategies for SSTC
3. the creation of a national body for SSTC
4. the constitution of information based on national SSTC initiatives
5. the actors associated with the SSTC
6. updating financing mechanisms at the national level
7. Performance management of the initiatives

These pillars provide flexibility for choosing elements and configurations that align with the national situation and strengthen the existing national institutional framework.

For the Union of Comoros, setting up this national platform for SSTC signifies that four out of the seven pillars are in place, specifically: political will, the creation of a national body for SSTC, the involvement of stakeholders in SSTC, and the formulation of a national strategy for SSTC.

Mode of Operation:

The COOPERATIONS Platform operates by organizing regular meetings between national actors and their partners to discuss SSTC projects.

Up to now, the results achieved by the COOPERATIONS Platform have allowed Comoros to:

• Bring together more than 20 national actors and international partners, including UN agencies (UNFPA, UNDP, UNICEF), ISDB, ATCT (Tunisian structures: ATFP, ANT, CITET, CREDIF, ENMV, MONTPLAISIR University, IBN KHALDOUM University, Alpha Engineering and Technologies), etc.
• Connect these actors to collaborate on SSTC projects in various fields such as education, gender equality, reproductive health, archive management, environment, agriculture, animal husbandry, and waste management.
• Establish cooperation agreements.

The COOPERATIONS Platform contributes to the achievement of SDG 17 and regional integration efforts to ensure its long-term sustainability. By organizing regular meetings with partners and monitoring project implementations in various fields, Comoros’ national ecosystem will continue to thrive over time. Furthermore, the COOPERATIONS Platform of Comoros can serve as a model for neighboring countries and South-South Cooperation providers seeking to assess the quality of their cooperation. This framework can be easily adapted for use in other contexts.

Click here for the Link to the PPT.