The ambitions outlined in the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, and the outcome document of the second High-level United Nations Conference on South-South Cooperation (BAPA+40) guide the work of the United Nations Fund for South-South Cooperation (UNFSSC).
The BAPA+40 outcome document recognizes the significant contribution of South-South and triangular cooperation to the achievements of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) particularly the overarching goal of eradicating poverty in all its forms and dimensions. It also conveys clear policy recommendations to enable the international community and the United Nations system to better coordinate South-South and triangular cooperation efforts, build bridges, strengthen partnerships and establish sustainable strategies for scaling up impact together.
The coronavirus disease is attacking societies at their core, the Secretary General of United Nations said in his report “Shared Responsibility, Global Solidarity: Responding to the socio-economic impacts of COVID-19”. This pandemic is more than a health crisis and it poses more risks to the people of the Global South. The most vulnerable will require further international support, including through more coordinated South-South and triangular cooperation, to effectively respond, recover and build back better.
In 2018 and 2019, UNOSSC further strengthened and utilized UNFSSC to better respond to the demands of Member States and partners. It used the Fund as a key framework to mobilize resources in achieving the planned results of the Office. For example, through voluntary contributions to UNFSSC, meaningful participation of the representatives from the least developed countries was ensured during BAPA+40.
Further, UNOSSC, along with its partners, has established and operationalized a digital interactive platform, the South-South Galaxy, to respond more systematically and effectively in supporting the demand of developing countries to connect, learn and collaborate with potential partners in implementing the SDGs. The South-South Galaxy facilitated South-South knowledge exchange and brokering of partnerships, bringing together over 180 organizations and more than 300 development solutions in a three-month period after its formal launch in September 2019.
Moreover, contributions to UNFSSC remained instrumental in organizing the tenth annual Global South-South Development Expo in 2018 in New York. The largest to date, the Expo brought together over 120 representatives of Member States and more than 1,000 participants from United Nations agencies, the private sector, civil society and academia. The Expo showcased over 250 successful South-South and triangular cooperation development solutions.
UNFSSC was instrumental in helping UNOSSC to better collaborate with the Member States, United Nations agencies and partners in advancing the green-economy agenda, connecting cities to advance SDG implementation, expanding global networks of centres of excellence for South-South and triangular cooperation, strengthening collaboration with Southern think tanks, and promoting the application of science and technology for poverty reduction, among others, through South-South and triangular cooperation.
Building on the achievements made to date and lessons learned, UNOSSC will continue its efforts to further strengthen and utilize UNFSSC together with Member States and United Nations agencies to engage partners and pool resources to better contribute to the achievement of the SDGs and BAPA+40 recommendations while responding to the challenges posed by COVID-19.
Through this UNFSSC report, we are pleased to share some of the key achievements of the projects and initiatives delivered. We would also like to convey our gratitude to the Members States and organizations that supported and advanced them. UNOSSC is committed to further expanding the activities of UNFSSC on a demand-driven basis.
