The United Nations Office for South-South Cooperation (UNOSSC) and the South Centre have renewed their partnership through the signing of a new Statement of Intent, reaffirming their shared commitment to advancing South-South and triangular cooperation in an increasingly complex global environment.
The Statement of Intent was signed on 12 January 2026 by Dima Al-Khatib, Director of UNOSSC, and Carlos María Correa, Executive Director of the South Centre. The agreement establishes a renewed and elevated framework for collaboration over the next two years, reflecting both institutions’ commitment to strengthening collective action and knowledge exchange among developing countries.
The renewed partnership builds on a strong foundation of cooperation between the two institutions, including a Memorandum of Understanding signed in 2019, which concluded in 2021, as well as the South Centre’s engagement under Phase I of the South-South Global Thinkers Initiative. The new framework responds to evolving global realities and seeks to deepen collaboration in areas of shared strategic importance.
The Statement of Intent reflects a shared recognition that, amid intersecting crises, geopolitical tensions, shrinking fiscal space and persistent development inequalities, South-South and triangular cooperation are more critical than ever. In this context, such cooperation provides developing countries with practical avenues to exchange solutions, amplify collective voice, and advance sustainable development outcomes grounded in mutual experience and solidarity.
The partnership leverages the strong complementarity between UNOSSC’s mandate to promote, coordinate and support South-South and triangular cooperation globally and within the United Nations system, and the South Centre’s role as the intergovernmental think tank of the Global South. The South Centre contributes policy-oriented research, negotiation support, technical advice and capacity development to strengthen the engagement of developing countries in global policy processes.
Under the Statement of Intent, the two institutions will cooperate around three strategic objectives. These include enhancing knowledge dissemination and digital presence, with stronger integration between UNOSSC platforms and South Centre research outputs; undertaking joint research and policy development on shared priorities; and activating expertise and partnerships by bridging institutional networks and engaging experts, practitioners and policymakers to co-create scalable development solutions.
Importantly, the Statement of Intent establishes a flexible, non-binding framework focused on delivery, learning and impact, while allowing both institutions to remain responsive to emerging policy needs and evolving global priorities.
Through this renewed partnership, UNOSSC and the South Centre aim to translate knowledge into action by strengthening evidence-based policy dialogue, widening access to trusted research, and supporting Member States in identifying, adapting and scaling high-impact solutions through South-South and triangular cooperation.
The partnership leverages the strong complementarity between UNOSSC’s mandate to promote, coordinate and support South-South and triangular cooperation globally and within the United Nations system, and the South Centre’s role as the intergovernmental think tank of the Global South. The South Centre contributes policy-oriented research, negotiation support, technical advice and capacity development to strengthen the engagement of developing countries in global policy processes.
Under the Statement of Intent, the two institutions will cooperate around three strategic objectives. These include enhancing knowledge dissemination and digital presence, with stronger integration between UNOSSC platforms and South Centre research outputs; undertaking joint research and policy development on shared priorities; and activating expertise and partnerships by bridging institutional networks and engaging experts, practitioners and policymakers to co-create scalable development solutions.
Importantly, the Statement of Intent establishes a flexible, non-binding framework focused on delivery, learning and impact, while allowing both institutions to remain responsive to emerging policy needs and evolving global priorities.
Through this renewed partnership, UNOSSC and the South Centre aim to translate knowledge into action by strengthening evidence-based policy dialogue, widening access to trusted research, and supporting Member States in identifying, adapting and scaling high-impact solutions through South-South and triangular cooperation.
