UNOSSC Strategic Framework (2026–2029)
Accelerating sustainable development through South-South and triangular cooperation.
Download the United Nations Office for South-South Cooperation Strategic framework 2026–2029
South-South Cooperation in a Changing Development Landscape
South-South and triangular cooperation are reshaping the global development landscape. Countries of the South are expanding their economic influence, deepening regional value chains, advancing digital innovation, and increasingly serving as both providers and recipients of development finance, knowledge and technology.
South-South trade now represents a significant share of global trade, countries of the South host the majority of global inward foreign direct investment flows, and their share of global GDP continues to grow. Over the past two decades, more than one billion people have been lifted out of extreme poverty, with peer-to-peer cooperation among developing countries contributing meaningfully to gains in health, education, agriculture and social protection.
Digital collaboration across the Global South – including in digital public infrastructure, fintech, satellite applications and data-driven services – is unlocking new opportunities for inclusion, productivity and innovation.
In this evolving context, South-South and triangular cooperation are no longer complementary modalities. They are essential drivers of SDG acceleration.
As the mandated global focal point within the United Nations system, the United Nations Office for South-South Cooperation (UNOSSC) provides the multilateral backbone that connects efforts, enhances coherence and ensures that the scale and diversity of Southern cooperation translate into inclusive, measurable and sustainable development impact.
Strategic vision:
UNOSSC works with Member States, the United Nations development system and partners to institutionalize, scale and finance South-South and triangular cooperation as central pillars of sustainable development cooperation.
The overarching vision of the Strategic Framework 2026-2029 is to strengthen the leadership of countries of the South in shaping and delivering development solutions, while ensuring that cooperation is demand-driven, country-owned, results-oriented and aligned with global commitments, including the Second High-level United Nations Conference on South-South Cooperation (BAPA+40) Outcome, UN General Assembly decisions and resolutions on South-South cooperation, and the UN System-wide Strategy on South-South and Triangular Cooperation 2026-2029.
Our Value Proposition:
The Strategic Framework focuses on catalytic roles that reflect UNOSSC’s comparative advantage and system-wide mandate.
UNOSSC advances SDG acceleration through four mutually reinforcing service roles:
Global focal point and impartial convener – providing multilateral platforms that integrate South-South and triangular cooperation into UN system strategies, intergovernmental processes and SDG frameworks.
Trends that affect the development prospects and trajectories of the Global South the most.
The plausible development scenarios that may emerge for Global South (and North) countries in the context of the ongoing conflicts, and how these scenarios might reshape overall progress towards the SDGs.
How South-South and triangular cooperation can serve as a strategic mechanism to strengthen resilience, mitigate the adverse development impacts, and support Global South countries in safeguarding and advancing sustainable development gains in an increasingly uncertain global environment.
Together, these roles ensure enhanced South-South and triangular cooperation support to countries of the South.
Strategic Objectives and Results:
The Strategic Framework 2026-2029 is structured around three interlinked outcomes:
Strengthening institutional coherence, system-wide services and Secretariat support to the High-level Committee on South-South Cooperation.
Operationalizing a voluntary, non-binding Alliance to accelerate co-created and scalable SDG solutions.
Equipping Member States with knowledge, partnerships and innovative financing to adopt, adapt, scale and finance Southern-led solutions.
Thematic priorities include:
Based on consultations among Member States and recent resolutions on South-South and triangular cooperation priorities, these initial themes – while not exhaustive – reflect emerging areas of shared focus and will expand over time.
Digital transformation, connectivity and AI governance
CLIMATE ACTION AND GREEN TRANSITIONS
Innovative and catalytic finance
Inclusive development
All thematic work will be addressed through gender equality and youth empowerment lenses.
Cross-cutting enablers include partnerships, communications, results-based management and strengthened operations.
Partnerships for South-South Cooperation:
Partnerships are central to translating South-South cooperation momentum into structured, scalable and inclusive development outcomes.
UNOSSC works with:
Member States and regional organizations
UN entities and UN Country Teams
Development banks and international financial institutions
Private sector and philanthropic actors
Academia and civil society
Through structured matchmaking and alliance-building, UNOSSC facilitates the co-creation and scaling of country-owned SDG solutions while ensuring quality assurance, knowledge transfer and multilateral coherence.
The Global Alliance on South-South and Triangular Cooperation is a voluntary, multi-stakeholder platform under UNOSSC’s Strategic Framework 2026-2029 designed to systematically connect country-identified needs with financing, technical expertise and partnerships. It brings together Member States, UN entities, international financial institutions, development finance actors, and private-sector and knowledge partners to strengthen coordination, scale impact and enhance delivery of South-South and triangular cooperation in support of the 2030 Agenda.
