UNDP
Partnerships
South-South cooperation
South-South and triangular cooperation are bold, innovative, and growing means to strengthen cooperation for the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals, the global plan of action for people, planet and prosperity to eradicate poverty.
There is substantive evidence showing that South–South trade and investments have the potential to accelerate improvements in health, education, social welfare, in harnessing knowledge and experience, and in establishing critical partnerships which is instrumental to fast tracking the Sustainable Development Goals. South-South and triangular cooperation involves the kind of cooperation that creates jobs, strengthens trade, improves infrastructure, transfers technology, promotes regional integration and benefits all countries involved.
Infrastructure accounts for more than 55% of South-South cooperation projects.
In 2016, UNDP reported 500+ South-South cooperation projects in 120+ countries.
In 2013, the estimated value of South-South cooperation exceeded US$ 20 billion and it's on the rise.
With UNDP support, Bangladesh, China and Nepal work together to strengthen the resilience of communities affected by natural disasters.
Brazil partners with Angola in establishing vocational training centres to prepare more than 1,200 students to enter the job market annually.
With UNDP support, Jordan and Iraq join forces and make significant progress towards reducing gender-based violence and increasing women’s access to justice.
In 2014, South-South trade of goods exceeded US$ 5.5 trillion.
Argentina works with Haiti to improve agricultural practices, nutrition and health benefiting more than 40,000 families.
UNDP sees this kind of cooperation as an accelerator and multiplier of sustainable development. And as the leading development agency in the UN system, UNDP plays a key role as a catalyst
UNDP has made a strategic commitment to helping countries to expand engagement in mutual learning and solution sharing for
Our portfolio of initiatives on South-South cooperation includes:
- Solutions exchange platform SSMart for sustainable development
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- Saemaul Initiative towards inclusive and sustainable communities
Featured publication
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The 2030 Agenda and its Sustainable Development Goals acknowledge the critical role South-South cooperation plays in global development. So do other important global agendas, notably the Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction, the Paris Agreement on Climate Change, and the Addis Ababa Action Agenda on Financing for Development.
