UNOSSC’s Strategic Framework 2022–2025 Will Enhance South-South Cooperation Toward Achievement of SDGs

Meeting on 1 February at its first regular session of 2022 the Executive Board of UNDP/UNFPA/UNOPS took note of the Draft strategic framework of the United Nations Office for South-South Cooperation, 2022–2025 (DP/CF/SSC/7).

The proposed strategy is ambitious and timely, said H.E. Yoka Brandt, President of the UNDP/UNFPA/UNOPS Executive Board, in a joint statement delivered on behalf of the Bureau. “We know that South-South and triangular cooperation can contribute to the implementation of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and to achieving the overarching goal of eradication of poverty.”

Noting that “through its continued role in advancing South-South and triangular cooperation, the United Nations Office for South-South Cooperation (UNOSSC) has made a significant contribution to development impact across the globe during the period of its Strategic Framework, 2018-2021,” Usha Rao-Monari, Under Secretary-General and Associate Administrator of UNDP said that the new Framework “aims to further enhance South-South and triangular cooperation as means to assist countries and communities to build forward better from the COVID-19 pandemic and accelerate action towards the 2030 Agenda.”

The Framework was drafted in a very transparent manner and builds on lessons learned from past experiences and results, noted Adel Abdellatif, Director, a.i. of the United Nations Office for South-South Cooperation.

Delegations expressed appreciation for the thorough consultation process conducted by UNOSSC that included conversations with the board, Member States, public and private actors and other relevant stakeholders. 21 UN entities and members of the UN Interagency Mechanism on South-South and Triangular Cooperation contributed, along with 73 other stakeholders from both the Global South and North. Under the new Framework, UNOSSC will perform five services, each with key measurable indicators:

1. Intergovernmental processes facilitation and reporting;
2. Capacity development;
3. Knowledge management and sharing;
4. South-South and triangular cooperation solution lab
5. Trust Fund management.

These services will support the achievement of three cross-cutting, impact-oriented and coherent outcomes:

Outcome 1: Policies to advance South-South and triangular cooperation are strengthened through effective, evidence-based support to intergovernmental processes, multi-stakeholder dialogues and reporting.

Outcome 2: The capacity of United Nations entities to respond to requests by developing countries to address specific development challenges in implementing the 2030 Agenda through South-South and triangular cooperation is strengthened.

Outcome 3: Developing countries are enabled to implement the 2030 Agenda through harnessing South-South and triangular cooperation knowledge exchange, capacity-building, and facilitation of technology development and transfer.

To ensure efficient delivery of these services, the Office will also further enhance its strategic communications and partnerships, as well as its results-based management efforts.

Statements as prepared for delivery:

• Joint Bureau statement delivered by H.E. Yoka Brandt as President of the UNDP/UNFPA/UNOPS Executive Board
• Remarks of Mr. Adel Abdellatif, Director, a.i. UNOSSC
• Remarks of H.E. Ms. María del Carmen Squeff, Permanent Representative of Argentina to the UN, and President of the High-level Committee on South-South Cooperation
• Remarks of H.E. Munir Akram, Permanent Representative of Pakistan to the UN, speaking on behalf of G77 & China
• Remarks of Ms. Elena Melnik, Russian Federation
• Remarks of Mr. Gerardo Talavera, Peru
• Remarks of Mr. Ronaldo Alexandre do Amaral e Silva, Brazil
• Remarks of Mr. Gregory Garramone, USA