South-South Cooperation Day 2020

This year, a virtual high-level event was held to commemorate the United Nations Day for South-South Cooperation. The event was held on 10 September ahead of the celebration of the 75th anniversary of the creation of the United Nations, providing an opportunity to reflect on the vital role of international solidarity and collaboration to support the delivery of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), while effectively responding to the global COVID-19.

This commemoration took place one year after the second High-level United Nations Conference on South-South Cooperation (BAPA+40), which instilled the necessary momentum and set a forward-looking roadmap for South-South and triangular cooperation as important partnership modalities for the achievement of the 2030 Agenda goals and other international development goals.

“South-South cooperation is critical for countries to respond to COVID-19,” said H.E. Mr. Tijjani Muhammad-Bande, President of the 74th Session of the UN General Assembly, in his Keynote Address. He emphasized that COVID-19 has exacerbated pre-existing inequalities across the globe, noting that women have been disproportionately affected by the crisis.

Despite the impact of the pandemic being especially high for the millions of people living in the South, developing countries have taken the lead in expressing their solidarity with each other by providing PPEs and other vital medical equipment.

They have also created a space for sharing their successful early policy measures and experiences in containing the spread of the pandemic and in mitigating its social and economic fallout. In this context, we need to emphasize the call of Mr. Antonio Guterres, the Secretary General of the UN, in his report on shared responsibility and global solidarity that “More than ever before, we need solidarity, hope and the political will and cooperation” to fight this crisis together.

Mr. Achim Steiner, Administrator of the United Nations Development Programme, delivered a commemorative message on behalf of Mr. António Guterres, United Nations Secretary-General and his own remarks as the Administrator of the United Nations Development Programme.

“Southern countries are demonstrating the spirit of South-South cooperation, equal partnership and global solidarity during the pandemic, by collaborating in science, technology and innovation, delivering medical supplies, providing financial resources, sending health workers and experts to bridge gaps in capacity, and sharing best practices,” noted the message of the Secretary-General, emphasizing that, “South-South and triangular cooperation must have a central place in our preparations for a strong recovery.”

H.E. Mr. Munir Akram, Permanent Representative of Pakistan, and President of ECOSOC; H.E. Mr. Adonia Ayebare, Permanent Representative of Uganda, President of the High-level Committee on South-South Cooperation; H.E. Mr. Neil Pierre, Ambassador of Guyana to the UN, Chair of the Group of 77; and Ms. Fekitamoeloa Katoa Utoikamanu, Under Secretary-General, High Representative for the Least Developed Countries, Landlocked Developing Countries and Small Island Developing States, delivered Commemorative Messages.

H.E. Mr. Adonia Ayebare, Permanent Representative of Uganda, President of the High-level Committee on South-South Cooperation, emphasized that moving forward the twentieth session of the High-level Committee on South-South Cooperation in December 2020 will review follow-up to BAPA+40 and focus on, among other things, specific measures undertaken in response to COVID-19 through South-South and triangular cooperation at the global, regional and national levels.

Delegates agreed that through leveraging South-South and triangular cooperation – as envisioned in the outcome of the Second High-level United Nations Conference on South-South Cooperation (BAPA+40) – there is an opportunity to turn the COVID-19 recovery into a real opportunity for a more equitable, inclusive and sustainable future. South-South and triangular cooperation offer pathways to address both immediate and long-term needs together, supporting countries to get back on track towards the 2030 Agenda and achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals.

During the event, UNOSSC launched the publication Good Practices in South-South and Triangular Cooperation for Sustainable Development – Vol. 3. This new volume features around 200 good practices presented by over 77 partners including Member States, intergovernmental organizations (IGOs), United Nations entities and many other development partners. Building on two prior highly successful editions, the 2020 volume significantly expands the South-South knowledge base across all SDGs, highlighting innovation, and the greater diversity of partners who are leveraging South-South and triangular collaboration for development. This collection of good practices demonstrates the spirit of solidarity, peer-to-peer learning and collective efforts among countries and partners in order to address development challenges that would be difficult to tackle independently; and inspires how concrete solutions can be adapted and replicated in a wider geography.

Click here to watch "Good Practices in South-South and Triangular Cooperation for Sustainable Development (Vol. 3)” video

Special remarks on the occasion of the United Nations Day were delivered by H.E. Mr. Mohamed Fathi Ahmed Edrees, Permanent Representative of Egypt, on behalf of African Group in Egypt’s national capacity; H.E. Mr. Enrique Austria Manalo, Permanent Representative of Philippines, on behalf of the Middle-Income Countries (MICs) Group; H.E. Ms. María del Carmen Squeff, Permanent Representative of Argentina; H.E. Mr. Omar Hilale, Permanent Representative of Morocco; H.E. Mr. Vitavas Srivihok, Permanent Representative of Thailand; H.E. Mr. Ronaldo Costa Filho, Permanent Representative of Brazil; H.E. Ms. Ngedikes Olai Uludong, Permanent Representative of Palau; H.E. Mrs. Egriselda Aracely González López, Permanent Representative of El Salvador; H.E. Mrs. Kshenuka Dhireni Senewiratne, Permanent Representative of Sri Lanka; H.E. Mr. Jagdish Dharamchand Koonjul, Permanent Representative of Mauritius; H.E. Mr. Syed Mohamad Hasrin Aidid, Permanent Representative of Malaysia; H.E. Mr. Jose Luis Fialho Rocha, Permanent Representative of Republic of Cape Verde; H.E. Mr. Riyad Mansour, Permanent Representative of the State of Palestine; H.E. Mr. Nagaraj Naidu Kakanur, Chargé d'affaires, Deputy Permanent Representative of India; H.E. Ms. Ana Silvia Rodríguez Abascal, Chargé d'affaires, Deputy Permanent Representative of Cuba; H.E. Mr. Dai Bing, Deputy Permanent Representative of China; H.E. Mr. Andrés José Rugeles, Deputy Permanent Representative of Colombia; H.E. Mr. Mohammad Kurniadi Koba, Deputy Permanent Representative of Indonesia; H.E. Mr. Serhad Varli, Deputy Permanent Representative of Turkey; H.E. Mr. Jasser Jimenez, Deputy Permanent Representative of Nicaragua; H.E. Luis Ugarelli, Deputy Permanent Representative of Peru; Mr. Ifeanyi Samuel Nwakudu, First Secretary of Nigeria; and Dr. Godfrey Xuereb of PAHO/WHO. The event was moderated by Mr. Jorge Chediek, UNOSSC Director and Envoy of the Secretary-General on South-South Cooperation.

All participants thanked UNOSSC for organizing the event, and several delegations expressed their appreciation for the contributions of Mr. Chediek, who will be completing his assignment as Director of UNOSSC very shortly.

Click here for more information about other worldwide activities of this special UN Day for South-South Cooperation: https://www.unsouthsouth.org/south-south-cooperation-day-2020/