To highlight the importance of South-South cooperation and to mark the day in 1978 when the United Nations Conference on Technical Cooperation among Developing Countries adopted the Buenos Aires Plan of Action for Promoting and Implementing Technical Cooperation among Developing Countries (A/C.2/66/L.48), the General Assembly proclaimed 12 September as the United Nations Day for South-South Cooperation.
The 2021 high-level commemoration of the United Nations Day for South-South Cooperation, organized ahead of the opening of the seventy-sixth session of the United Nations General Assembly, provides an opportunity to discuss Southern solidarity in support of a more inclusive, resilient and sustainable future while effectively responding to the global COVID-19 crisis in order to recover better across the global South. This United Nations Day for South-South Cooperation will also be an opportunity to highlight concrete follow-up to the twentieth session of the High-level Committee on South-South Cooperation, which took place from 1 to 4 June 2021 in New York.
More than a year and a half into the pandemic, it is evident that decades of development progress are threatened and that we are facing an uncertain future shaped by economic and social crises. Global partnership, including through South-South cooperation, is essential to overcome the challenges of the pandemic and achieve the Sustainable Development Goals. As we move towards a post-pandemic reality and recovery, South-South cooperation will contribute to breaking the cycle of poverty, instability and development inequalities while promoting the principle of effective ownership of national development strategies.
Main Event: South-South Cooperation - Solidarity in Support of a More Inclusive, Resilient and Sustainable Future
On 10 September 2021, the United Nations Office for South-South Cooperation is organizing a virtual high-level panel discussion in commemoration of the United Nations Day for South-South Cooperation. The event, which will happen virtually over Zoom, will feature commemorative speeches and high-level discussions with high-level officials from member countries, UN agencies and other development partners, as well as keynote messages from UN Secretary-General Mr. António Guterres, and President of the 75th Session of the United Nations General Assembly, H.E. Mr. Volkan Bozkir.
During the interactive discussion, the Member States, United Nations entities and other stakeholders will deliberate on and share concrete initiatives, actions and recommendations for implementing key decisions arising from the Second High-level United Nations Conference on South-South Cooperation (BAPA+40) and the High-level Committee on South-South Cooperation, including the United Nations system-wide strategy on South-South and triangular cooperation for sustainable development, 2020–2024. Click here for more details.
Join us for side-events and relevant activities to commemorate the 2021 UN Day for South-South Cooperation
Publications Launched during the UN Day for South-South Cooperation Commemoration Activities
News and Messages from Partners
IsDB-UNOSSC joint message to commemorate the 2021 UN Day for South-South Cooperation
On the occasion of United Nations Day for South-South Cooperation, the Islamic Development Bank (IsDB) and the United Nations for South-South Cooperation (UNOSSC) have released a joint video celebrating the long-standing partnership between the two institutions. Through this joint message, IsDB and UNOSSC pledge to continue supporting the Global South through effective and sustainable South-South Cooperation. During this Decade of Action, the two institutions reiterate the importance of solidarity in order to achieve the SDGs.
IsDB and UNOSSC have been collaborating in promoting South-South Cooperation through Reverse Linkage. The two institutions have supported joint programs, frameworks and platforms to strengthen national, regional, and global partnerships.
South-South Cooperation Crucial to Close Digital Divide and Build Inclusive and Resilient Economies
8 September, Beijing: The 2021 International Forum on South-South Cooperation and Trade in Services took place in Beijing, China on 4 September. Under the theme “Digital Economy for South-South Cooperation”,…