COMSATS: SSC Creating Headways for Post-pandemic Inclusive Recovery, 21 September 2021

By September 15, 2021 September 15, 2021 2021 UN Day for SSC, Events

  • When: 21 September 2021, 2:00 PM – 4:00 PM (GMT+5).
  • Where to watch: Register for the event here, or watch it live on YouTube here.
  • To download the official flyer, please click here.

In observance of this year’s United Nations Day for South-South Cooperation, the Commission on Science and Technology for Sustainable Development in the South (COMSATS) is organizing a webinar entitled “South-South Cooperation: Creating headways for Post-pandemic Inclusive Recovery”. The event will take place on 21 September 2021. The webinar will feature a series of high-level talks and presentations, followed by a discussion session.

Background

Ever since the formulation of Millennium Development Goals (MDGs), later transformed into Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), the world has become increasingly conscious of the need for promoting South-South and Triangular cooperation in science and technology to address various socio-economic challenges. The COVID19 pandemic has further necessitated the development of new and innovative mechanisms to facilitate South-South Cooperation in order to not only overcome the current crisis but also to manage the aftermaths of the outbreak.

Over the past three decades, the importance of South-South and Triangular cooperation has been particularly highlighted by the Commission on Science and Technology for Sustainable Development in the South (COMSATS) – an intergovernmental organization of the developing countries based in Pakistan. COMSATS has been working to help improve member countries’ capacities to develop science-based solutions to the global challenges by pooling their knowledge and resources.

Objectives

The webinar aims to provide a forum to the representatives of international organizations, UN agencies, and other donor and development organizations to:

  • share their institutional experiences, lessons learnt and best practices in implementing S&T programs through South-South cooperation;
  • elaborate strategic approaches to promote and scale up South-South cooperation;
  • discuss the challenges faced by their organization in engaging in South-South Cooperation; and
  • recommend means for mainstreaming South-South Cooperation towards achieving the SDGs in post-pandemic era.

Agenda

1. Opening Remarks

  • Dr. Akhtar Nazir, Executive Director, COMSATS Headquarters

2. High-level Talks

  • Dr. Adel Abdellatif, Director a.i., United Nations Office for South-South Cooperation (UNOSSC) (TBC)
  • Dr. Armida Salsiah Alisjahbana, Executive Secretary, United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (UNESCAP) (TBC)
  • Prof. Dr. Romain Murenzi, Executive Director, The World Academy of Sciences (TWAS), Italy (TBC)
  • Prof. Ai Likun, Assistant Executive Director, Alliance of International Science Organizations (ANSO)
  • Dr. Carlos María Correa, Executive Director, The South Centre (TBC)
  • Mr. Peter Mcgrath, Coordinator, InterAcademy Partnership (IAP), Trieste, Italy
  • Prof. Mahouton N. Hounkonnou, President, The Network of African Science Academies

3. Discussion / Q&A Session

4. Closing