Launch of Good Practices in South-South & Triangular Cooperation in LDCs, 16 March 2022

By March 4, 2022 October 4th, 2022 Events

Launch of the Publication “Good Practices in South-South and Triangular Cooperation in the least Developed Countries: From the Istanbul Programme of Action to Achieving Sustainable and Resilient Development”

  • When: 16 March 2022, 8:00 – 9:30 AM (EST)
  • Languages: English and French
  • Download: To download the publication, please click here.

Introduction

The Istanbul Programme of Action (IPoA) was adopted by the Fourth UN Conference on the Least Developed Countries, for the decade 2011 – 2020. The goal of the ten-year Programme was to overcome the least developed countries (LDCs) structural challenges in order to eradicate poverty and achieve internationally agreed development goals. This also includes graduation from the LDC category, and other internationally agreed development goals, including the implementation of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, the Addis Ababa Action Agenda and the Paris Agreement. It aimed to enable half of the LDCs to meet the criteria for graduation.

Watch the recording, click here.

The IPoA recognizes the important complementary role of South-South and triangular cooperation in its implementation, in areas such as human and productive capacity-building, technical assistance and exchange of good practices, particularly on issues relating to health, education, professional training, agriculture, environment, science and technology, trade and investment. The BAPA+40 Outcome document calls upon the United Nations Development System for the “sharing of good practices and experiences from the South, especially with the least developed countries….to address poverty eradication and sustainable development”.

The new Programme of Action for LDCs for the decade 2022-2031, to be endorsed on 17 March 2022, embodies a new generation of renewed and strengthened commitments by the LDCs and their development partners. It outlines areas where South-South cooperation can generate impactful results such as productive capacity-building, infrastructure development, energy, science and technology, trade, investment and transit transport cooperation. Its effective implementation will play a key role in the success and achievement of the 2030 Agenda and SDGs.

Background and Objectives:

The United Nations Office for South-South Cooperation (UNOSSC), the United Nations Office of the High Representative for the Least Developed Countries, Landlocked Developing Countries and Small Island Developing States (UN-OHRLLS) and the United Nations Capital Development Fund (UNCDF), in partnership with the Qatar Fund for Development (QFFD) will jointly launch the “Good Practices in South-South and Triangular Cooperation in the least Developed Countries: From the Istanbul Programme of Action to Achieving Sustainable and Resilient Development” publication. This special volume has a particular focus on LDCs, mapping and sharing around 80 good practices relevant to the implementation of the SDGs as well as the IPoA priorities in these countries while spotlighting the role of South-South cooperation in supporting sustainable development. This publication aims to demonstrate the potential of South-South cooperation in LDCs to attain the objectives of supporting national and regional development efforts, strengthening institutional and technical capacities and improving the exchange of experience and know-how. The publication aims to facilitate and promote peer and cross-regional learning and collective efforts among LDCs and their development partners in addressing LDCs’ special development challenges and building resilience.

The publication will be launched in advance of the adoption of the Doha Programme of Action. As LDCs are poised to achieve a resilient, sustainable and inclusive recovery, it is imperative to unleash the potential of South-South and triangular cooperation in critical areas of sustainable development. More than ever before, LDCs need the full contribution and cooperation of the global South, complementing North-South cooperation, to build more resilient economies and equitable societies and achieve technology and digital leapfrogging.

This publication is expected to inspire governments, private sector and entrepreneurs, civil society and non-governmental organizations and citizens, in general, to adopt, improve and share the good practices that aim to contribute to the well-being of countries and communities in the Global South. This will be followed by a short fireside chat with experts who will provide illuminating perspectives on how to leverage South-South and triangular cooperation to deliver tangible benefits for LDCs in the Decade of Action

Followed by the formal launch of the publication at the event, high-level government representatives from LDCs will be invited to present selected good practices, from the publication, to share their success stories, and experiences. The good practices will also be available on South-South Galaxy– a digital global knowledge sharing and partnership brokering, to facilitate knowledge sharing and cooperation between partners of the global South.

Agenda

Moderator: Ms. Xiaojun Grace Wang, Deputy Director, UNOSSC

1. Opening Remarks

  • H.E. Nancy Tembo, Minister of Foreign Affairs of Malawi, Chair of the Group of LDCs.
  • Mr. Achim Steiner, Administrator, United Nations Development Programme (UNDP)
  • H.E. Khalifa Jassim Al-Kuwari, Director General, Qatar Fund for Development (QFFD) (Video message)

2. Launch of the Publication “Good Practices in South-South and Triangular Cooperation in Least Developed Countries: From the Istanbul Programme of Action to Achieving Sustainable and Resilient Development” (Animated Video)

3. Special Commentators (LDCs representatives speaking on Good Practices)

  • H.E. Ugyen Dorji, Minister, Ministry of Home and Cultural Affairs, Royal Government of Bhutan
    • Presenting the good practice on “Local climate adaptive living facility “(LoCAL)”
  • H.E. Antoine Lekpa Antoine Gbegbeni, Minister of Agriculture, livestock and rural development, Togo.
    • Presenting the good practice on “Incentive Mechanism for Agriculture Financing Based on Risk Sharing (MIFA)”
  • H.E. Milenko Skoknic Tapia, Ambassador and Permanent Representative of Chile
    • Presenting the good practice on “Promotion of youth micro-entrepreneurship in sustainable agricultural products in southern Haiti”
  • H.E. Omar Hilale, Ambassador and Permanent Representative of Kingdom of Morocco
    • Presenting the good practices on “Desert to Power Initiative” and “Islamic Development Bank-Moroccan Agency for Sustainable Energy”
  • H.E Kennedy G. Gastorn, Ambassador and Permanent Representative of the United Republic of Tanzania
    • Presenting the good practice “Cross-border Market for Transforming the Local Economy and Empowering Women in Tanzania”
  • H.E Mohammad K. Koba, Ambassador and Deputy Permanent Representative, Permanent Mission of the Republic of Indonesia
    • Presenting the good practice on “Capacity Building Programme on Enhancing the Development of Small and Medium Industry”
  • Dr. Seeku Jaabi, First Deputy Governor, Central Bank of The Gambia
    • Presenting the good practice on “Economic Recovery of Women SMEs through Credit Guarantee Schemes”
  • Mr. Mohamad Bedda, Advisor on Gender Equality and Women’s empowerment, Ministry of Social Action, Childhood and Family of Mauritania
    • Presenting the good practice “Action Plan on Gender Equality and the Empowerment of Women at the National Level in the Arab region”

4. Fireside Chat

  • Dr. Debapriya Bhattacharya, Non-Resident Fellow at the Center for Global Development (CGD) and a Distinguished Fellow at the Centre for Policy Dialogue (CPD)
  •  Mr. David Jackson, UNCDF

5. Closing Remarks

  • H.E. María del Carmen Squeff, Ambassador and Permanent Representative of Argentina, President of the High-level Committee on SSC
  • Mr. Erdenebileg Sandagdorj, Chief of UN-OHRLLS