- When: Thursday, 4 August 2022, 8:30AM (EST) | 2:30PM (CEST)
- Registration: To register for this event, please click here.
On 4 August 2022, the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) and the United Nations Office for South-South Cooperation are jointly organizing a pre-Global South-South Development (GSSD) Expo event, to launch the South-South in Action (SSIA) publication: “South–South Cooperation in Action South–South and triangular cooperation in agricultural development: FAO’s experiences”.
Background
In 2020, the United Nations General Assembly, through its resolution (A/RES/75/234) on South–South Cooperation, encouraged the continuation and advancement of South–South and triangular cooperation (SSTC) on COVID-19 response and recovery efforts. In the pursuit of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and its Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), the General Assembly called for continued support from the relevant United Nations development system entities in achieving these objectives. The importance of SSTC was reiterated at the twentieth session of the High-level Committee on South–South Cooperation (1–4 June 2021), which focused on the implementation of the BAPA+40 outcome document (UN, 2019). Through effective implementation of this document and in its response to the COVID-19 pandemic and similar global crises, South–South and triangular cooperation (SSTC) shows that it can play a catalytic role in accelerating progress towards the SDGs.
Rapid economic transformation across the developing world over the past 30 to 40 years has created an opportunity – and demand – for cooperation among developing countries in their efforts to improve the lives and livelihoods of their people. While there exists a significant untapped potential for SSTC, efforts must prioritize scaling-up and adapting programmes and policies in the global South that reach the poorest of the poor, address discrimination and inequalities, and ensure that no one is left behind. The goal is to enable the transformation to more efficient, inclusive, resilient and sustainable agrifood systems, especially as COVID-19 impacts are continuing to unfold in the global South.
In order to further promote the fundamental role of SSTC in contributing to the alleviation of hunger, malnutrition and other development challenges across the Global South, FAO and UNOSSC are jointly organizing a pre- Global South-South Development (GSSD) Expo event, to launch the South-South in Action publication: “South–South Cooperation in Action South–South and triangular cooperation in agricultural development: FAO’s experiences”.
The SSIA publication describes FAO’s engagement in SSTC in support of efforts to boost agricultural productivity, enhance food and nutrition security and alleviate poverty in developing countries worldwide.
It provides a snapshot of FAO’s engagement in SSTC through three different case studies, focusing on grassroots development, institutional capacity-building and policy. It also presents key lessons learned from FAO’s experiences with SSTC and provides an outline for the future development of SSTC in FAO, as proposed in the Organization’s new Strategic Framework for SSTC.
This event will be held in conjunction with the launch of FAO’s virtual exhibit for the GSSD Expo 2022, which will take place on the same week.
Objectives
The overall objectives of the event are:
- to promote SSTC and its contributions to alleviating hunger and malnutrition and inclusive and resilient agrifood systems transformation in countries across the Global South;
- to showcase successful SSTC case studies in the Global South with regional perspectives;
- to learn and exchange SSTC expertise with a diverse pool of stakeholders;
- to reaffirm FAO and UNOSSC’s joint SSTC commitments towards the achievement of the SDGs, especially SDG 1: No poverty and SDG 2: Zero hunger;
- to pave the way for further SSTC discussions and concrete actions in view of the GSSD
Followed by the formal launch of the publication, representatives will be invited to present successful case studies presented in the publication, which illustrate grassroots development, institutional capacity building and policy initiatives; and SSTC lessons learned and way forward.
Agenda:
Moderator: Ms. Michela Baratelli, Programme Officer, FAO
1. Opening Remarks
- Ms. Xiaojun Grace Wang, on behalf of Adel Abdellatif, Director a.i. UNOSSC
- Mr. Anping Ye, Director, South-South and Triangular Cooperation Division (PST), Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO)
2. Launch of South-South in Action – SSTC in Agricultural Development: FAO’s Experiences (2-minute video)
3. Presentation of Case Studies
- Mr. Mbuli Charles Boliko, FAO Representative, Madagascar
- Case study: FAO–China South-South cooperation project in Madagascar
- Ms. Minjeong Jang, Policy Officer, General division for International Cooperation, Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs of the Republic of Korea
- Case study: Capacity development and experience sharing for rice value chains through South-South and triangular cooperation
- Ms. Laura Elena Carrillo Cubillas, Executive Director, Mexican Agency for International Development Cooperation (AMEXCID)
- Case study: Mesoamerica Hunger Free AMEXCID-FAO Programme
4. Q&A (Moderated by Mr. Raphael Avelar, UNOSSC)
5. Closing Remarks
- Mr. Nafis Khan, Senior Programme Officer, FAO