The Pérez-Guerrero Trust Fund for South-South Cooperation (PGTF) was established by the United Nations General Assembly (GA 38/201) in 1983 and in 1986 a High-level Meeting on ECDC held at Cairo approved the main features for launching PGTF operations. The objective of the Fund is to provide seed money for

• financing pre-investment/feasibility studies/reports prepared by professional consultancy organizations in developing countries members of the Group of 77 (G-77);
• facilitating the implementation of projects within the framework of the Caracas Programme of Action on ECDC as well as the priority areas for South-South cooperation of the Havana Programme of Action; and
• supporting economic and technical cooperation among developing countries.

The South-South collaborations funded are mostly implemented by national institutions and focused on joint research, field activities, workshops, publications, development of common standards, and educational activities. These projects have been catalytic at intensifying linkages among Southern institutions and enabling the sharing of knowledge among developing countries.

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PGTF has utilized the interest produced by its $7 million capital endowment, along with voluntary annual contributions from the Member States, 51 to date, to fund 361collaborative projects among developing countries members of the Group of 77. To date, PGTF has supported projects totaling $15.5 million and benefiting a total of 141 G-77 countries (including former members). Its vast activities have covered topics such as food and agriculture, health and trade.

The Pérez-Guerrero Trust Fund for South-South Cooperation focus on the following priority project areas:

• Food and agriculture;
• Trade;
• Energy;
• Raw materials;
• Technology;
• Industrialization;
• Finance; and
• TCDC.

Explained below is the annual project cycle and the process. Prospective applicants should fully fill in the mandatory project proposal model format and summary checklist in any of the working languages of the Group of 77 (Arabic, English, French and Spanish).

Proposals are submitted through a government channel (e.g., diplomatic missions to the UN or other government authority as appropriate) to the Executive Secretariat of the G-77 jointly with endorsement letters from the participating countries. Participation by at least 3 countries is required for any proposal to be considered.

Country offices issue PGTF disbursements in ways most relevant to their contexts; including as grants within their engagement facilities, grouped into larger projects or as standalone initiatives.

Applicants should familiarize themselves with the Guidelines before preparing and submitting a funding application. Major project eligibility criteria include, but are not limited to, the following:

The United Nations Office for South-South Cooperation serves as the Fund Manager of PGTF.

A committee of Experts of PGTF, constituted by two representatives of each one of the three regions of the G-77 acting in their personal capacities, appraise and submit a prioritized list of eligible project proposals for the approval by the Ministers of Foreign Affairs of G-77 Member States at their annual ministerial meeting.

United Nations Development Programme channels and helps implement PGTF resources through projects around the world.

Contact Fund Focal Points at UNOSSC:

Visit the PGTF page on the G77 website