Buenos Aires, 21 March 2019/ACP/UNOSSC: South-South and triangular cooperation (SSTC) have emerged as important solutions for many of today’s largest development challenges, and should be seen as critical complements to North-South cooperation, says a new report by The African, Caribbean and Pacific Group of States (ACP Group) and the United Nations Office for South-South Cooperation (UNOSSC).

Launched on Thursday at the Second High-level United Nations Conference on South-South Cooperation (BAPA+40) in Buenos, Aires, Argentina, the report finds that South-South trade and investment are continuing to grow, while Brazil and China play increasingly influential roles.

The report also says knowledge-sharing can facilitate SSTC and that the ACP will play a vital role, including through the establishment in December 2018 of a new knowledge hub in Malabo, Equatorial Guinea.

Jorge Chediek, UNOSSC Director and Envoy of the Secretary-General on South-South Cooperation, emphasized that the report illustrates the intersections between SSTC practices and global development and policy arrangements, including the 2030 Agenda, the Addis Ababa Action Agenda, and the Paris Agreement on climate change.

“The report showcases South-South and triangular cooperation programmes implemented in ACP countries,” says Mr. Chediek. “It is expected to help disseminate the experiences and knowledge of the ACP countries and strengthen the already-existing partnership between the ACP Secretariat and UNOSSC.”

Patrick Gomes, Secretary General of the ACP Group of States, said, “Owing to the experience of a number of ACP States that have accumulated a wealth of knowledge, expertise and lessons learned from their South-South and triangular cooperation initiatives, including the implementation of intra-ACP programmes, the ACP Group is committed to playing a bridging role.”

Intra-ACP Programmes cover a number of areas including ocean governance, climate change and multilateral trade.

Interview with ACP delegates to BAPA+ 40 South-South and Triangular Cooperation conference

The African, Caribbean and Pacific Group of States (ACP) is an organization created by the Georgetown Agreement in 1975. The ACP Group’s main goals centre around the sustainable development of its Member-States and their gradual integration into the global economy; coordination of the activities of the ACP Group in the framework of the implementation of the ACP-EC Partnership Agreements; consolidation of unity and solidarity among ACP states and establishing and consolidating peace and stability in a free and democratic society. For more information, visit our website at: www.acp.int.

UNOSSC, hosted by UNDP since 1974, is an organization established by the UN General Assembly with a mandate to advocate for and coordinate South-South and triangular cooperation on a global and UN system-wide basis.

For further enquiries: Mr. Bagnéou LAMIEN, ACP Expert – Global economic and financial matters, macroeconomic issues and budget support T: 02 743.06.32

Mr. Mithre J. Sandrasagra, UNOSSC – Strategic Communications Advisor T: +1.646.391.7834