Partnerships in the Global South: How South-South Cooperation is Driving Development

12 September 2025 marks the Day for South-South Cooperation. With just five years remaining to deliver on the 2030 Agenda, the latest UN report on South-South cooperation (SSC) underscores that solidarity among developing countries is not only a development tool, but a critical driver of social progress in an era of compounding crises. The Secretary-General’s State of South-South Cooperation report (A/80/256) highlights how countries of the Global South are forging partnerships to tackle poverty, climate change, digital divides, and debt distress through context-specific, people-centered strategies. As multilateralism faces growing strain, South-South and triangular cooperation are emerging as vital pathways for inclusive development, shared resilience, and the realization of social justice. This cooperation is increasingly important especially for least developed countries (LDCs), landlocked developing countries (LLDCs), and small island developing states (SIDS) facing disproportional challenges in the post-COVID era.  

Building on the Buenos Aires Plan of Action, the UN system is scaling up support for South-South and triangular cooperation across all levels, from strategic planning to country-level implementation. UN entities are embedding these approaches into their core programmes while helping Member States build capacity, exchange knowledge, shape inclusive policies, and mobilize resources. At the same time, efforts are underway to make UN support for such cooperation more coherent and coordinated across the global system. 

Food Security and Nutrition: From Farms to Classrooms 

To combat hunger and malnutrition, UN agencies are leveraging local knowledge and South-South solidarity. In 2024, the World Food Programme (WFP) partnered with Brazil, China, and Côte d’Ivoire to share expertise through its Centres of Excellence, directly benefiting 17 countries. Additionally, FAO, IFAD, and WFP launched a joint programme with Brazil to help African and Latin American countries develop homegrown school feeding programs that link local farmers to classrooms, strengthening nutrition, education, and rural economies. 

Climate Action and Green Transitions  

As climate change widens global inequalities, UN entities are supporting developing countries to lead. UNDP’s Climate Promise 2025 is helping over 60 countries prepare their next national climate commitments, ensuring alignment with national development plans. UNEP coordinated regional ministerial forums in Africa, Latin America, and the Arab region, while ESCAP launched a regional ocean-based climate initiative with Fiji, Indonesia, and Maldives. In Southeast Asia, UNOSSC supported pilot projects on water security and disaster preparedness in Cambodia, Lao PDR, and Thailand. 

Digital Inclusion: Closing the Connectivity Divide 

Digital transformation is key to unlocking opportunity, but the risks of exclusion remain high. To bridge the gap, ESCWA partnered with the International Chamber of Commerce to build e-commerce capacity among small businesses in the Arab region, while ECLAC launched a digital innovation lab in Latin America with German support. The UN University, ECA, and DESA jointly established the South and East Africa Digital Governance Forum, helping 18 countries develop inclusive e-government strategies. UNIDO, meanwhile, opened a global AI Centre of Excellence in Shanghai to promote technology access for the Global South. 

Education & Skills: Learning from Peers 

Education and capacity-building are cornerstones of social development. The Technology Bank for Least Developed Countries conducted tech needs assessments across Africa and Asia, identifying gaps in agriculture, health, and energy. IFAD organized "learning routes" between Africa, Latin America, and Asia—allowing farmers, cooperatives, and policy actors to directly observe and adapt successful rural development practices. Meanwhile, UNIDO launched a global SSC e-learning course and toolkit on industrial cooperation to empower Member States to design and scale local solutions. 

As the world edges closer to 2030, South-South and triangular cooperation will remain indispensable for achieving sustainable development that is inclusive, resilient, and just. Trust and solidarity among developing countries provide not only a practical pathway but also a principled approach to advancing social progress where it is most urgently needed. 

Read the full report here.