South-South and Triangular Cooperation
Kartavya Desk Staff
Syllabus: International Relations
Source: TH
Context: On September 12, 2025 (UN Day for SSTC), calls were made to reform and strengthen South-South and Triangular Cooperation as a tool for achieving the 2030 Sustainable Development Agenda.
About South-South and Triangular Cooperation (SSTC):
What it is?
• South-South Cooperation (SSC): Collaboration among developing countries to share knowledge, skills, technology, and resources for mutual growth.
• Triangular Cooperation (TrC): Partnerships between developing countries supported by developed nations or multilateral agencies.
• Recognised as a complement, not substitute, to North-South cooperation.
Origin:
• Formalised under the Buenos Aires Plan of Action (BAPA), 1978.
• UN adopted Sept 12 as International Day for SSTC, marking BAPA’s anniversary.
• Foster self-reliance and collective resilience among developing nations.
• Strengthen capacity to design solutions tailored to local contexts.
• Promote mutual benefit, solidarity, and equality in development cooperation.
Functions:
• Capacity-building, knowledge-sharing, and technology transfer: Helps developing nations build skills, share best practices, and access affordable technology to solve local development challenges.
• Voice in global governance: Strengthens the collective bargaining power of the Global South in shaping international policies and multilateral institutions.
• Regional and interregional cooperation: Encourages countries to pool resources and collaborate across regions to tackle common issues like climate change, health crises, and trade barriers.
• Complement to aid: Provides an alternative to traditional aid by offering mutual support without conditionalities, enhancing resilience and self-reliance.
Significance:
• Development Impact: Promotes low-cost, innovative, and scalable models directly aligned with Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
• Global South Solidarity: Encourages collective ownership, reducing dependence on developed nations while empowering Southern nations to shape solutions.
• Resilience: Provides practical solutions in food security, disaster preparedness, climate adaptation, and public health systems.
• Equity: Counters unequal conditionalities of traditional aid by ensuring fairness, sovereignty, and respect for domestic priorities.
India’s Role in SSTC:
• Philosophy: Guided by Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam, India projects solidarity and inclusiveness in global cooperation.
• ITEC programme: Trains professionals from 160+ countries, boosting skills in governance, IT, agriculture, and health.
• India-UN Development Partnership Fund (2017): Financed 75+ projects across 56 developing nations, especially LDCs and small island states.
• Digital diplomacy: Exported innovations like Aadhaar, UPI, and digital platforms, offering scalable governance solutions abroad.
• Voice of Global South Summits & AU in G20: Amplified South’s concerns globally while championing Africa’s integration into decision-making forums.
• India-WFP partnership: Innovations like Grain ATMs, fortified rice, and ration optimisation showcase India as a model for other developing nations.
Challenges to SSTC:
• Funding constraints: Shrinking humanitarian and development budgets limit scalability of projects.
• Capacity gaps: Many developing nations lack infrastructure, institutions, or skilled manpower to absorb innovations effectively.
• Consensus issues: Absence of a common global framework hampers monitoring, evaluation, and accountability.
• Geopolitical pressures: North-South power imbalances and aid politicisation undermine SSTC’s neutrality.
• Execution barriers: Difficulty in adapting local success stories into diverse regional contexts limits replication.
Way Ahead:
• Expand scope: Bring new areas like digital economy, AI regulation, and climate financing under SSTC.
• Strengthen institutions: Establish dedicated SSTC platforms and secretariats for knowledge exchange and project coordination.
• Innovative financing: Mobilise funds via private sector, diaspora bonds, and pooled Southern resources to overcome budget gaps.
• Triangular leverage: Involve developed nations and multilateral bodies for expertise while keeping Southern nations in the lead.
• Monitoring & accountability: Develop transparent, SDG-linked reporting mechanisms for better tracking of projects and outcomes.
Conclusion:
South-South and Triangular Cooperation is no longer just a diplomatic slogan, but a development lifeline for billions. India’s leadership gives it a unique opportunity to shape equitable global partnerships. With stronger institutions and innovation, SSTC can become a true pillar of the 2030 Agenda.