Cooperación Sud-Sud

En los proximos días se reune en Kenya la Conferencia de Alto-Nivel de las Naciones Unidas para la Cooperación Sud-Sud.

La cooperación Sur-Sur y la cooperación triangular se han convertido en un tema importante en el debate internacional sobre el desarrollo. En estas conversaciones, se han identificado como aspectos importantes la falta de información sobre las instancias de cooperación tanto Sur-Sur como triangular existentes y la necesidad de promover el intercambio de conocimiento

En este marco, el 18 de diciembre de 2008 el PNUD celebró un taller de trabajo titulado “mejorar la efectividad de la cooperación Sur-Sur para el desarrollo”, cuyo objetivo era intercambiar conocimientos entre los agentes de la cooperación Sur-Sur y triangular. El presente estudio fue realizado a modo de seguimiento de ese taller sobre dichos tipos de cooperación, especialmente el intercambio de buenas prácticas.

Estudio completo

Reporte Completo en Español

En Français

Declaración Completa Final de la Conferencia:

High-Level United Nations Conference on South-South Cooperation

Outcome Document

1. We, Heads of Delegations and High Representatives of Governments gathered in Nairobi, Kenya, from 1 to 3 December 2009 at the High-Level UN Conference on South-South Cooperation on the occasion of the 30th anniversary of the 1978 United Nations Conference on Technical Cooperation among Developing Countries held in Buenos Aires, Argentina, which produced the Buenos Aires Plan of Action.

2. We recognize and contribute to the goal of the Conference to strengthen and further invigorate South-South cooperation.

3. We recall and renew our commitments to the full implementation of the outcomes of all major United Nations Conferences and Summits in the economic, social and related fields, and all General Assembly resolutions relevant to South-South and triangular cooperation.

4. We note the outcomes of the G77 South Summits and other relevant South meetings.

5. We recognize the role of the Non-Aligned Movement in promoting South-South cooperation.

6. We take note of relevant processes and dialogues related to enhancing South-South cooperation.

7. Since the Buenos Aires meeting, increasing economic dynamism of some developing countries in recent years has imparted greater energy to South-South cooperation including through regional integration initiatives across the developing world, seen among other things in the creation of regional common markets, custom unions, cooperation in political fields, institutional and regulatory frameworks, and interstate transport and communications networks. In this regard, we recognize the solidarity of middle income countries with other developing countries with the view to supporting their development efforts, including in the context of South-South and triangular cooperation.

8. At the same time, we duly note that many developing countries continue to face serious development challenges and many of them are not on track to achieve the internationally agreed development goals, including the Millennium Development Goals.

9. We stress that South-South cooperation, as an important element of international cooperation for development, offers viable opportunities for developing countries in their individual and collective pursuit of sustained economic growth and sustainable development.

10. We reaffirm the key role of the United Nations, its funds, programmes, specialized agencies and regional commissions in supporting and promoting cooperation among developing countries, while reiterating that every country has the primary responsibility for its own development. We reaffirm resolution 33/134 of 19 December 1978, endorsing the Buenos Aires Plan of Action for Promoting and Implementing Technical Cooperation among Developing Countries, which constitutes a major milestone in the evolution of South-South and triangular cooperation.

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11. We recognize the importance and different history and particularities of South-South cooperation and we reaffirm our view of South-South cooperation as a manifestation of solidarity among peoples and countries of the South, that contributes to their national wellbeing, national and collective self-reliance and the attainment of internationally agreed development goals, including the Millennium Development Goals. South-South cooperation and its agenda have to be set by countries of the South and should continue to be guided by the principles of respect for national sovereignty, national ownership and independence, equality, non-conditionality, non-interference in domestic affairs and mutual benefit.

12. We recognize that South-South cooperation takes different and evolving forms, including, inter alia, the sharing of knowledge and experiences, training, technology transfer, financial and monetary cooperation and in-kind contributions.

13. We recognize the need to enhance local capacity in developing countries by supporting local capabilities, institutions, expertise and human resources and national systems, where appropriate, in contribution to national development priorities, at the request of developing countries.

14. We stress that South-South cooperation is not a substitute for, but rather a complement to, North-South cooperation.

15. We recognize the value of the increasing support provided by developed countries, international organizations and civil society to developing countries, upon their request, in improving their expertise and national capacities through triangular cooperation mechanisms, including direct support or cost-sharing arrangements, joint research and development projects, third country training programmes and support for South-South centers, as well as by providing the necessary knowledge, experience and resources, so as to assist other developing countries, in accordance with their national development priorities and strategies.

16. Welcome efforts by multilateral, regional and bilateral financial and development institutions to increase financial resources to promote South-South cooperation, where appropriate, including for the least developed countries and countries with economies in transition.

17. Recognize that developing countries tend to share common views on national development strategies and priorities when faced with similar development challenges. The proximity of experience is therefore a key catalyst in promoting capacity development in developing countries and, in this regard, accentuates the principles of South-South cooperation. It is important to enhance South-South cooperation in order to fulfill its full development potential.

18. We reaffirm that South-South cooperation is a common endeavor of peoples and countries of the South, borne out of shared experiences and sympathies, based on their common objectives and solidarity, and guided by, inter alia, the principles of respect for national sovereignty and ownership, free from any conditionalities. South-South cooperation should not be seen as Official Development Assistance. It is a partnership among equals based on solidarity. In that regard, we acknowledge the need to enhance development effectiveness of South-South cooperation by continuing to increase its mutual accountability and transparency, as well as coordinating its initiatives with other development projects and programmes on the ground, in accordance with national development plans and priorities. We also recognize that the impact of South-South cooperation should be assessed with a view to improving, as appropriate, its quality in a results-oriented manner.

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19. South-South cooperation embraces a multi stakeholder approach including Non-Governmental Organizations, the private sector, civil society, academia and other actors that contribute to meeting development challenges and objectives in line with national development strategies and plans.

20. In order to realize the potential of South-South Cooperation in accordance with its principles and to attain the objectives of supporting national and regional development efforts, strengthening institutional and technical capacities, improving exchange of experience and know-how among developing countries, responding to their specific development challenges and increasing the impact of international cooperation we:

21. Welcome the achievements made by developing countries towards promoting South-South cooperation initiatives and invite them to continue to intensify their efforts in this regard.

22. Invite developed countries to support South-South cooperation through triangular cooperation, including for capacity development.

23. Encourage developing countries to develop country-led systems to evaluate and assess the quality and impact of South-South and triangular Cooperation programmes and improve data collection at the national level to promote cooperation in the development of methodologies and statistics to this end, as appropriate, while bearing in mind the specific principles and unique characteristics of South-South cooperation. Encourage all actors to support initiatives for information and data collection, coordination, dissemination and evaluation of South-South cooperation, upon the request of developing countries.

24. Encourage also developing countries to enhance their national coordination mechanisms, as appropriate, in order to improve South-South cooperation and triangular cooperation through the dissemination of results, the sharing of lessons and good practices, and replication, including through the voluntary exchange of experiences for the benefit of developing countries, and according to their policies and priorities for development.

25. Recognize that interrelated global crises, in particular the financial and economic crisis, volatile energy prices, the food crisis, poverty, the challenges posed by climate change, as well as other challenges including communicable and non-communicable diseases, are already reversing gains achieved in developing countries and hence require action at all levels. In this regard, we invite developed countries and multilateral institutions to enhance their support to South-South cooperation to contribute to addressing these challenges.

26. Emphasize the need to promote, including through South-South cooperation, access to and transfer of technology. In this regard, we welcome efforts by developing countries in improving technology cooperation arrangements, such as the Consortium on Science, Technology and Innovation for the South (COSTIS). We also emphasize the need to promote through South-South cooperation broader technological developments such as technological management capabilities and information networks that are demand-oriented and involve participation by users of technology or by those involved in the process of technological development, infrastructure and human resources development.

27. Call for the strengthening of various interregional dialogues and exchange of experiences among sub-regional and regional economic groupings for the purposes of expanding South-South cooperation through integrating the various approaches of economic and technical cooperation among developing countries.

28. Acknowledge the various national, regional and sub-regional initiatives to enhance South-South cooperation in the social (particularly health and education), economic, environmental, technical and political fields.

29. Recognize regional mechanisms and initiatives for infrastructure cooperation and integration, including in the energy field, based on solidarity and complementarity, to overcome asymmetries with regard to access to energy resources.

30. Recognize that international support to South-South cooperation in trade, investment and other areas can be catalytic in strengthening and consolidating regional and sub-regional economic integration and take note f the Sao Paolo round of Global System of Trade Preferences negotiations in order to reinvigorate and strengthen the agreement in general, promote greater interregional trade, diversify export markets and enhance investment flows among them.

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31. We acknowledge the need to reinvigorate the United Nations development system in supporting and promoting South-South cooperation. To this effect we:

32. Urge the United Nations funds, programmes and specialized agencies, to take concrete measures to mainstream support to South-South and triangular cooperation to help developing countries, at their request and with their ownership and leadership, to develop capacities to maximize the benefits and impact of South-South cooperation and triangular cooperation in order to achieve their national development goals and internationally agreed development goals, including the Millennium Development Goals.

33. Call upon the United Nations funds and programmes and invite the specialized agencies to continue to enhance the capacities of developing countries to develop and formulate development cooperation programmes, strengthen the capacities of regional and sub-regional organizations and conduct research to identify areas where its support to South-South cooperation will have the greatest impact.

34. Call upon the United Nations funds, programmes and specialized agencies to continue to focus and coordinate their operational activities in support of South-South cooperation, in accordance with national development plans, and their respective mandates, and to produce practical results taking into account South-South characteristics and approaches.

35. Call, furthermore, on United Nations regional commissions to play a catalytic role in promoting South-South and triangular cooperation and in strengthening their technical, policy and research support to countries of their regions.

36. Welcome the recent initiatives by United Nations Conference on Trade and Development, the United Nations Industrial Development Organization, the Food and Agricultural Organization and other United Nations specialized Agencies, to establish, within their respective mandates, new units and work programmes to support and promote South-South cooperation and request United Nations funds, programmes and specialized agencies, as well as regional commissions to help developing countries establish or strengthen existing South-South centers of excellence, within their respective areas of competence, and enhance closer cooperation among such centers of excellence, especially at the regional and interregional levels, with a view to improving South-South knowledge-sharing, networking, mutual capacity-building, information and best practices exchanges, policy analysis and coordinated action among developing countries on major issues of common concern.

37. Encourage such institutions and centers of excellence, as well as regional and sub-regional economic groupings, to establish closer links among themselves, with the support of the Special Unit for South-South Cooperation, including through its Global South-South Development Academy, Global South-South Development Expo, and the South-South Global Assets and Technology Exchange.

38. Reaffirm the mandate of the Special Unit for South-South Cooperation, hosted by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), as a separate entity and coordinator for promoting and facilitating South-South and triangular cooperation for development on a global and United Nations system-wide basis.

39. Call for the effective implementation of the UNDP 4th cooperation framework for South-South cooperation and in this regard encourage Member States in a position to do so to support UNDP and the Special Unit for South-South Cooperation in fully implementing this framework.

40. Invite the Secretary-General, in consultation with member states of the United Nations, to take measures to further strengthen the Special Unit for South-South Cooperation as reaffirmed by General Assembly resolutions 58/220, 60/212 and 62/209, so as to enable it to carry out its full responsibilities, in particular through mobilization of resources for the advancement of South-South cooperation including triangular cooperation.

41. Reaffirm the relevance of the previously established Guidelines for the Review of Policies and Procedures concerning Technical Cooperation among Developing Countries (TCDC/13/3) in conducting and managing South-South cooperation. We therefore call for its full implementation and recognize the need for its continued improvement, in particular in strengthening the capacity of UNDP and United Nations funds, programmes and specialized agencies to promote and support South-South Cooperation, as well as further develop the specific framework of operational guidelines to facilitate the use of TCDC in their programmes and projects.

42. Emphasize that South-South cooperation needs adequate support from the United Nations funds, programmes and specialized agencies, including through triangular cooperation, and calls upon all relevant United Nations organizations to consider increasing allocations of human, technical and financial resources for South-South cooperation, as appropriate.

43. Recognize the need to mobilize adequate resources for enhancing South-South cooperation and, in this context, invites all countries, in a position to do so, to contribute in support of such cooperation through, inter alia, the Perez-Guerrero Trust Fund for Economic and Technical Cooperation among Developing Countries and the United Nations Fund for South-South Cooperation. In this context, encourage the Special Unit to undertake additional resource mobilization initiatives to attract more financial and in-kind resources, while avoiding a proliferation and fragmentation of financing arrangements. In this regard, reaffirm that regular resources will continue to fund the activities of the Special Unit for South-South Cooperation, and invite the UNDP Executive Board to consider measures to allocate adequate resources for the Special Unit on South-South cooperation.

44. We convey our appreciation and gratitude to the Republic of Kenya and its people for the excellent organization and hosting of the High-level United Nations Conference on South-South Cooperation and the warm hospitality extended to us in the city of Nairobi.