Save the Date: HLC on SSC Side-event on Empowering Global South – Personnel Exchange Cooperation

• When: Wednesday, 28 May 2025
• Time: 8:15 AM – 9:45 AM (EDT)
• Format: Hybrid (In-person and Online)
• Venue: Doha Conference Room, UNOSSC, FF Building, 304 East 45th Street, New York
• Refreshments: Light breakfast will be provided for in-person attendees
• All Interested Participants to Register here

Co-Organizers:

• Permanent Mission of Norway to the United Nations
• Norwegian Agency for Exchange Cooperation (Norec)
• United Nations Office for South-South Cooperation (UNOSSC)

Introduction:

South-South Cooperation and triangular cooperation have emerged as vital mechanisms for fostering development partnerships among countries in the Global South. These modalities of cooperation are based on the principles of solidarity, mutual benefit, and the exchange of knowledge, experiences, and resources.

In this context, Personnel exchange cooperation represents an innovative approach to international development cooperation that transcends traditional donor-recipient models. By facilitating the placement of experts, professionals, and volunteers between countries, these programs create powerful mechanisms for horizontal learning, capacity building, and cultural understanding. The approach uniquely enables direct knowledge transfer, allowing professionals from different Global South countries to share context-appropriate expertise, innovative solutions, and practical experiences.

Personell exchanges foster reciprocity and trust in global partnerships for sustainable development while sigficantly enhancing participants’ professional competence. Exchange participants develop essential cognitive, self-efficacy, and interpersonal skills identified by the World Economic Forum’s Future of Jobs reports as critical in the evolving global skills outlook. This approach not only contributes to innovative solutions for sustainable development but also addresses the needs of the future global workforce.

In 2024, UNOSSC and Norec completed a joint study on Personnel Exchange as a Cooperation Model within the South-South and triangular cooperation frameworks. The study highlighted the significant role of these exchanges in facilitating knowledge transfer, capacity-building, and cultural understanding among Global South countries.

Objective:

The upcoming High-level Committee side event on South-South and Triangular Cooperation presents a pivotal opportunity to explore transformative approaches to international development cooperation through personnel exchange programs. Building on a comprehensive joint study by the UNOSSC and  Norec, the event will illuminate the strategic potential of knowledge sharing across developing countries. This side event will:

• Highlight successful personnel exchange models
• Demonstrate the unique value of horizontal knowledge sharing and skills development
• Address challenges and propose innovative solutions
• Promote sustainable development through people-to-people connections

Themes in Focus:

The event will delve into critical themes of knowledge exchange, emphasizing how personnel exchanges challenge conventional development paradigms. Participants will explore practical mechanisms for skill transfer, hands-on mentoring, and the creation of lasting professional networks across diverse global contexts. Special attention will be given to demonstrating how these exchanges foster mutual learning, with both sending and receiving countries gaining valuable insights and capabilities. In addition, the contribution of professional exchanges towards developing essential skills for the future of jobs will be highlighted.

Approach and Impact

The event programme is designed by  bringing in a mix of key stakeholders including governments, beneficiaries on the exchange programme from the Global South and think tanks. Organized by the Permanent Mission of Norway to the United Nations, Norec, and UNOSSC, the event aims to catalyze support for personnel exchange initiatives. It will showcase successful models, address implementation challenges, and propose innovative strategies for expanding these programs. The event agenda will prioritize multi-stakeholder approaches with emphasis on gender balance.

Target Audience:

• Representatives from countries involved in personnel exchange programs
• Member States/ UN Permanent Representatives
• Think tanks and academia
• Development practitioners and policymakers
• UN Entities

Agenda:

Moderated by: Ms. Tehetena Woldemariam, Head  of Section, Norwegian Agency for Exchange Cooperation (Norec)