“Pathways Toward the SDGs through South-South Solidarity Beyond COVID-19”

• When: 10 September 2020 (09:0:00 am -11:00am NY time)

Background

To highlight the importance of South-South Cooperation, the General Assembly in its resolution 58/220 decided to observe the United Nations Day for South-South Cooperation on 12 September every year. The date commemorates the adoption in 1978 of the Buenos Aires Plan of Action for Promoting and Implementing Technical Cooperation among Developing Countries (BAPA).

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The 2020 high-level commemoration of the United Nations Day for South-South Cooperation organized ahead of the celebration of the 75^thanniversary of the creation of the United Nations, will provide an opportunity to reflect on the vital role of international solidarity and collaboration to support the delivery of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), while effectively responding to the global COVID-19 crisis and recovering better, especially in the Global South.

Despite the impact of the pandemic being especially high for the millions of people living in the South, developing countries have taken the lead in expressing their solidarity with each other by providing PPEs and other vital medical equipment. They have also created a space for sharing their successful early policy measures and experiences in containing the spread of the pandemic and in mitigating its social and economic fallout. In this context, we need to emphasize the call of Mr. Antonio Guterres, the Secretary General of the UN, in his report on shared responsibility and global solidarity that “More than ever before, we need solidarity, hope and the political will and cooperation” to fight this crisis together.

During the event participants will be invited to highlight the role of South-South and triangular cooperation as an important element of their strategies toward implementation of the 2030 Agenda, including considerations of challenges and opportunities offered by the response to and recovery from the COVID-19.

Through leveraging South-South and triangular cooperation – as envisioned in the outcome of the Second High-level United Nations Conference on South-South Cooperation (BAPA+40) – there is an opportunity to turn the COVID-19 recovery into a real opportunity for a more equitable, inclusive and sustainable future. South-South and triangular cooperation offer pathways to address both immediate and long-term needs together, supporting countries to get back on track towards the 2030 Agenda and achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals.

The event will also feature the launch of the publication Good Practices in South-South and Triangular Cooperation for Sustainable Development – Vol. 3. The new volume features close to 200 good practices presented by 35 Member States, 23 United Nations entities and many other development partners including civil society organizations and private sector. Building on two prior highly successful editions, the 2020 volume significantly expands the South-South knowledge base across all SDGs, highlighting innovation, and a greater diversity of partners now leveraging South-South and triangular collaboration for development.

Moving forward – keeping our focus on building a future featuring sustainability and collaboration, and sustaining momentum for South-South development beyond COVID-19 – the 11^th Global South-South Development Expo (2021) will be announced by the Government of Thailand and UN-ESCAP.

Agenda

1- Welcome

• Mr. Jorge Chediek, Director of the United Nations Office for South-South Cooperation and Envoy of the Secretary-General on South-South Cooperation

2- Keynote Messages

• H.E. Mr. Tijjani Muhammad-Bande, President of the 74th Session of the UN General Assembly.
• Mr. Achim Steiner, Administrator of the United Nations Development Programme, BAPA+40 Secretary-General, to deliver a message on behalf of Mr. António Guterres, United Nations Secretary-General and his own remarks as the Administrator of the United Nations Development Programme.

3- Launch of the 3^rd Volume of Good Practices in South-South and Triangular Cooperation for Sustainable Development

4- Commemorative Statements:

• H.E. Mr. Felipe Carlos Solá,  Minister of Foreign Affairs of Argentina, video message.
• H.E. Mr. Munir Akram, Ambassador and Permanent Representative of Pakistan to the United Nations in New York, President of ECOSOC.
• H.E. Mr. Adonia Ayebare, Permanent Representative of Uganda to the United Nations in New York, President of the 19th Session of the High-level Committee on South-South Cooperation, and Co-facilitator of BAPA+40.
• H.E. Mr. Neil Pierre, Ambassador of Guyana to the United Nations in New York, Chair of the Group of 77.
• Ms. Fekitamoeloa Katoa ‘Utoikamanu, Under Secretary-General High Representative for the Least Developed Countries, Landlocked Developing Countries and Small Island Developing States.

5- Interactive discussion with Member States, UN agencies and other stakeholders