The Latin America and the Caribbean (LAC) region has firmly positioned itself as a dynamic centre for South-South and triangular cooperation, drawing strength from a long-standing tradition of horizontal collaboration, regional integration, and forward-thinking policy innovation. Countries across the region actively share their experiences to tackle common development challenges such as poverty, inequality, climate change, and digital transformation. Building on this strong foundation, The LAC region is well-positioned to elevate cooperation to the next level, and the United Nations System has an important role to play through the leadership of Resident Coordinators (RCs) and the coordination of UN Country Teams (UNCTs).
This report, therefore, provides a comprehensive analysis of how the United Nations System supports South-South and triangular cooperation across Latin America and the Caribbean, based on a joint 2025 survey conducted by the UN Office for South-South Cooperation (UNOSSC) and the UN Development Coordination Office for Latin America and the Caribbean (DCO LAC). The survey, conducted across all Resident Coordinator Offices (RCOs) in the region, explored five broad categories related to the institutional set-up and implementation of South-South and triangular cooperation in LAC programme countries under the leadership of the RCs, and identified forward-looking opportunities to strengthen these forms of development cooperation in LAC:
- South-South and triangular cooperation institutional set-up in the LAC countries
- UNCT coordination of South-South and triangular cooperation activities
- Partnerships and stakeholder engagement
- Challenges and opportunities in supporting South-South and triangular cooperation at the country level
- Recommendations for a strengthened RC role in the promotion and support of South-South and triangular cooperation at the country level.