GSSD Expo 2018: Summary of the Third Day (Friday, 30 Nov 2018)

DAILY SUMMARY – Friday, 30 November 2018

The final day of the Global South-South Development Expo 2018 saw the 10^th edition of the High-Level Forum of Directors General for Development Cooperation towards BAPA+40, along with side-events focused on promoting innovation, impact assessments and technology development, among others.

In their Opening Remarks, Mr Jorge Chediek, Director of UNOSSC, encouraged building a stronger institutional network, promoting the interconnection of practices, and strengthening mechanisms to support more effective SST cooperation. Mr. Takao Shimokawa, Chief Representative, JICA USA Office, shared the extensive experience of JICA in SST cooperation, while calling for renewing and reconsidering the potential and important role of SST cooperation in achieving the 2030 Agenda. To enhance cooperation, it is necessary to improve knowledge sharing and mutual learning for innovative solutions, mobilize resources, and build stronger partnerships. Dr. Abdelhakim Elwaer, Advisor to the President on Global Advocacy, Islamic Development Bank, further reiterated the significance of SST cooperation as the market place of ideas, expertise and resources, while underlying the need for a more integrated ecosystem and a more institutionalized way to facilitate SST cooperation at the national level. In this regard, the Forum provides a critical platform for taking stock of the achievements and opportunities for SST cooperation and finding practical solutions for development challenges.

Session 1 focused on the institutionalization of South-South cooperation. Moderated by UNOSSC, the panel included representatives from Bangladesh, Kenya, Mexico, Qatar and OECD. Some of the key messages include:

• Kenya highlighted changing dynamics in the world and challenges for South-South cooperation, including inadequately developed policies, legal structures and proper institutional frameworks to manage South-South cooperation. This is the case in Kenya, which lacks adequate coordination. The Kenyan Government is currently revisiting South-South cooperation by reconstituting its technical committee which aims to strengthen a formal institutional and legal framework, develop capacity and establish centers of excellence.
• Qatar encouraged looking back at the outcome documents of previous forums and conferences on South-South cooperation. It also reiterated the importance of enhancing capacity at both national and regional levels and highlighted the need to operationalize cooperation, including through proper jurisdiction and regulations. In partnership with other countries of the South, Qatar focused on health, education and economic empowerment. Its Child Initiative is aimed to educate 10 million students with emphasis on building capacity of Syrian refugees.
• Bangladesh brought attention to its experience of scaling up public services and promoting the culture of innovation, which needs to be more citizen friendly. The Government established a special South-South cooperation unit which provides an institutional mechanism for sharing useful knowledge between partners in the South. It also formed a South-South public service innovation center.
• Mexico further emphasized the importance of a legal framework of South-South cooperation and called for developing methodologies to measure cooperation. Some innovative mechanisms were mentioned, among which joint funds to tackle common challenges (such as those with Chile and Uruguay) are particularly noteworthy. It was underlined that South-South cooperation is an important means of implementation, and as it increased widely, it needs to be well-planned and managed well financially. Improving effectiveness of South-South cooperation is also critical and it should be based on the principles of ownership, transparency, accountability and inclusiveness.
• OECD highlighted the urgency of advancing horizontal cooperation; the need to close gaps including those on connecting better demand and supply; and finding ways how to do it. In this respect, recognizing the synergy and complementarity that respond to national priorities, promoting the measurement agenda, and improving the content of policies are necessary steps for moving forward.

Session 2 discussed reporting mechanisms to promote the impacts of SST cooperation. The panel was chaired by the African Peer Review Mechanism and included speakers from Argentina, Comoros, Japan (JICA), Tunisia and OECD. Some highlights include:

• Argentina pointed to a deficit of data, which undermines the quality of reporting. Better reporting requires the integration of both qualitative and quantitative methods, and improved systems of tracking, evaluation and monitoring. It is also important to increase visibility and emphasize a positive narrative of South-South cooperation which should reflect transparency and accountability. One of the key challenges in reporting is fragmentation of information; therefore, it is necessary to systematize and coordinate efforts to have a common language that will allow adequate evaluation of growing impacts of South-South cooperation.
• Comoros shared some of the activities implemented by the International Agency of Comoros, which reinforces cooperation especially among the countries in the South. It reiterated that South-South cooperation is an indispensable tool for achieving the SDGs. Among key constraints at the national level is a lack of conditions to make assessment, which doesn’t allow to show impact. It is necessary to establish an appropriate framework and tools to measure impact. Moreover, mainstreaming South-South cooperation is important, which requires action at national and regional levels in terms of cross-fertilization of ideas and experiences, collaboration between different actors, and harmonization of tools for comparability of results.
• Tunisia showcased its experience in reporting results in annual national reports which are duly shared with partners and donors. It also makes its expertise available through cooperation with other countries in the South, including Sudan and Ghana where it has provided support in creating technical agencies. Moreover, Tunisia and Far East countries are working together on eliminating poverty in rural areas. In addition, the Islamic Development Bank has been a catalyst for sharing practices and it conducted a survey of Tunisian experience that will be published soon.
• JICA and OECD called for improving reporting mechanisms through better monitoring and evaluation, improved data collection and enhanced coordination, which in turn will enhance evidence-based knowledge sharing among countries in the South. It was highlighted that reporting is not only about quantifying financial flows but is also about the quality of collaboration. For example, OECD developed a toolkit to monitor partnerships and also created an initiative to build evidence on triangular cooperation.

A side-event that took place during the lunch break at the Forum focused on promotion of the ecosystem for South-South cooperation in Africa. Organized by UNDP, the panel involved representatives from Cote d’Ivoire, Rwanda, Uganda and the Islamic Development Bank. The key driver behind this side-event was to contribute to changing the narrative about the role of Africa, its potential and home-grown solutions for strengthening South-South cooperation. Some of the key messages are as follows:

• Cote d’Ivoire presented a case for eco-diplomacy – a new diplomatic paradigm emerged at the end of the 10-year crisis (2000-2011) in the country which serves as a tool to make economic impacts. Three pillars of foreign diplomacy were highlighted: international diplomacy, multilateral/bilateral diplomacy, and regional integration. Among limitations are a lack of coordination among actors, poor delineation of responsibilities, and lack of documentation on formal strategies to deal with issues at hand. Successful experiences include cooperation with countries in the South such as Brazil, China and India, which provided support especially in the areas of infrastructure, technology and transport, and training in capacity building. While Cote d’Ivoire mainly is a recipient, it also contributes to cooperation. It works on a number of strategic and guidance documents, best practices, and a strategic plan for integration. It was suggested that to enhance South-South cooperation, it is necessary to improve organizational potential and reinforce diplomatic capacity.
• Rwanda shared its experience in creating home-based solutions to address challenges in the post-conflict context. It provided several examples on community work (Umuganda), poverty reduction (Girinka) and justice (Gacaca community courts). The business model promoted by Rwanda includes building centers of excellence, facilitation of visits to Rwanda, and assistance to other countries based on Rwanda’s experience (e.g. in peacebuilding). All solutions are properly documented to facilitate sharing with other interested parties.
• Uganda aims at structural transformation in line with its national strategy and African regional agenda. It has developed a cooperative framework of South-South cooperation which focuses on economic and technical forms. One of the examples includes transport corridor integration programs adopted by Uganda and other partners in East Africa, which includes removal of tariff barriers; regulating movements of capital, services and goods; and developing common infrastructure. It is necessary to revamp the existing railway network, improve interconnectivity, and establish identity cards to facilitate human mobility. Strategic interventions are needed in the economy (e.g. manufacture should drive structural transformation in Uganda), in the natural resources and agro-processing areas which have great potential to create new jobs. It is also important to enhance voluntary reporting of South-South cooperation and maximize benefits of technological development including data localization, tech transfer and improved access and affordability of ICT.
• Islamic Development Bank highlighted critical elements of the ecosystem of South-South cooperation in Africa, which include political will; national development strategy; structural coordination within the countries; funding mechanisms available at the national level; and performance management and internal reporting systems.

Session 3 was dedicated to discussing the role of the United Nations in scaling up SST cooperation. Chaired by the Islamic Development Bank, the panel included speakers from UN-OHRLLS, WIPO, WFP, UNIDO and ILO. Some of the highlights are as follows:

• WFP promotes investments in building resilience (for example, through creating productive safety nets including in climate change affected contexts) and strengthening social protection systems. Examples mentioned include the development of social protection mechanisms to protect against natural shocks in Ecuador and the ARC facility implemented by the African Union. WFP also established centers of excellence in China and Brazil, and organized peer learning workshops and trainings. With regard to technology, there have been several initiatives including electronic cash transfers, block chains to improve supply chains, and high tech food schemes. Dissemination and sharing of such practices are essential to addressing hunger challenges.
• UN-OHRLLS aims to mobilize resources, bring coherence among national actors, and provide a platform for South-South cooperation, while building on partnerships, especially in relation to LDCs, LLDC and SIDS. Examples of its activities include the creation of the Technology Bank for LDCs – a new entity to link all Southern technology; the international think tank for LLDCs – an intergovernmental organization to undertake research, provide policy advice, and exchange best practices among the relevant countries; and the SIDS business development network which allows sharing knowledge and lessons learnt on business practices.
• WIPO highlighted innovation and flexibility in South-South cooperation. Its work is guided by the WIPO Convention and strategic plan, which ensure a cross-cutting and inclusive approach to development cooperation in the field of intellectual property, including trademarks, patents, and digitization of databases. It also mentioned its initiative in helping blind people by supporting organizations in the South, providing trainings and skill building workshops for blind people, and sharing resources.
• UNIDO carries outs its activities in the area of SST cooperation based on positioning, alignment and commitment. It is engaged in implementing technical cooperation; convening SST cooperation dialogues; and facilitating partnerships and knowledge exchange. It regularly contributes to SST cooperation processes through sharing its experience, good practices and building centers of excellence, organizing events, among others.
• ILO reaffirmed its commitment to South-South cooperation, which is now institutionalized by the ILO Governing Body and has become part of the institutional mandate. Modules of cooperation include, among others, fragile-to-fragile cooperation, social and solidarity economy, and support to regional initiatives. Furthermore, ILO engages in SST cooperation through identification, documentation and dissemination of good practices; facilitation of exchanges and peer-to-peer learning approaches; and knowledge sharing through multi-stakeholder partnerships.

Session 4 focused on regional perspectives of South-South cooperation. Chaired by Togo, the panel included speakers from Colombia, Cuba, Indonesia, Morocco, Turkic Council and European Commission. Some of the key messages include:

• European Union has been one of the main donors in developing regions. One example of its work is the Adelante program in Latin America and the Caribbean with budget of EUR 10 million, which so far covered 18 counties focusing on sustainable economic growth, governance and rule of law, strengthening democracy, and combating climate change. It allows for scaling up successful experiences in the South, facilitating exchange, finding solutions to meet context specific needs, thus enabling the EU to support demand-driven requests.
• The Turkic Council shared its experience in working with countries in Central Asia such Kazakhstan and Kyrgyzstan. It has played an active role in raising awareness, sharing knowledge and experiences. Notably, it provided vocational training in tourism to officials, half of whom were women. Moreover, it implemented projects aimed at developing capacity of young people through workshops, festivals and trainings; it also created a youth platform under one umbrella. Another important area of intervention is addressing radicalization and violent extremism. It conducted various consultations among Member States, brought together experts and young leaders from Central Asia who co-designed an online academy to address violent extremism.
• Cuba created a network for SDGs for members within and outside the region to support national capacity in the areas of statistics, institution building and South-South cooperation. It also chaired the South-South committee, while working closely with countries across Southern regions.
• Colombia shared its experience in implementing several initiatives. One is related to the Pacific Alliance focused on economic growth, integration and training of young people. Another project is related to improving the healthcare system, including through the control of tropical diseases, and food security in the region. Colombia has worked with 25 countries in the areas of security (by providing training to police officers), tourism and social protection. It was emphasized that one of the key success factors is commitment of the government and its own interest in addressing challenges.
• Morocco highlighted examples of South-South cooperation: academic cooperation (which involved graduation of foreign students); technical cooperation (training, building capacity for professionals); sustainable human development; and humanitarian assistance. It has also developed strategic partnerships with the Islamic Development Bank. It also works with non-state actors including NGOs and private sector.
• Indonesia shared the findings of the Asia-Pacific Directors General Forum which aims to share knowledge, good practices and lessons learnt among countries in the region. It underlined the need for regular forums to discuss regional experiences and emphasized the importance of strong multi-stakeholder partnerships. Coherence, coordination and complementarity are among main principles that underpin South-South cooperation which needs to be aligned with 2030 Agenda.

In the Closing Session 5, Mr. Jorge Chediek, Director, UNOSSC, concluded the Expo by congratulating all participants on the successful event and thanking all partners among Member States, the UN system, private sector, civil society, academia and the organizing committee who made it a great success.

We join our Director in expressing our deep gratitude to all of you for your valuable contributions and your firm commitment to South-South and triangular cooperation. Our dialogue continues and we very much hope to see many of you at the BAPA+40 Conference which will take place in Buenos Aires, Argentina in March 2019!

[Not an official record]