South-South Cooperation - partnerships in which developing countries exchange resources and expertise - is proving an inclusive and cost-effective tool to support the implementation of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, FAO Director-General José Graziano da Silva said.
“South-South and Triangular Cooperation offers the possibility of an approach that is not the traditional way followed by donors. It is more horizontal and it is based on the concept of solidarity,” he said.
The Director-General was speaking at a side-event at the FAO Conference that took stock of the achievements of FAO-China South-South Cooperation Programme and looked at ways to involve more countries and international organisations in similar partnerships.
Graziano da Silva praised China’s pioneering role as the largest contributor in supporting the programme, and he thanked the Government of China for the establishment of the FAO-China South-South Cooperation Trust Fund with a total financial grant of $80 million.
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South-South and Triangular Cooperation offers the possibility of an approach that is not the traditional way followed by donors. It is more horizontal and it is based on the concept of solidarity.
José Graziano da Silva, director-general, UN FAO
“I am sure that the interest in South-South and Triangular Cooperation will continue to grow because the benefits are shared by both sides of this partnership,” the FAO Director-General said.
Participants at the event discussed several examples of successes relating to South-South Cooperation, including in Namibia and in Uganda.
A longstanding, fruitful partnership
China was one of the earliest participants of the FAO’s South-South Cooperation Programme since its establishment over 20 years ago. The country has donated to FAO a total of $80 million worth of trust funds in two phases to support South-South Cooperation in agriculture.
China has sent over 1,000 experts and technicians to 26 countries in Africa, Asia, the South Pacific, and Latin America and the Caribbean, through FAO’s South-South Cooperation Programme. Results have included positive contributions to improve agricultural productivity and food security in developing countries.
FAO and China have promoted triangular cooperation with developed countries and other international organisations, to expand partnerships and promote global sharing of agricultural expertise and knowledge.
FAO’s role
Through its South-South and Triangular Cooperation Programme, FAO is facilitating exchanges of experiences and know-how by supporting the placement of more than 2,000 experts to more than 80 countries around the world.
