South-South and Triangular Cooperation (SSTC): More Than a Diplomatic Phrase

Syllabus: GS2/International Relations

Context

• The South-South and Triangular Cooperation (SSTC) has emerged as a transformative force in global development in shifting geopolitical landscapes, widening inequalities, and dwindling development aid.

About the South-South and Triangular Cooperation (SSTC)

• Buenos Aires Plan of Action (BAPA), 1978 enshrined principles of mutual respect, shared learning, and solidarity, far from being a transactional model among developing nations.
• Nairobi Outcome Document (2009): It was negotiated in the UN High-Level Conference on South-South Cooperation in Nairobi, Kenya and adopted by the UNGA.
  • It defined the principles guiding how cooperation among developing countries (South-South cooperation) operates, expanding beyond technical assistance to encompass political, institutional, and infrastructural cooperation.
• The South-South Cooperation (SSC) is defined as a process where two or more developing countries pursue individual or shared capacity development objectives through knowledge exchange, skills, resources, and technical know-how.
  • It involves governments, regional organizations, civil society, academia, and the private sector.
  • It acts as a complement, not a substitute, to North-South cooperation.
• Triangular Cooperation is defined as ‘Southern-driven partnerships between two or more developing countries, supported by a developed country or multilateral organization’.
  • It provides financial, technical, and experiential support to strengthen Southern partnerships and promote regional integration.

Key Principles of South-South Cooperation

• Common endeavor based on shared experiences, solidarity, and objectives.
• Respect for national sovereignty, ownership, and priorities.
• Partnerships among equals, free from conditionalities.
• Mutual accountability and transparency, aligned with development projects on the ground.
• Multi-stakeholder engagement: NGOs, private sector, civil society, academia.
• Theme (2025): ‘New Opportunities and Innovation through SSTC’

Contemporary Relevance of SSTC

• A Response to Global Challenges: Over 800 million people still live in extreme poverty, and many developing nations spend more on debt servicing than on essential services like health and education.
  • SSTC provides homegrown, scalable solutions tailored to local realities—from climate-smart agriculture to digital finance and health innovations.
• Empowerment Through Solidarity: SSTC is built on mutual respect, shared learning, and sovereignty, unlike traditional aid models that often come with conditions.
  • It fosters self-reliance and resilience, enabling countries to co-create solutions rather than depend on external prescriptions.
• Catalyst for the SDGs: SSTC is a key engine for achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) by 2030, especially as traditional aid flows decline.
  • It’s transforming sectors like agriculture, health, education, and technology through locally owned, cost-effective innovations.

Key Concerns and Challenges in SSTC

• Fragmentation and Lack of Coordination: Diverse political systems, economic priorities, and historical contexts often lead to fragmented efforts and difficulty in forming unified positions on global issues.
  • It can dilute the impact of SSTC initiatives and hinder the creation of cohesive platforms for collaboration.
• Limited Institutional Capacity: Many developing countries lack the technical, financial, and institutional capacity to implement and sustain SSTC projects.
  • Fiscal constraints and evolving geopolitical dynamics pose serious challenges to collective action.
• Funding and Resource Gaps: SSTC often relies on trust funds and voluntary contributions, such as the India-UN Development Partnership Fund or the IBSA Fund.
  • These mechanisms are not always predictable or sufficient to meet growing development needs.
• Political Will and Follow-Through: There are concerns about inconsistent follow-through on commitments, while countries like India have shown strong rhetorical support for SSTC.
  • For example, the India-Africa Forum Summit has been overdue since 2015, raising questions about sustained engagement.
• Triangular Cooperation Complexities: Involving developed countries or multilateral organizations adds value but introduces power asymmetries and bureaucratic hurdles.

Role of United Nations (UN) & UNDP

• The United Nations commemorates SSTC on September 12, recognizing its role in fostering inclusive partnerships and sustainable development.
• UN Office for South-South Cooperation (UNOSSC): It supports coherence and coordination of SSC and TrC initiatives.
• UNDP incorporated SSTC as a core working approach in its Strategic Plan (2014–2017).
  • It serves as an operational arm to support SSTC at global, regional, and country levels.
  • UNDP acts as Knowledge Broker, Capacity Development Supporter, and Partnership Facilitator.

India’s Role and Philosophy

• Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam (the world is one family): India’s evolution from a food-deficit to a food-surplus economy — underpinned by one of the world’s largest food safety nets — illustrates the power of indigenous solutions.
  • Its philosophy of Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam (the world is one family) aligns with SSTC’s values of inclusion and cooperation.
  • India has emerged as a hub for cost-effective, locally relevant innovations in digital transformation, climate resilience, health systems, and sustainable financing.
• Key Contributions:
  • Hosting the Voice of the Global South Summits;
  • Securing permanent membership for the African Union during its G20 presidency;
  • Establishing the Development Partnership Administration;
  • Scaling the Indian Technical and Economic Cooperation (ITEC) programme in 160+ countries;
  • Launching the India-UN Development Partnership Fund and sharing digital innovations such as Aadhaar and UPI globally.
• India-WFP Partnership: India and the World Food Programme (WFP) have co-created solutions with global relevance for more than six decades. It piloted innovations such as:
  • Annapurti (Grain ATMs);
  • Supply chain optimisation in food distribution;
  • Women-led Take-Home Ration programme;
  • National rice fortification project;