Syllabus: International Relations
Source: TH
Context: On September 12, 2025 (UN Day for SSTC), calls were made to reform and strengthen South-South and Triangular Cooperation as a tool for achieving the 2030 Sustainable Development Agenda.
About South-South and Triangular Cooperation (SSTC):
What it is?
- South-South Cooperation (SSC): Collaboration among developing countries to share knowledge, skills, technology, and resources for mutual growth.
- Triangular Cooperation (TrC): Partnerships between developing countries supported by developed nations or multilateral agencies.
- Recognised as a complement, not substitute, to North-South cooperation.
Origin:
- Formalised under the Buenos Aires Plan of Action (BAPA), 1978.
- UN adopted Sept 12 as International Day for SSTC, marking BAPA’s anniversary.
Aim:
- Foster self-reliance and collective resilience among developing nations.
- Strengthen capacity to design solutions tailored to local contexts.
- Promote mutual benefit, solidarity, and equality in development cooperation.
Functions:
- Capacity-building, knowledge-sharing, and technology transfer: Helps developing nations build skills, share best practices, and access affordable technology to solve local development challenges.
- Voice in global governance: Strengthens the collective bargaining power of the Global South in shaping international policies and multilateral institutions.
- Regional and interregional cooperation: Encourages countries to pool resources and collaborate across regions to tackle common issues like climate change, health crises, and trade barriers.
- Complement to aid: Provides an alternative to traditional aid by offering mutual support without conditionalities, enhancing resilience and self-reliance.
Significance:
- Development Impact: Promotes low-cost, innovative, and scalable models directly aligned with Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
- Global South Solidarity: Encourages collective ownership, reducing dependence on developed nations while empowering Southern nations to shape solutions.
- Resilience: Provides practical solutions in food security, disaster preparedness, climate adaptation, and public health systems.
- Equity: Counters unequal conditionalities of traditional aid by ensuring fairness, sovereignty, and respect for domestic priorities.
India’s Role in SSTC:
- Philosophy: Guided by Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam, India projects solidarity and inclusiveness in global cooperation.
- ITEC programme: Trains professionals from 160+ countries, boosting skills in governance, IT, agriculture, and health.
- India-UN Development Partnership Fund (2017): Financed 75+ projects across 56 developing nations, especially LDCs and small island states.
- Digital diplomacy: Exported innovations like Aadhaar, UPI, and digital platforms, offering scalable governance solutions abroad.
- Voice of Global South Summits & AU in G20: Amplified South’s concerns globally while championing Africa’s integration into decision-making forums.
- India-WFP partnership: Innovations like Grain ATMs, fortified rice, and ration optimisation showcase India as a model for other developing nations.
Challenges to SSTC:
- Funding constraints: Shrinking humanitarian and development budgets limit scalability of projects.
- Capacity gaps: Many developing nations lack infrastructure, institutions, or skilled manpower to absorb innovations effectively.
- Consensus issues: Absence of a common global framework hampers monitoring, evaluation, and accountability.
- Geopolitical pressures: North-South power imbalances and aid politicisation undermine SSTC’s neutrality.
- Execution barriers: Difficulty in adapting local success stories into diverse regional contexts limits replication.
Way Ahead:
- Expand scope: Bring new areas like digital economy, AI regulation, and climate financing under SSTC.
- Strengthen institutions: Establish dedicated SSTC platforms and secretariats for knowledge exchange and project coordination.
- Innovative financing: Mobilise funds via private sector, diaspora bonds, and pooled Southern resources to overcome budget gaps.
- Triangular leverage: Involve developed nations and multilateral bodies for expertise while keeping Southern nations in the lead.
- Monitoring & accountability: Develop transparent, SDG-linked reporting mechanisms for better tracking of projects and outcomes.
Conclusion:
South-South and Triangular Cooperation is no longer just a diplomatic slogan, but a development lifeline for billions. India’s leadership gives it a unique opportunity to shape equitable global partnerships. With stronger institutions and innovation, SSTC can become a true pillar of the 2030 Agenda.
