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South South Cooperation in Promoting Sustainable Development

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Introduction:

SSC (South-South Cooperation) has become a potent and revolutionary force in advancing sustainable development on a global scale. When nations from the Global South work together to address common development concerns, it signals a paradigm change in international cooperation. These countries are altering the development landscape by combining their skills, resources, and experiences.

South-South Cooperation

Collaboration between developing nations in the Global South for the purpose of sharing resources, information, and technical know-how is referred to as “South-South Cooperation.” SSC places a strong emphasis on horizontal relationships between states with similar difficulties and resources, as opposed to traditional development cooperation, which often entails aid from affluent nations to the developing world. It acknowledges that the Global South has valuable experiences and creative solutions that can be effectively shared both inside and outside of their own region.

Understanding Sustainable Development

In order to meet the demands of the present generation without compromising the potential of future generations to meet their own needs, sustainable development is a concept. It acknowledges the interdependence of environmental preservation, social advancement, and economic growth. Finding a balance between social inclusion, economic progress, and environmental care is necessary for sustainable development. It includes the inclusion of social justice, economic viability, and environmental sustainability in decision-making processes. Promoting renewable resources, reducing waste and pollution, guaranteeing social fairness, supporting inclusive and participatory decision-making, and understanding how global concerns are interconnected are some of the fundamental ideas. In order to address urgent problems like climate change, poverty, inequality, and environmental degradation and to build a more resilient and prosperous future for all, it is essential to understand sustainable development.

A Rising Force in International Development:

In recent decades, South-South Cooperation has grown remarkably. South-South commerce surged from $59 billion in 1990 to nearly $4 trillion in 2019, according to the United Nations. This increasing tendency draws attention to the growing economic linkages between developing nations. As a result, SSC is now a significant factor in both global economic growth and the decline of poverty.

Sharing Knowledge and Best Practices:

Knowledge exchange is one of the main tenets of South-South Cooperation. Developing nations are progressively exchanging their insights, best practices, and development-related lessons. For instance, several nations in Africa and Latin America have adopted Brazil’s Bolsa Familia program, which uses conditional cash transfers to combat poverty. This knowledge exchange helps countries avoid having to reinvent the wheel and hastens the process of reaching the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

Economic Collaboration and Trade:

Economic cooperation and commerce between developing nations are promoted via South-South Cooperation. African countries’ dedication to enhancing intra-continental commerce is demonstrated by the creation of regional integration projects like the African Continental Free commerce Area (AfCFTA). SSC enables nations to diversify their economy, increase productivity, and improve competitiveness by utilizing regional markets. This results in fewer people living in poverty, more jobs being created, and more chances for sustainable development.

Achieving SDGs through SSC:

The SDGs have been supported by SSC in a significant way. SSC supports the achievement of the main SDGs of gender equality, food security, health, and well-being by encouraging cooperation among developing nations. The South-South Galaxy platform, introduced by the UN Office for South-South Cooperation, acts as a virtual hub for the exchange of SSC solutions, the facilitation of alliances, and the mobilization of funding for sustainable development projects.

The cumulative monetary contributions to SSC initiatives have reached considerable amounts as of 2021. For instance, the China-South-South Climate Cooperation Fund has promised to contribute $3.1 billion to programs in developing nations aimed at reducing the effects of climate change and preparing for them. Similar to this, $150 million has been pledged by the India-UN Development Partnership Fund for the implementation of SDG-related initiatives in least developed nations.

Financing for Development:

A key element of South-South cooperation is financial cooperation. The establishment of new development finance organizations like the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB) and the New Development Bank (NDB) demonstrates the expanding financial might of emerging nations. These organizations offer alternate funding sources for construction projects and other types of development activities. For instance, the Belt and Road Initiative’s flagship project, the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC), has made a considerable contribution to Pakistan’s infrastructure growth.

Climate Change Mitigation and Adaptation:

Concerning climate change, South-South Cooperation is essential. Developing nations frequently share similar vulnerabilities and climate change-related experiences. Nations exchange technology, methods, and knowledge for preventing and adapting to climate change through SSC. For instance, India’s International Solar Alliance (ISA) brings together nations with abundant solar energy to encourage the use of solar energy worldwide. The alliance makes it easier to export solar technology and aids poorer nations in achieving their goals for renewable energy.

Conclusion:

South-South Cooperation has grown into a vibrant and inclusive strategy for advancing global development while tackling common problems. The expansion of economic cooperation, information sharing, and financial cooperation among developing nations has accelerated the SDGs’ fulfilment. Nations of the Global South are reshaping the global development agenda by combining their capabilities and resources. Recognizing and utilizing South-South Cooperation’s potential to promote sustainable and equitable development globally is crucial as we move forward.

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Name: Hassam Ali is pursuing bachelor in International Relations from Quaid-i-Azam University, Islamabad. he tweets at @Hassam_Bukhari1
Email Address: syedalihassamb@gmail.com

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