Context

At the XIVth Francophonie Summit, held in 2012, in Kinshasa (Democratic Republic of Congo), the Heads of State and Government of Francophone countries adopted a Francophone approach to developing tripartite cooperation that recognizes the importance of South-South and tripartite cooperation in promoting and developing cooperation between their countries and sets guidelines to enhance the potential of this kind of cooperation, including the establishment of Francophone actors network.

In July 2018, in Rabat (Morocco), the Network of Francophone Actors for South-South and Tripartite Cooperation (RAFSUD) was launched. The Network’s main objectives are (i) provide Francophone stakeholders with a platform for exchanging and sharing information, experiences and good practices on South-South and tripartite cooperation; (ii) support actors in their efforts to build capacity and coordinate national projects and initiatives; and (iii) facilitate a better visibility on the actions of Francophone countries in this field.

During the high-level week of the 73rd session of the United Nations General Assembly in September 2018, in New York, H.E. Mrs Michaëlle JEAN, Secretary General of the Francophonie, and Mr. Jorge CHEDIEK, Special Envoy of the UN Secretary-General on South-South Cooperation, signed a memorandum of understanding on collaboration between the International Organization of the Francophonie (OIF) and the United Nations Office for South-South Cooperation (UNOSSC).

In January 2019, OIF will deploy its new quadrennial cycle of action and cooperation (2019-2022). In March 2019, in Buenos Aires, Argentina, the United Nations will organize the 2nd High-Level Conference on South-South Cooperation, which marks the 40th anniversary of the adoption of the Buenos Aires Plan of Action on South-South Cooperation (BAPA+40).

 

Round table

In this dual perspective, upon the Global South-South Development Expo 2018 (GSSD Expo), on November 28th-30th 2018 in New York, OIF and UNOSSC organize on November 30th a round table on the theme “Francophone stakeholders networking in South-South and tripartite cooperation, on the way to BAPA+40”.

The round table will last two hours and will aim to answer, among others, the following questions:

  • How to put the Francophone approach of development of tripartite cooperation to good use of the implementation of the SDGs by Francophone countries?
  • What role can/should Francophone actors play in the implementation of this approach?
  • How are Francophone actors mobilizing and structuring themselves for this purpose within the Network of Francophone Actors for South-South and Tripartite Cooperation (RAFSUD)?
  • How can OIF and UNOSSC collaborate in the mobilization of Francophone countries/actors in the perspective and at the 2nd UN High-Level Conference on South-South Cooperation?

The round table will be open to the public who will be invited to interactive exchanges with the panelists:

  • OIF: Mrs. Narjess SAIDANE, Ambassador, Permanent Representative to the United Nations in New York; Department of Economic and Digital Francophonie (DFEN)
  • UNOSSC: Mr. François EKOKO, Regional Coordinator for Africa
  • Moroccan Agency for International Cooperation (AMCI) which coordinates the RAFSUD Provisional Bureau
  • His Excellency Mr. OK Boung, State Secretary for Trade, Kingdom of Cambodia
  • Regional Representatives of RAFSUD (West Africa, Central Africa, Indian Ocean, Southeast Asia).

 

Contacts

Mrs. Carole RICCO
Program Assistant, OIF Permanent Representation to the United Nations in New York
carole.ricco@francophonie.org
+1.212.867.6771

Mr. DONG THE Quang
Program Manager, DFEN/OIF
dongt@francophonie.org
+33.1.44.37.33.96