South-South Cooperation in Poverty Eradication and Livelihood Recovery in an Age of Technological Revolution

Organized by: UNDP

 

Background

South-South Cooperation (SSC) is rooted in the principles of equality and trust and supports countries in similar development contexts, and facing similar challenges, to find and share solutions that are easier to adapt to their priorities and needs at the global, national and local levels. SSC has the increasing potential of generating knowledge flows and collaborations around the sort of catalytic innovations that promise impact at scale. This is particularly the case against the backdrop of technology-driven transformation that can both lift people out of poverty as well as exacerbate the digital divide.

SSC partnerships can serve as an accelerator/bridge of innovations for rural transformation and poverty reduction as well as in shifting corporate approaches to innovation. In practical terms, this can include innovative technological solutions focused on increasing productivity and value chains; and also access to markets and financial products/financing from the private sector for farmers/rural entrepreneurs/SMEs.

This panel discussion will take stock of some of the experiences to illustrate examples of how technological transformations are leveraged in ways that leave no one behind, in the context of South-South Cooperation.

 

Objectives and Expected Outcomes

The objective of this thematic solution forum is to:

  • Set the tone for the global discussions on how the LNOB can be implemented through South-South Cooperation towards the BAPA+40 meeting.
  • Cast a light on national experiences with SSC and how they affect the development trajectory of development.
  • Knowledge and experience sharing at country level on how SSC can inform policies and approaches to eliminate poverty and leave no one behind.
  • Stakeholder engagement between governments and other institutions to strengthen mutual understanding and information sharing tech-based solutions for poverty eradication.
  • Partnerships building, including through leveraging private sector, to explore practical solutions and concrete activities on how SSC could better address poverty issues and therefore contribute to the sustainable development of other developing countries.

The panel discussion is expected to offer examples of how new technologies can be harnessed to advance equity, fight poverty and discrimination in diverse and evolving contexts.

 

Framing Questions

  • What is the potential for SSC contribution to the SDGs and particularly to the realization of the Leave No One Behind principle in different country contexts?
  • What is the potential of South-South Cooperation for improving developing countries’ access to innovative technology to empower them to implement the SDGs in a manner that suits their context?
  • What is the most innovative aspect of this SSC partnership? What are the key roles of the parties, including for the UN if it is part of the partnership? How was the process of leveraging private sector into development?
  • How has SSC led to increased institutional and technical capacities at various levels of government, civil society, academia, and the private sector?
  • Illustration/Description of UNDP’s facilitator and broker role in building SSC partnerships.

Examples from panelists will include:

  1. Knowledge and Technology Transfer initiatives that can support countries leapfrog development through technology: CICETE
  2. Innovation as a direct source that can disrupt development and unleash SDG accelerating potential: Chengdu High Tech Zone, China (TBC)
  3. Early Recovery Support through SSC: Pakistan/Nepal Government
  4. Upscaling impact through SSC Public-Private Partnerships for energy: The China-Ghana South-South Cooperation on Renewable Energy Technology Transfer

 

Panelists

MODERATOR:

  • Adriana Dinu, Deputy Director, Bureau of Policy and Programme Support (UNDP)

PROPOSED PANELISTS (subject to confirmation)

  • H.E. Abul Maal Abdul Muhith, Minister of Finance, Bangladesh. Short opening remarks.
  • H.E. Adonia Ayebare, Permanent Representative of Uganda to the UN and President of the High-Level Committee on South-South Cooperation [The opportunities of SSC to realize to the LNOB principle indicate broad content of panelist’s intervention]
  • Fang Jiansheng, Vice President for Rural Affairs, Alibaba Group [on Rural Vitalization and Poverty Alleviation under the Digital Economy]
  • Zhang Yi, DDG of CICETE [China’s support to development through SSC, in particular through new instruments – the South South Cooperation Assistance Fund – and new approaches – incl. with NGOs, through PPPs etc.]
  • Louis-Antoine Muhire, CEO Rwanda Cooperation Initiative [Sharing the experience of the Youth Connekt in Africa]
  • Dr Alfred Ofosu Ahenkorah, Executive Secretary of the Energy Commission in Ghana [The use of SSC to leverage private sector to contribute to SDG 7 – the Access to Energy for All]
  • Elena Panova, Resident Coordinator, Turkmenistan [example of work for supporting Government of Turkmenistan with a Digitalization Strategy, sourcing partnerships from private sector to support on innovation]

 

Target Audience

The forum will be open to all Global Expo participants including representatives from think tank networks, governments, development agencies, civil society organizations and private sector.