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LoginUN to Launch Global Alliance for South-South Cooperation to Drive Sustainable Development
Doha, September 11 (QNA) - Under the theme "Solidarity Rising: Global Alliance for Inclusive and Innovative Development", the United Nations will mark UN Day for South-South Cooperation on Saturday, highlighting the vital role of South-South and triangular cooperation in scaling up proven, impact-driven solutions.
The 2026 observance marks a major milestone with the launch of the Global Alliance for South-South and Triangular Cooperation, a voluntary mechanism coordinated by the UN Office for South-South Cooperation (UNOSSC).
The alliance brings together member states, UN entities, multilateral financial institutions, academia, and the private sector to expand the implementation of successful development models.
Triangular cooperation involves South-led partnerships supported by developed nations or multilateral organizations to implement joint development initiatives. The initiative precedes the High-Level Week of the 81st Session of the UN General Assembly (September 18–28), which UN Secretary-General António Guterres noted aims to revitalize global cooperation and accelerate progress toward the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
Rooted in the founding of UNOSSC in 1974 and the 1978 Buenos Aires Plan of Action, this framework complements traditional North-South development aid while strictly adhering to principles of national sovereignty, non-conditionality, equality, and mutual benefit.
Commenting on the strategic value of the initiative, Assistant Professor of International Affairs at Qatar University Dr. Abdullah Bandar Al Otaibi told Qatar News Agency (QNA) that the Alliance arrives at a critical juncture marked by rising debt, climate pressures, and shrinking development funds. He emphasized that the platform allows developing nations to translate their expertise into concrete projects while leveraging third-party financing and retaining full ownership over their developmental priorities.
Dr. Al Otaibi noted that Gulf economies, particularly Qatar, are uniquely positioned to combine financing, investment, and knowledge transfer across key sectors. The most immediate beneficiaries will likely be food security, water management, clean energy, and digital technology, spanning areas such as drought-resistant agriculture, desalination, renewable energy efficiency, e-governance, and artificial intelligence applications in health and disaster management.
Addressing potential hurdles, Dr. Al Otaibi explained that while securing continuous funding remains a challenge, the primary obstacle lies in adapting successful solutions to varying institutional, legal, and local environments.
He concluded that ultimate success should not be measured merely by financial commitments or signed agreements, but by sustainable impact, such as job creation, technology localization, private investment, and the ability of projects to thrive long after initial funding ends, transforming developing nations from passive recipients of solutions into active producers.
Speaking to Qatar News Agency (QNA), economist Dr. Abdullah Al Khater emphasized that the primary economic value of the Global Alliance for South-South Cooperation lies in bridging the gap between demand and supply by linking expertise, capital, and market needs through a unified, effective network.
Dr. Al Khater explained that the platform provides incentives for real participation rather than symbolic membership. By creating direct channels of communication among funding institutions, investors, and projects, the alliance dramatically reduces search costs, time, and effort. It builds trust by allowing entities to transparently evaluate partners, review historical project performance, and access vital market intelligence that previously posed barriers to development finance.
While noting that the network will require time to fully mature, Dr. Al Khater highlighted that economic demands and market indicators will guide its direction.
He stressed that adopting modern technology will minimize capital expenditures and improve returns, offering clear performance metrics for investors.
To prevent the platform from becoming a political or promotional venue, he urged for transparent reporting, competitive performance tracking, and the active inclusion of the private sector as a neutral, market-driven third party, backed by specialized managerial oversight.
The launch comes amid rapid growth in South-South economic engagement. Global South-to-South trade reached USD 6.8 trillion in 2025, with over half of developing nations' exports now directed toward other developing economies, up from 38 precent three decades ago. Furthermore, intra-developing foreign direct investment flows have quadrupled since the 1990s, capturing 32 precent of global FDI between 2020 and 2023, underscoring the shift toward a more interconnected and self-reliant Global South. (QNA)
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