FAO’S WORK ON SOUTH–SOUTH AND TRIANGULAR COOPERATION IN SUB-SAHARAN AFRICA - EXCHANGING RICE-FARMING KNOWLEDGE AND TECHNOLOGY FOR FOOD SECURITY

Abstract

More than 40 years ago, the first UN Conference on Technical Cooperation among Developing Countries, in Buenos Aires, laid important groundwork for South–South Cooperation, setting in motion a movement of reciprocal self-reliance that emphasizes developing countries collectively assisting one another.

More recently, the Second High-level UN Conference on South–South Cooperation (known as BAPA+40, held in March 2019) highlighted the evolution of South–South Cooperation and its great potential for achieving development ambitions such as the UN Agenda 2030 for Sustainable Development, and the African Union’s Agenda 2063. In the years between those landmark meetings, FAO has worked with a range of partners on successful South–South and Triangular Cooperation agreements to benefit Africa, including Brazil, China, the Republic of Korea, Morocco, the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela and Viet Nam. In the decade up to 2020, FAO also established and sustained two important trust funds for South–South Cooperation: the FAO–China Trust Fund (Phase II and III) and the FAO–Morocco Trust Fund. These Global South partners bring considerable knowledge and experience borne from decades of national development progress and international development assistance. Their cooperation embodies solidarity among peoples and countries of the Global South.