Conceptual Foundations of South‑South Cooperation

South-South Cooperation (SSC) is both an old concept and a new idea, an old analysis and a new policy directive. Although the notion has existed for decades, it has grown in importance and function, especially since the early 2000s. It has transformed global economic structures, forcing us to redefine traditionally understood words, most notably “region” and “development.” It has manufactured new alliances, new trading partners, and new methods for economic development, especially for emerging countries. Most recently, it has been recognized as such an important concept that the United Nations (UN) has added SSC to its observance days—September 12 will now mark the international recognition of the importance of this concept, which has been gaining in momentum. At the sixty-second session of the General Assembly (A/62/295), the UN Secretary-General called on the international development community, including the UN, to help scale up the impact of SSC by (a) optimizing the use of South-South approaches in achieving the internationally agreed development goals, including the Millennium Development Goals;(b) intensifying multilateral support for South-South initiatives to address common development challenges;(c) fostering inclusive partnerships for SSC, including triangular and public–private partnerships;(d) improving the coherence of UN system support for such cooperation; and (e) encouraging innovative financing for South-South and Triangular Cooperation.