Part #2: Enhanced UN support to South-South Cooperation? The United Nations Office for SSC Strategic Framework 2014-2017

@karin_vazquez

Three issues to watch for this Wednesday during session 4 of UNDP, UNFPA and UNOPS Executive Board First Regular Session 2014, and after:

Issue #1: UNOSSC hosting by UNDP, UNOSSC participation in the UN Development Group, and coordination of mandates

In her opening statement at the UNDP, UNFPA, UNOPS Executive Board this morning, UNDP Administrator Helen Clark noticed the continued efforts to step up the promotion of South-South and triangular cooperation in UNDP’s new Strategic Plan. “Our two main entry points are through our hosting of the United Nations Office for South-South Cooperation and through our extensive country and program reach. The latter will enable us to provide a global operational arm for South-South co-operation, which is also accessible to the broader UN Development System, as envisaged in our new Strategic Plan. These two entry points complement and support each other.”

However, being hosted by UNDP prevents UNOSSC from participating in meetings of the United Nations System Chief Executives Board for Coordination (CEB). This issue was brought up again today, at the first meeting of UNDP, UNFPA, UNOPS Executive Board First Regular Session 2014, by the delegation of Brazil. The Group of 77 and China advocate UNOSSC participation in the CEB and other UN system-wide task forces, teams and similar mechanisms to be established in the future in keeping with its status as a separate entity within the UN for global coordination and promotion of South-South and triangular cooperation for development on United Nations system-wide basis, in accordance with UN General Assembly resolutions.

The G-77 and China note UNOSSC absence from the composition of the UN System Task Team on the Post-2015 UN Development Agenda and argue that the Office is empowered to participate independently in the work of such system-wide coordination mechanisms. The issue of the independence of the UNOSSC within UNDP will need to be addressed by the HLC.

Regardless of the UNOSSC status, there are specific coordination issues between UNOSSC and UNDP that need to be further clarified. UNDP has placed SSC at the heart of its policies and programs in its Strategic Plan, 2014-2017 and while developing its corporate SSC strategy, it will need to step up its support for UNOSSC in a coordinated fashion.

Some of these coordination challenges were outlined in Part #1. The study Enhancing Management Practices on South-South and Triangular Cooperation further exemplifies UNOSSC and UNDP potential for coordination in terms of enabling an effective institutional environment for SSC partners. This collaboration could be deepened, for instance, through joint evidence-based research and analysis of country examples for the annual report of the UN Secretary General, the biannual reports of the HLC, policy briefs, policy dialogue, and knowledge products for the Global South-South Centers of Excellence Facility.

Issue #2: UN programming support to SSC, including to transferring knowledge, measuring progress and assessing results

Despite efforts made by many organizations at mainstreaming SSC into their work and operational activities, lack of understanding of the definition and concept of South-South and triangular cooperation, and of the differentiation between the regular technical cooperation programs and those dealing specifically with SSC persist. Few UNDAFs make reference to SSC, and even fewer have a relevant SSC-related outcome. 

More needs to be done in terms of planning, tracking, monitoring and evaluating SSC activities supported by the UN system. Some ideas are the development of programming instruments that allow for the UN organizations to plan jointly with the governments in the concerned regions, and of a “South-South Cooperation Marker”, inspired on the Gender Marker, to measure the degree to which UN outputs and projects support SSC.

In regard to knowledge sharing, the delegation of Bulgaria at the first meeting of UNDP, UNFPA, UNOPS Executive Board First Regular Session 2014 reinforced the need to scale up global knowledge and country experiences through forward-looking, multidisciplinary research, a multi-year research agenda, and partnerships with the global centers, the Human Development Report Office, and other UN entities – and to put less emphasis on traditional programmatic approaches.

Issue #3: SSC partners and OECD-DAC countries contribution to South-South and triangular cooperation

Inadequate financing has been a major stumbling block in advancing support to SSC within the United Nations Development System. The delegation of India at the first meeting of UNDP, UNFPA, UNOPS Executive Board First Regular Session 2014 noted that “as host to the only entity in the whole of the UN system, which has a singular mandate to promote SSC, the Office needs to be given the resources, both financial and human, which it needs for its effective functioning and discharge of its mandate.”

There are a few possible reasons for this funding stalemate. First, much activity in the UN system - including SSC initiatives - is now governed by what can be described as a hub and spoke bilateralism, whereby individual state and non-state actors contract directly with UN agencies and forgo the collective decision-making associated with multilateral governance.

Second, despite the increase of triangular cooperation, there is still a lack of strategic thinking with regard to policies and financing mechanisms governing such cooperation.

Third, if UNOSSC is indeed to become an independent office as claimed by the G-77 and China, funding for its work needs to be immediately mobilized from its new hosting organization – possibly UN Secretariat funding.

What can be expected from SSC partners in the UNDP, UNFPA, UNOPS Executive Board (e.g. Brazil, China, Indonesia, Korea, Russia)? How are OECD-DAC countries in the board (e.g. Germany, UK, Norway, Finland, Sweden) responding to triangular cooperation as a complement to SSC? Could thematic trust funds like the Perez Guerrero Trust Fund and the IBSA Fund play a greater role in bridging UNOSSC funding gap while reducing the transaction costs for SSC partners?

What other issues should we be watching for?

Watch session 4 of UNDP, UNFPA and UNOPS Executive Board First Regular Session 2014 this Wednesday (29 January) live at http://webtv.un.org

READ ALSO:
Part #1: Enhanced UN support to South-South Cooperation? The United Nations Office for Development Cooperation Strategic Framework 2014-2017
Upcoming events in South-South and triangular cooperation

Part #1: Enhanced UN support to South-South Cooperation? The United Nations Office for SSC Strategic Framework 2014-2017

@karin_vazquez

United Nations Webcast webtv.un.org

Full steam ahead! The Strategic Framework of the United Nations Office for South-South Cooperation (UNOSSC), 2014-2017, will be presented this Wednesday (29 January) for consideration and approval of the Executive Board of the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), the United Nations  Population Fund (UNFPA), and the United Nations Office for Projects Service (UNOPS) in its First Regular Session 2014 (27-31 January, New York).

A more strategic role for global and UN-wide policymaking and coherence in South-South Cooperation (SSC) is particularly welcome as the Southern middle class, trade and investment among developing countries, and the demand for new, independent modalities of development cooperation and partnership increase. 

As the home for SSC in the UN system, UNOSSC is faced with the challenge to enhance UN support to the exchange of knowledge, technology, investment, information and capacity among Southern partners based on the principles of respect for national sovereignty, national ownership and independence, equality, non-conditionality, non-interference in domestic affairs, and mutual benefit.

The new strategic framework contains proposals on how the UNOSSC can effectively promote, coordinate, and support South-South and triangular cooperation through i) policy development and advocacy; ii) inter-agency coordination and facilitation; iii) innovative mechanisms; iv) inclusive partnerships and resource mobilization; and v) the exchange of development solutions.

Global and United Nations policy development and advocacy

South-South cooperation has slowly made its way across the United Nations system over the past 30 years. The new UNOSSC strategic framework aims to transform SSC from “an issue of special attention into a modality for regular, day-to-day programming and implementation of the system-wide operational activities for development.” The new strategic framework aims to embed the South-South agenda, perspectives and approaches in the High-Level Committee (HLC) on South-South Cooperation, the General Assembly and the governing bodies of other UN organizations, the post-2015 development agenda, and other relevant intergovernmental and inter-agency processes. This will be achieved through evidence-based research and analysis on demonstrable development outcomes, trends, opportunities and challenges to South-South and triangular cooperation to enable Member States and UN system organizations to make informed decisions and policies.

Inter-agency coordination and facilitation

A growing number of UN agencies are developing strategies and establishing dedicated SSC structures to initiate, coordinate, report and evaluate their support to SSC. As SSC is mainstreamed across the UN Development System (UNDS), attention to coordination, participation, and positive action grows. At the global level, the new strategic framework defines UNOSSC collaboration with UNDP in terms of the collection, analysis and provision of detailed data on South-South and triangular cooperation to improve policy dialogue, and facilitate consensus building. At the regional and national levels, emphasis is given to UNOSSC support to the UN Resident Coordinator System through the development of guidance notes, training manuals and workshops to embed SSC into the UN Development Assistance Frameworks (UNDAFs) and other UN planning and programming instruments.

Catalyzing innovative mechanisms, fostering inclusive partnerships and mobilizing resources from public and private entities to support multi-agency collaboration in implementing the recommendations in the Nairobi outcome document

The Nairobi outcome document of the 2010 High-level United Nations Conference on South-South Cooperation encourages UN centers of excellence and regional/sub-regional economic groupings (e.g. the UN Economic Commission for Europe International Public-Private Partnership, and the World Food Programme Center of Excellence Against Hunger, UN Industrial Development Organization Energy Technology Centers, among others) to leverage their work through UNOSSC 3-in-1 multilateral South-South support architecture. The new strategic framework aims to consolidate the 3-in-1 support architecture by identifying, documenting and disseminating development solutions more systematically; strengthening the online directors-general forum for dialogue; and enhancing countries’ capacity in utilizing the South-South Gate for the exchange of technical know-how and technologies.

The renaming of the Special Unit for South-South Cooperation to UNOSSC in 2012 not only boosted the Office’s visibility; it also brought the challenge to reposition itself in better servicing Member States and the UN system with little change in core funding sources. The new strategic framework aims to mobilize $20 million in non-core resources to supplement core resources through financial and in-kind contributions to multilateral forms of South-South development assistance, multi-agency participation, and cost-sharing arrangements. Public-private partnerships will be encouraged at the country level through the use of the South-South Gate (SS Gate) by the UN Resident Representative System.

Supporting knowledge-sharing, networking and the exchange of good practices, including through Southern centers of excellence.

The new strategic framework expands the support to self-sustaining and South-owned knowledge exchange networks (e.g. the IPC-IG South-South learning on Social Protection Gateway, the UNEP South-South Cooperation Exchange Mechanism, and the UNFPA South-South Cooperation Platform, to name a few) and piloting a UNDP-led Global South-South Centers of Excellence Facility to connect and leverage the strengths of relevant centers of other UN organizations (specially those of UNDP) such as the Public Service Excellence Center in Singapore, the Rio+ Center in Brazil, and the Istanbul International Center for Private Sector in development.

READ ALSO:
Part #2: Enhanced UN support to South-South Cooperation? The United Nations Office for Development Cooperation Strategic Framework 2014-2017
Upcoming events in South-South and triangular cooperation

#100th like in Cafezinho's first week! Who will it be?

@karin_vazquez

...building a critical mass of Southern thinkers - and doers!


Cafezinho is an open space for international development practitioners to connect and share ideas on how to improve international development systems, modalities and practices. Contribute! 

1. Like the blog on Facebook, share it on LinkedIn, tweet about it! It is easy, you only need to press the buttons on the right column of the page

2. Enjoyed a specific post? Share it with your networks, leave a comment, start a debate

3. Suggest content, collaborate as a guest blogger, send your feedback
4. Also a blogger? Add a link to Cafezinho in your page!

Upcoming events in South-South and triangular cooperation

Be prepared! 2014 will be an intense year for us engaged in development systems, South-South and triangular cooperation, and knowledge exchange. Follow the events below and check regularly for updates.

27-31 January: First regular session of UNDP, UNFPA and UNOPS Executive Board. New York 

* Approval of the Strategic Framework of the United Nations Office for South-South Cooperation 2014-2017

13-14 February: First planning meeting of CLACSO Working Group on South-South Cooperation and Development Policies in Latin America. Quito, Ecuador

* The CLACSO Working Group on South-South Cooperation and Development Policies in Latin America aims to analyze how SSC strategies relate to foreign policy agendas and to understand how they connect with current debates on development models in the region

13-14 February: Arab States Regional South-South Development Expo. Doha, Qatar

* The Expo will focus on energy efficiency, renewable energy, youth and women employment and food and water security


17-19 March - BRICS Academic Forum. Rio de Janeiro, Brazil


20-21 March: High-Level Symposium on "Accountable and effective development cooperation in a post-2015 era" Berlin, Germany

9-10 April: UN General Assembly event post 2015 "The role of partnerships in the implementaion of the post-2015 Development agenda" New York

15-16 April: First High-Level Meeting of the Global Partnership. Mexico City, Mexico

19 May: IBSA Fund in Partnership with the United Nations: Symbol of South-South Cooperation and Solidarity

19-22 May: 18th Session of the High-Level Committee on South-South Cooperation


20-21 May: Contributions of South-South, Triangular Cooperation and ICT for Development to the Post 2015 Development Agenda. New York

19-20 June: International Development Cooperation: Trends and Emerging Opportunities - Perspectives of the New Actors, Istambul

23-26 June: 2nd High-Level Meeting on Knowledge Hubs. Seoul, Korea 

* The forum will assess how a global partnership for development beyond 2015 could work in practice; examine implications of a post-2015 development agenda for development cooperation; identify ways to enhance national and global accountability and effective monitoring of development cooperation; advance policy dialogue and concrete actions by Souther development cooperation partners on common issues and challenges

10-11 July: 4th Development Cooperation Forum. New York 

July 14-16: 6th BRICS Summit. Fortaleza and Brasília, Brazil

23-25 July: FLACSO/ISA Joint Conference. Buenos Aires, Argentina

* The Conference will have two panels dedicated to South-South Cooperation and Development Policies in Latin America focused on SSC and business, regional integration, financial institutions, health policies, human rights, knowledge exchange and innovation.

12 September: United Nations Day for South-South Cooperation 

16-29 September: 69th Session of the UN General Assembly

POSTPONED (TBC): Feria Saber del Sur 2014, Ciudad del Saber, Panamá

6-7 November: Global Partnership Workshop | South-South Cooperation Breakout Session, Seoul, South Korea

17-21 November: Global South-South Development Expo. Washington DC

20-21 November: Mini Forum South-South Cooperation Think Tanks and Partnership Breakfast, during the Global South-South Development Expo. Washington DC

8 December: Conference on South-South Cooperation on Climate Change (SSCCC) in the interval of the UNFCCC COP20

2013 year in review

Despite all the acronyms...2013 was quite an exciting year! :-) Here is a bit of my work in the past +-12 months. My sincere gratitude to all the colleagues who are innovating development cooperation and improving organizational effectiveness in UNDP! 

Part #2: Learning from peers: How are Brazil and Indonesia structuring institutional and operational models for South-South cooperation?

(excerpt of book chapter forthcoming @ Ottawa University Press - adapted)


The Brazilian case: structural impact projects

The expansion of Brazilian South-South Cooperation and Knowledge Exchange has fostered the development of innovative models of program design. One of these innovations is the “Structural Impact Project" - large, long-term projects with significant multiplier effect in the beneficiary country. 

A typical structural impact project engages multiple stakeholders in both provider and beneficiary country throughout the project life. Each partner has clear and complementary roles from the design to the implementation of the project, ensuring a multidimensional approach to complex development challenges. 

Structural impact projects often combine more than one modality of South-South Cooperation such as knowledge exchange, humanitarian cooperation, and financial cooperation, among others. 

The concept stems from Brazil’s experience with smaller, activity-based projects and the understanding that these types of initiatives are less likely to deliver the expected results in the partner country. 

Structural impact projects innovate in two aspects. First, by integrating human resources training, capacity building and institutional development, these projects stop the passive transfer of knowledge and technology. Second, by exploring the endogenous capacities and capabilities in the beneficiary country, these projects contribute to the strengthening of local institutions, foster local capacity and knowledge, promote dialogue and empower local actors to lead the development process of their own countries.

Structural impact projects have been gaining momentum in Brazil, with over 12 ongoing initiatives totaling more than $500 million over the next 20 years. The main Brazilian cooperation projects in Africa and South America today follow this model and combine training of human resources; and capacity building in research, teaching and services to strengthen (or create) the "institutional infrastructure" in the partner country. This institutional infrastructure often includes health systems, ministries of justice, schools of public administration, universities or technical courses (medicine, dentistry, nursing, etc.), among others.

The Pro-Savannah project, based on a regional development program in Mozambique with a twenty-year timeframe, is an example of structural impact project. The Pro-Savannah is similar to that undertaken in Brazil in the 1970s to boost the productivity of the "Cerrado” region, which has characteristics resembling those of African savannahs. From roughly 1970 to 2000, technical cooperation and funding from Japan helped Brazil adapt the soybean to the “Cerrado”, - the most extensive woodland-savannah in South America, with a pronounced dry season – to become one of the world’s largest producers of soybeans. Now both Brazil and Japan are helping Mozambican small farmers in much the same way. 

What lessons can Brazil and Indonesia learn form each other? 

As Brazilian and Indonesian cooperation programs reach maturity, the two countries have much to learn from each other’s experiences in order to scale up their contribution in international development. 

The Brazilian and the Indonesian South-South cooperation programs have their roots in a time when these countries were recipients of development aid. However, the Brazilian cooperation program was set up within the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and there remained, making it easier to evolve with the country’s international profile. The Indonesian program in turn depended on a complex coordination mosaic among four Ministries since its early stages. Without a robust policy framework, it would possibly be even more challenging to keep the program bound together throughout the years.


The policy frameworks were not as relevant to the Brazilian cooperation as they were in the Indonesian case. At least not until now. South-South cooperation in Brazil has many different institutional layers, a complex operational structure and few coordination mechanisms. As Brazilian cooperation reaches maturity, the development of a policy framework that sets common goals for the different implementing entities and that leverages the knowledge within the country becomes even more relevant. 


A policy framework for Brazilian South-South cooperation could also help solve other institutional and operational bottlenecks in the Brazilian cooperation system, such as the limitations to program set-up and implementation imposed by an outdated regulatory framework, human resources constraints, poor monitoring and evaluation tools, among others. 


Likewise in Indonesia, more robust program designs involving partners within and beyond government could not flourish amid a scenario of fragmentation and lack of coordination. Having bold policy frameworks in place were an imperative to advance the country’s South-South cooperation program.


The maturation process of the country’s South-South cooperation program is closely linked to the establishment of a central agency with management and oversight functions. Similar to the Brazilian case, this central agency can play a pivotal role in developing partnerships with the private sector and strengthening economic cooperation through trade and investment. Technical and economic cooperation is expected to complement each other, leverage partnerships and achieve more ambitious results. North-South Cooperation, in turn, can be channeled to more strategic interventions, and/or to support partnerships on global issues such as aid effectiveness, human rights, climate change and green economics. 

Brazil has reached a stage in its South-South Cooperation program that requires the structures Indonesia has developed in order to advance; so has Indonesia to draw upon the Brazilian experience. This is how the two countries can learn from each other’s experiences in innovating and scaling up South-South cooperation.

READ ALSO:

Part #1: Learning from peers: How are Brazil and Indonesia structuring institutional and operational models for South-South Cooperation?