Accelerating results: A new e-learning module for south-south cooperation

A new self-paced online e-learning module will help to mainstream South-South and triangular cooperation in plans and work of the UN at the Country and Regional levels, strengthening inter-agency collaboration and accelerating results. This initiative aims to enhance inter-agency collaboration and accelerate results.  

The e-module was developed under the coordination of the United Nations Office for South-South Cooperation, with guidance from the United Nations Development Coordination Office (UNDCO) and a task team from the UN Inter-Agency Mechanism for South-South and triangular cooperation. Its goal is to empower UN professionals to fully leverage the support provided by the UN development system for South-South and triangular cooperation.  

“Together with the Guidelines to integrate South-South and triangular cooperation in the work of the UN system at country and regional level, this e-module responds to the mandate given by Member States through the Second Committee resolutions over the last two years calling upon the UNDS to support in mainstreaming South-South cooperation in UN Sustainable Development Cooperation Frameworks and Regional Collaborative Frameworks,” says UNOSSC Director Dima Al-Khatib during the launch of the E-Module on 10 February. 

The course, developed with support from the UN System Staff College, received financial contributions from FAO, PAHO/WHO, UNFPA, and WFP. This collaboration highlights the commitment of these UN entities to enhancing capacity development for South-South and triangular cooperation at both country and regional levels. 

This month e-module was launched during a high-level event addressed by UN Development Coordination Office, UN resident coordinators, UN country teams, regional directors of UN development coordination offices, UN Entities at the regional level, and regional commissions, e-module UN collaborating partners, FAO, PAHO, UNFPA and WFP. It was attended by over 300 country- and regional-level UN personnel – from over 30 UN entities and 80 countries. 

 “The practical applications to accelerate SDG progress and address national priorities are extensive,” said the UNOSSC Director. “South-South and triangular cooperation are important channels for support, partnerships, and financing as the UN system collaborates with national partners. We have integrated key resources including South-South Trust Funds, South-South Galaxy, Southern Development Banks and their financing tools, and platforms to strengthen networks between development agencies and support Voluntary National Reviews.” 

UN country teams (UNCTs) across the globe have successfully integrated South-South and triangular cooperation into their UN Sustainable Development Cooperation Frameworks (UNSDCFs).  

“The UN development system has a critical role to play in facilitating, catalyzing and accelerating South-South and triangular cooperation in line with national requirements,” says Helena Fraser, Chief, Policy and Programming Branch, UN DCO. “According to our reporting, 117 country teams have indicated some form of south-south cooperation and triangular cooperation in 2024, but we need to lean in further with this exercise and that’s exactly where these guidelines and the e-module are going to be extremely helpful.” 

“We were able to design this e-module with a view to further integrate south-south and triangular corporation into UN cooperation frameworks and planning and monitoring instruments at the regional level,” says Patrick van Weerelt, Head of Office, UN System Staff College Knowledge Centre for Sustainable Development. “We do believe that the e-module can play an important role in making existing guidelines even more accessible to colleagues so that they can further strengthened programmatic support to national partners and drive progress towards national priorities.”