22-Aug-2019: An international dialogue on South-South and Triangular Cooperation.
A global interaction was held with stakeholders in development cooperation, to address South-South Cooperation and Triangular Cooperation. It is a unique initiative of RIS, to connect with all partner countries for collectively exploring and introspecting on how best to strengthen South-South Cooperation.
The recently held Second United Nations High Level Conference on South-South Cooperation commemorating the 40th anniversary of Buenos Aires Plan of Action, often abbreviated as BAPA+40, has come up with an ambitious work plan. The Outcome Document of the Conference underscores the need to give enhanced focus on South-South Cooperation (SSC).
The contribution of IBSA countries for bringing out last year a timely declaration on South-South Cooperation, and reiterating certain principles of SSC that it is a partnership amongst equals guided by principles of respect for national sovereignty; national ownership and independence; equality; non-conditionality; non-interference in domestic affairs; and mutual benefit was acknowledged. These principles provide the blueprint for IBSA partnership with countries of the South, and are part of wider SSC principles.
The challenge is how to translate principles into concrete action. Time and again, in spite of all the goodwill which countries have, there are vast gaps between what is finally achieved and the principles wanted to be uphold. Therefore, even upon deliberation on new opportunities and new partnerships, it must be constantly evaluated whether what is done meets the core principles declared as sacred.
Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi had outlined last year ten guiding principles for India’s engagement with Africa. But in effect, these guiding principles may well be the guiding principles for India’s engagement with the developing world itself i.e. South-South Cooperation.
The vision which Prime Minister outlined is as follows: to intensify and deepen engagement; development partnership to be guided by partners priorities, build on local capacities and create local opportunities; development partnership to be on terms that will be comfortable for partner country so that it liberates their potential and not constrain their future; open up markets and make trade and investment easier; harness India’s digital revolution to enhance education, health, public services, financial inclusion etc.; improve agriculture; address challenges of climate change; combat terrorism and extremism including in the cyber sphere; give enhanced focus on youth and their aspirations; keep oceans open and free for the benefit of all nations and together strive for a representative and democratic global order.
Certain aspects stakeholders must consider while deliberating on BAPA+40 decisions:
- No South-South Cooperation can and should result in restricting the space for development or constrain the future of our countries.
- In order to ensure that development is sustainable, it should naturally fit in with the national priorities of the countries concerned. India has always believed that South-South Cooperation should be demand driven and not supply driven. With such an approach, we have been able to touch the lives of people the world over.
- Project implementation should be to finally hand over to the recipient partner country.
- Development partnership should equally be a vehicle for sharing cutting edge technology, especially digital technology and artificial intelligence. India believes that hi-tech is a necessity for developing countries to leap frog into the 4th industrial revolution, as well as directly impact positively the lives of people, especially in delivery of public services, education, health, agriculture etc. Recipient partner countries should carefully evaluate the most appropriate options for them and avoid the digital divide, so that the 4th industrial revolution is an inclusive one.
Not enough attention is also being given to youth and their employment in the construct of South-South Cooperation. Building sustainable infrastructure is only one aspect of development cooperation, however important they may be. But true sustainability comes in empowering the local population, especially the youth. Empowering the youth and creating opportunities for their employment need to go hand in hand.
Ideally, South South engagement should be able to leverage trade and investment so that the engagement becomes self-sustaining and helps the recipient partner country to get out of the development partnership cycle and become independent of it.
Care and prudence must be observed in institutionalization of South-South Cooperation and while developing an impact assessment framework.
Triangular cooperation has become another important vehicle to combine the best of North and South, for the benefit of the South. India is working actively with countries like Japan, France, E.U. U.S. and others to see how best Africa and Asia can benefit from this tripartite construct. While there are challenges of bringing together two different systems of assistance for a common cause, countries are confident that they can overcome such technical hurdles for the larger goal.
To expand the idea of triangular cooperation beyond its traditional connotations, India has been instrumental in establishing, with France, the International Solar Alliance (ISA). ISA has last year taken the decision to expand its membership to make it universal so that a truly universal solar grid is developed. Prime Minister Modi has announced a Line of Credit of US$ 2 billion for solar energy projects, an example of how development partnership can venture into new and innovative areas.
India is even working with some developing countries like UAE to assist Africa. Contributions from India, Brazil and South Africa (IBSA) to IBSA-UN Fund in providing development support to least developed countries across the globe is also indicative of the commitment to the expanded idea of triangular cooperation.
Prime Minister Modi has articulated the importance of "reformed multilateralism”. He had proposed this in BRICS Summit last year in Johannesburg and again this year at the G20 Summit in Osaka. He pointed out in the BRICS Summit last year that BRICS had started a decade ago to, interalia, address the concern that multilateralism did not address our concerns and that it needed reform to benefit the developing world. However, ten years later, when we are faced with issues of unilateralism and protectionism, we cannot start reinforcing the status quo of multilateralism – a multilateralism which we had sought to reform ten years earlier. Consequently, instead of reinforcing the status quo of multilateralism as it exists now, we need to bring about "reformed multilateralism”. The Foreign Minister of BRICS recognised this in their recent meeting in Brazil. I would like to mention that in this "reformed multilateralism”, South-South Cooperation has a crucial role to shape it. For this, South-South Cooperation needs to adhere to its unique voice, principles and practices to benefit all developing countries.
The Delhi Process has assumed significance as it gathers academics, subject experts, policy makers and practitioners for exploring various facets and features of SSC.