South-South and Triangular Cooperation Gateway

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What we do

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The 2030 Agenda places increasing emphasis on South-South and Triangular Cooperation (SSTC)as both means to support effective capacity-building and the objective of enhancing cooperation. It underscores the need to mobilize resources through SSTC and strengthen SSTC partnerships on capacity-building, science, technology and innovation.

FAO is recognized by its Members and development partners as an innovative, inclusive and trusted partner that fully leverages proven development solutions, resources, knowledge and technologies from the Global South to accelerate agri-food systems transformation, food security, poverty reduction and sustainable use of natural resources.

As a facilitator of SSTC, FAO brings together countries that have development solutions with countries that are interested in adapting and applying them. By bringing partners together, FAO supports SSTC initiatives by: 

  • Facilitating dialogue between governments, institutions, civil society and the private sector to reach consensus and coordinate policies, strategies and programmes for SSTC;
  • Providing a framework for cooperation within which exchanges take place. Using this framework, FAO facilitates mutual learning and ensures that cooperating partners adhere to mutual commitments;
  • Offering technical oversight and ensuring international standards are adhered to or adopted in the formulation, implementation, monitoring and impact evaluation of all programmes/projects. FAO ensures that technology and knowledge are adaptable to local conditions and are environmentally and economically sustainable and socially inclusive;
  • Working through FAO’s extensive country level presence, allowing for engagement, support and follow-up with national authorities and other relevant stakeholders. In addition, FAO has extensive technical and outreach capacity to identify similar constraints and solutions among regions and across similar socioeconomic contexts; and
  • Mobilizing resources for and raising the visibility of South-South and Triangular Cooperation.
  • 1979

    FAO established a focal point for Technical Cooperation for Developing Countries TCDC) in all activities of the Organization.

  • 1996

    Over 2800 South-South Cooperation (SSC) Experts deployed through FAO's Special Programme for Food Security (SPFS)in 28 countries by 2004. 

  • 2006

    China and FAO entered into a Strategic Alliance on South-South Cooperation (SSC)

  • 2009

    China and FAO signed the first FAO-China SSC Trust Fund  Agreement with a US$ 30 million contribution

  • 2013

    The Brazilian Agricultural Research Cooperation (EMBRAPA) and FAO signed an MoU on collaboration on FAO’s SSC Initiative.

  • SSC unit established within FAO's Technical Cooperation Department and issued its first SSC Strategy 

  • 2014

     China provides an additional US$ 50 million towards to FAO-China SSC Programme.

  • Morocco and FAO establishes an SSTC Trust Fund

  •  China provides a US$ 50 million towards to FAO-China SSC Programme.

  • 2017

    Uruguay and FAO signed Agreement to work together on SSTC

  • Egypt and FAO renews its Memorandum of Understanding on SSC

  • 2018

    Tunisia, Morocco and FAO signs Tripartite SSTC Agreement 

  • 2019

    SSC Unit upgraded to an Office of South-South and Triangular Cooperation

  • 2020

    FAO established the South-South and Triangular Cooperation Division (PST)

  • 2021

    FAO issued its SSTC Guidelines for Action (2022 – 2025)

  • Indonesia and FAO sign an SSTC Memorandum of Understanding

  • Singapore and FAO renews its SSTC Memorandum of Understanding

  • Turkey and FAO signs an SSTC agreement as part of the FAO-Turkey Partnership Programme

  • 2022

    China and FAO signs the agreement on the Phase III of the FAO-China SSC Programme (US$ 50 million)

The South-South and Triangular Cooperation Division (PST) at FAO's headquarters and the SSTC Regional Officers collaborate closely with FAO’s Technical Departments, and its large network of over 153 decentralized offices around the world to design and implement its SSTC initiatives. This large country presence enables FAO to support the operational, logistical and technical quality of the SSTC exchange and bring development cooperation to scale.

FAO's approach to SSTC emphasizes the Organization’s role as a facilitator, provider of technical oversight and interlocutor for its Members and partners, in line with international norms and standards, as well as reflecting inter and intraregional experiences in support of agricultural development, hunger and poverty eradication. Building upon FAO's longstanding experience, and through extensive consultations with national governments, national institutions and international partners, FAO’s SSTC initiatives strongly reflects and accommodates country needs and is able to respond more flexibly to SSTC requests.

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Modalities

 

FAO developed an SSTC Guidelines for Action 2022-2025, identifies four Strategic Areas of Focus (SAFs) that will provide the overall framework for FAO’s work on SSTC in the coming years. To learn more about the new SSTC Guidelines for Action 2022-2025, click here.

SAF 1

Advocacy and Agenda Setting

Ensure that the perspectives and interests of the Global South are integrated into global policy processes and frameworks related to agriculture and food systems.

SAF 3

Partnerships and Collaborations

Strengthen and diversify collaborations with Technical and Financial partners to deliver impactful SSTC programmes and initiatives.
Want to partner with us? Learn More here.

SAF 2

Brokering Knowledge

Capture, document and package knowledge, innovations and technologies from the agri-food sector.
Have a good practice to share? Submit your Good Practice here

SAF 4

Evidence Base and Adaptive Learning

Promote a shared learning agenda based on continuous monitoring, analysis and learning from success stories, lessons learnt and knowledge gained from SSTC programmes and initiatives.