South-South and Triangular Cooperation Academy, 2016

A joint initiative of the ILO and its International Training Centre, supported by UN agencies and partners, the SSTC Academy, an interregional learning and networking event gathered policymakers, promoters, practitioners and researchers from all around the world. It served as a forum for the formulation of high-level strategic initiatives and political advocacy on SSTC in support to the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), and decent work in particular.


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A new role for South-South and Triangular Cooperation

South-South and triangular cooperation (SSTC) can be defined as collaboration between two or more developing countries, often supported by traditional partners, guided by the principles of solidarity and non-conditionality, aimed at implementing inclusive and distributive development models that are driven by demand.

SSTC is a complement to North-South cooperation as a concerted effort to promote development opportunities. As reflected in the 2030 Sustainable Development Agenda, South-South and triangular cooperation (SSTC) has become a key modality of international development cooperation and an essential tool for the United Nations development system.

South-South and Triangular Cooperation Academy: An opportunity to engage

The South-South and Triangular Cooperation Academy of 2016 was an interregional learning and networking event that brought together policymakers, promoters, practitioners and researchers from all around the world. It served as a forum for the orchestration of high-level strategic initiatives and political advocacy related to South-South and triangular cooperation in support to the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), and decent work in particular.

The South-South and Triangular Cooperation Academy of 2016 was a joint initiative of the ILO and its International Training Centre in Turin, Italy, supported by UN agencies and partners and co-financed by the Italian Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Development. The global trend of engaging more with the Global South and sharing good practices through South-South and triangular cooperation and cooperation mechanisms for development is reflected in the ILO's Development Cooperation Strategy for 2015-17, and the ILO’s Strategy for South-South Cooperation. Globally, the United Nations system has been engaging actively in this modality through the South-South Development Expos, in which the ILO has taken an active part since their inception.

The Academy, in partnership with the United Nations system, focused on SSTC theory and practice, and on the concepts, principles, modes and policies which underpin SSTC and are at the core of the programme, It also focused on sharing practical experience and lessons learned in an international context, with the aim of creating and strategizing notable and high-impact collaborative opportunities. Its flexible and interactive dynamics allowed for an enriching experience both for experts and newcomers

Over the five days of the Academy participants enjoyed a rich programme offering a wide variety of learning, strategizing and networking tracks, exchanged knowledge and forged connections with key players and scholars from the field of international development, as well as with ILO constituents and representatives of governments, international organizations and civil society.

fragileSome key topics and good practices that were addressed:
  • Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and South-South cooperation
  • Triangular cooperation: good practices
  • The road to Buenos Aires+40: from technical cooperation between developing countries (TCDC) to South-South and triangular cooperation (SSTC)
  • Good SSTC practices in the elimination of forced labour and child labour
  • SSTC in job creation and vocational training
  • SSTC and PPPs
  • Job creation, climate change and just transitions
  • Extending social protection floors: a South-South perspective
  • City-to-city cooperation and local economic development (LED)
  • Fragile-to-fragile cooperation and decent work
  • Social dialogue and SSTC: experiences of workers' and employers’ organizations
  • SSTC and labour migration
  • The role of the ILO in promoting and supporting SSTC.

Virtual learning and networking

ChefchaouenA virtual Internet environment was available to enhance participants’ learning experience and to facilitate subsequent networking and collaboration. This environment was initially used by participants during the four weeks preceding the SSTC Academy as a pre-learning platform. It introduced basic principles and key questions related to the contents of the academy, and enabled participants to get to know one other and express their views, concerns and needs even before they met in person in Turin. Following the Academy, the environment remains available for participants as a virtual “Meeting Point for South-South Cooperation”, by which they can keep up to date, remain engaged, and continue to exchange and cooperate despite geographical distance and language barriers.

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