Making South–South cooperation work for Africa to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals

ABIDJAN/CASABLANCA (ILO NEWS) – The International Labour Organisation (ILO) held a tripartite validation workshop on a new framework for South-South Cooperation that contributes positively to the implementation of the Agenda 2030 for Sustainable Development, the Decent Work Agenda and the Agenda 2063 of the African Union.

“South-South Cooperation is squarely a development model (…), it can be an excellent development facilitator (…), it should very much part and parcel of any meaningful and effective national development agenda”, ILO Regional Director for Africa, Aeneas Chuma said at the opening of a tripartite validation workshop in Casablanca, Morocco.

The two-day meeting brings together representatives from Governments, employers’ and workers’ organizations from eleven countries across the Africa region, along with other regional institutions and social partners, to validate a framework entitled: “South-South Cooperation: Africa’s Role and Contribution – a Framework for ILO Engagement”.

“South-South Cooperation (SSC) can be seen as a means to increasing participation of developing countries in international economic activities; creating and strengthening the technological capacities among countries; and promoting self-reliance by harnessing the capacity to find solutions to the challenges”, Chuma stated.

Key topics for discussions included South-South Cooperation and sustainable development; South-South Cooperation in the Africa region – An ILO framework; Modalities of South-South Cooperation; Social protection floors: A South-South perspective; Climate change and job creation: South-South and triangular cooperation; and, Capacity building through South-South cooperation.

“Under the SSC framework, collaboration is not forced, but rather happens freely without “strings” being attached to development. It underlines solidarity other than profits and the belief that “we can only prosper together” is the defining motive”, ILO’s Chief for Africa underscored.

However, Chuma noted, “there has been a lack of optimal coordination in the facilitation of Africa to Africa South- South Cooperation”.

This motivated the ILO Regional Office for Africa (ROAF) and the ILO Emerging and Special Partnerships Unit to develop this new framework of action with the aim of facilitating and taking stock of the South-South Cooperation initiatives that promote the Decent Work Agenda in the region.

“A first of its kind, to my knowledge, the framework does promise a coordinated approach to SSC initiatives in the region”, Chuma underlined.

The Framework document gives an overview of the status, modalities and actors of South-South and triangular cooperation in Africa, and of the role and responsibilities of African institutions, the UN and the ILO in fostering South-South Cooperation in the continent.

The workshop is expected to adopt and develop a clear roadmap for implementation of this framework and issue a final communique on 12 May 2017.

For more information, please contact ILO Regional Office for Africa - Senior Communications Officer – [email protected]