The Evolution of SSTIC at UNIDO

UNIDO has been pioneering South-South and Triangular Industrial Cooperation (SSTIC) for over a decade. Key milestones include the establishment of a dedicated organizational unit to lead the mandate, launching of an Operational Strategy in 2016, and introducing a UNIDO Policy on SSTIC in 2019. In 2022, the Office of South-South and Triangular Cooperation (ODG/OSC) was created to centralize these efforts, supported by an extensive network of field offices, UNIDO Investment and Technology Promotion Offices (ITPOs), an SSTIC center in China, and specialized knowledge networks.

 

Sharing good practices

Under the umbrella of UNIDO's SSTIC initiatives, countries in the Global South have the opportunity to optimize their local capacities through the transfer of tailored industrial technologies and solutions. UNIDO facilitates this technology transfer across UNIDO’s three main thematic areas, ending hunger, creating sustainable supply chains and limiting climate change, aligning them with each country's unique development needs and priorities. The aim is to foster meaningful and effective collaborations that not only address developmental challenges but also integrate these countries into global value chains. Additionally, UNIDO's SSTIC contributes to broader dialogues within the United Nations system and beyond, leveraging its convening power to unite private sector partners, government entities, and other stakeholders for long-lasting and scalable impact on Inclusive and Sustainable Industrial Development (ISID).

 

SSTIC as a crosscutting modality

At UNIDO, SSTIC is not just an isolated initiative; it is a cross-cutting modality that is mainstreamed throughout most of our projects. This ensures that the principles and advantages of SSTIC are consistently applied, enriching every project and making it more effective in achieving its goals.

To foster the integration of SSTIC principles into its initiatives, UNIDO has implemented mechanisms to systematically identify and assess relevant projects with the objective of enhancing organizational coherence and improving the effectiveness of monitoring and reporting.

 

Guiding principles

South-South cooperation is a manifestation of solidarity among countries and peoples of the South that contributes to their national well-being, their national and collective self-reliance and the attainment of internationally agreed development goals, including the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. The South-South cooperation agenda and South-South cooperation initiatives must be determined by the countries of the South, guided by the principles of south-south cooperation which are listed below.

Normative Principles	Operational Principles
Respect for national sovereignty and ownership Partnership among equals Non-conditionality Non-interference in domestic affairs Mutual benefit	Mutual accountability and transparency Development effectiveness Coordination of evidence- and results-based initiatives Multi-stakeholder approach