Rwanda Cooperation Initiative (RCI), the agency mandated with coordinating and mainstreaming Rwanda's South-South Cooperation activities, celebrated the UN Day for South-South Cooperation 2023, on September 12.

The event, held both online and at the newly launched Rwanda Cooperation Governance Centre in Kigali, convened development partners, members of the diplomatic corps, public institutions and civil society to discuss implementation strategies, and exchange knowledge regarding the South-South cooperation.

Partners from the Rome Based Agencies, the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD), and World Food Programme (WFP) also travelled to Kigali for the event.

According to the UN, South-South cooperation is a manifestation of solidarity among people and countries 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.

Speaking during the event, Christine Nkulikiyinka, CEO of RCI, highlighted the pressing global issues, including poverty, hunger, limited access to healthcare, declining primary school enrolment, as well as the digital divide and its impact on women.

She emphasised the importance of collaboration to address these challenges and achieve the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

"There are some nations faring better than others. There has been growth and development. The challenge we face is that growth and development have not been uniformed or intensified by the current economic downturn the whole globe is going through. This is why it is important to recognise the value and impact of collaboration in working together to overcome these challenges and put ourselves within reach of achieving the SDGs,” she said.

Nkulikiyinka further highlighted Rwanda Cooperation’s commitment to championing such collaboration and encouraging knowledge exchange and mutual growth.

"We continue to advocate for and share innovative development initiatives through South-South and Triangular cooperation,” she said.

Prof Manasseh Nshuti, the Minister of State for East African Community Affairs, noted that Rwanda’s approach to cooperation is based on a commitment to doing what the country believes is right for its people, adding that they put a human face on the government's actions and strive for thorough implementation.

"The Government of Rwanda has put more effort in this South-South cooperation because we believe that we can learn very little from those that have gone very far but can learn a lot among ourselves,” he said.

Nshuti also acknowledged the work of UN agencies and stressed the importance of evaluating progress in South-South cooperation, highlighting the shared challenges and goals among countries.

He commended the efforts to nurture South-South cooperation, and emphasised the need for concrete implementation rather than mere discussions, and acknowledged that failure often lies in the implementation of good policies and programmes.

Ozonnia Ojielo, UN Resident Coordinator, highlighted the importance of using the SDGs as a unifying force for South-South cooperation, emphasising inclusivity and empowerment.

He noted that countries of the global South have become significant drivers of global growth and suggested learning from their successes.

Ojielo outlined key entry points for strengthening South-South cooperation, including regional integration, addressing regional challenges, and leveraging the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA).

He further praised Rwanda's commitment to cooperation and highlighted the potential for collective efforts to improve the lives of people globally.

"Africa needs a different dialogue. We need a different conversation. South-South cooperation would be meaningless if we didn't have a new degree of partnership. It's a partnership of solidarity where we all ‘unclench’ our fists and have a new handshake that is meaningful for the global transformation that we need to see,” he said.

Ronald Hartman, Director for Global Engagement, Partnerships and Resource Mobilization at IFAD, recognised the work being done in Rwanda, particularly in the area of a home-grown school feeding programme developed with UN support.

He stressed the commitment of Rome-based Agencies (RBAs) to enhancing South-South and Triangle cooperation, highlighting its potential mechanism in achieving the 2030 Agenda.

Hartman acknowledged the global food and nutrition crisis in 2023 and the need for stronger coordination among RBAs to leverage cooperation, adding that collaboration at the field level is crucial for vulnerable populations.

The event also featured different plenary sessions themed on mobilising multi-stakeholder partnerships to unlock the potential of South-South and Triangular Cooperation (SSTC), leveraging SSTC partnerships towards achieving zero hunger: A case for Home-Grown School Feeding Programmes and institutional capacity building for South-South and Triangular Cooperation.

UN Day for South-South Cooperation 2023 was celebrated under the theme "Solidarity, Equity, and Partnership: Unlocking South-South Cooperation to Achieve the SDGs”.