The Washington Outsider

South-South Cooperation: The Growing Need For Development  

5/22/2016

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The following was written by Guest Blogger Anant Mishra and does not reflect the views of The Washington Outsider or its staff.  

Anant Mishra is a former Youth Representative to the United Nations. He has served extensively in the United Nations General Assembly as well as the Economic and Social Council.
 
The United Nations Development Program has revised their strategic plan for 2014-17 to include their plans for greater South-South Cooperation (SSC).  The objective is to encourage more international and national partnerships, greater technology sharing, and greater solution building across the Southern Hemisphere.  By looking at the phenomenal economic growth in the South, it is clear that this cooperation will open the doors for development in underdeveloped countries.
 
The importance of South – South Cooperation is in the agenda for many of the international conferences of today.  Also known as “global South,” the need for South-South cooperation brings crucial discussions with respect to sectors, such as technology, trade, business, and global economics, while addressing domestic and international politics. It aims to build cooperation between nations in order to achieve their developmental agendas by sharing knowledge, skills, expertise, and manpower with each other.   The objective of SSC is to promote self-development while creating an environment favourable to cooperation and coordination for growth across the overall global economy.
​More importantly, the South – South Cooperation is significant for the fulfilment of Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Besides the significance of South – South Cooperation, most of the nations in Global South continue to suffer from acute food shortages and insufficient access to sanitation, which has forced thousands to fled to neighbouring countries for work.
 
The United Nations defines it “as a manifestation of solidarity among peoples and countries of the South” and a necessary partnership to foster growth and development. SSC is not mandated under any agenda or scheme, it is simply voluntary, a replication of North-South cooperation. North-South Cooperation is a perfect example of cooperation and coordination between developing, developed economies and international agencies.
 
Economically, the value of the entire SSC is between $16.1 billion and $19 billion; whereas, the investment coming to the nations has increased to $759 billion, which is more than half of the entire foreign direct investment. Many developing economies are now identifying partners and strengthening the public-private partnership model, thus opening doors for growth and development.
 
With this economic power and massive influence alone, they have the ability to change the dynamics of international relations. It is estimated that nations, such as China, Brazil, and India, will economically supprass developed nations, such as Canada, Germany, France, Italy, the United Kingdom, and the United States of America. This clearly means developing economies have taken their seat at the table of global economic power.
 
Economic opportunities and scope of development through SSC
 
For many years, policy makers and political leaders have been focusing on the importance of South-South cooperation in terms of trade, investment, and tourism.  The overall discussion, however, seems to be far more inconclusive.  It is important for policymakers to understand the need to reform current policies, which is one way of ensuring successful SSC. The interaction between nations is crucial for SSC as regional and national governments will be able to cooperate and coordinate with other international agencies to ensure better infrastructure to facilitate trade.
 
It is also important for us to understand that most of the agreements are bilateral. For starters,  China plays a crucial role in SSC as it provides billions to African nations in the form of aid.  This enables the African countries to enhance their agricultural markets. As the cooperation increases, the Office of the UN for South – South Cooperation will need adequate resources to monitor the progress and assess the cooperation.
 
It is important for policymakers within the UN to understand the need for expanding and relocating additional resources to the Office of South – South Cooperation.   In addition, policymakers need to address the concerns of bilateral and multilateral trade.  Finally, the SSC will open doors for member nations to share major resources in the field of technology and science.
 
Growing need for Energy Technology
 
SSC needs to heavily focus on growing demands of energy technology, because the modern lives of humans depend heavily upon energy. It is important for developing and underdeveloped countries in the South to secure their energy needs.  As energy deficient nations struggle to maintain economic growth, economy security has major repercussions on human development. This is particularly true when it comes to industries heavily dependent on energy, which play major roles in development of a nation.
 
The 7th goal of Sustainable Development talks about ensuring affordable and sustainable energy for the future. In order to ensure affordable energy, it is important for developing economies to provide technical assistance to each other, which allows countries to get the necessary expertise they need. This mentioned in the Buenos Aires Plan for Action, which heavily focused on the cooperation of regional, national, and international agencies. It stated the important of technological assistance between the nations which will bear fruits of growth and development for the member nations as well as the stakeholders involved.  Developing countries will be able to enhance their capacity building process through cooperation.
 
It is important for policymakers to understand the need to establish renewable energy devices at regional levels, while opening doors for private stakeholders in making crucial energy policies. One such is the South – South Initiative (SSI), which predominantly works to foster the sharing of valuable resources, knowledge, experience, necessary intelligence, and research among private entities.
 
Another initiative includes the rural energy partnerships, which increases energy access in rural areas, thereby opening the doors for many private entities to invest. Initiatives such as these have been widely successful in rural Africa, although the scope for opportunities lies unexplored.
 
In spite of government initiatives, most of rural India is still living in the dark. Almost 915 million people in Asia are living without electricity.  All told, 2.6 Billion people in rural Asia are forced to survive on biomass for heating and cooking. It is important for policymakers to understand that this lack of access to energy and basic energy services slows down the efforts to combat poverty.  Moreover, the energy demands for South East Asia by 2035 will increase to 85%. There is an absolute need to ensure easy access to energy, in an effort for to achieve economic growth.
 
Growing need for Food Security
 
Through SSC crucial matters, food security, along with poverty, inequality, and unstable food prices, will be addressed. These issues are posing a grave threat to the developing economies in their fight against food insecurity. Developing economies heavily rely on unprocessed food exports. For many Asian countries, poor investment in agriculture and food security are a few of the major challenges. The 2nd Sustainable Development Goal calls for a universal support to end hunger and achieve food security while promoting sustainable agriculture. It pledges to end hunger and ensures easy access to safe, and sufficient food, irrespective of the nation’s status.
 
This grave issue can be effectively resolved by exchanging expertise in agriculture production, which will further help reduce malnutrition while firming the nation’s state in times of food crisis. It is important for policymakers to understand the need for knowledge promotion, necessary policy support, voluntary involvement of international and national agencies in an effort to foster sustainable agricultural growth. To create sustainable growth in agriculture, the doors of this sector should be open for FDI’s.
Furthermore, policymakers need to bring their attention to enhance investments in agriculture, while replacing the traditional manual labour with machines.
 
Conclusion
 
South-South Cooperation is not only crucial for the achievement of Sustainable Development Goals, but also for the development of individual nations.  It is, henceforth, important for nations to participate in this process. Agencies within and outside of the UN need to coordinate with each other to achieve greater results with more positive outcomes.  
 
Policymakers should not stick to the SDG’s and view SSC through a development prism.  To promote overall growth and economic prosperity, nations need to address each and every issue that hinders development. Developing economies needs to address energy and food security more effectively.  After all, viable solutions can be replicated in other nations as well. With new initiatives underway, nations need to address the previous ones with similar earnest. SSC is one initiative by which nations can effectively and efficiently address the crucial issues.

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      • Why Hardliner Thinking in the NSA and CIA is Doing Damage
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      • What Modern Day Revolutionaries Need to Learn from Leader's like Mandela
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      • Why the Middle Class and Rich Need to Support Their Long-term Interests
      • The Aristocratic Republic of the United States of America
      • Discussing the Need for Community Support
      • Why New Forms of Capitalism and Socialism Will Compliment Each Other
      • The Reason We Need to Understand What it is to Be Poor in America
      • Why the World Needs to Reinvest in America
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      • Relating Circular, Inductive, and Deductive Reasoning to the Scientific Method and Religion
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        • Haitians Sue the UN for Failure to Help With Cholera
        • Looking at How Corn-based Ethanol and Other Alternative Energy Subsidies Stack Up
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        • Irish Sovereignty Lost Before Bailout
        • Why Sudan's Greatest Long-Term Hurdle is Our Lowest-bidder Economy
        • Reduce US Imports by Buying American Made Products
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      • Income inequality: understanding the limitations and psychology of disadvantage
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        • On Questioning the Need to Address Economic Disparity
        • Minimum Wage is Not the Problem
        • Responding to the "Blip"
        • Why Education Is Not The Civil Rights Issue Of The Twenty-First Century
      • Considering the Impact of the Capital Gains Tax Deduction
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        • Capitalism Versus Socialism
        • The Negatives of Socialism
      • Stealing Intellectual Property
      • Changing Business Models: From Enduring Entities to Cash Cows
      • Consumer and Investor Evolution in the Great Recession of 2008-09
      • Dealing with the Issues Surrounding the Patenting of Self-replicating Technologies
      • Is Technology Threatening Jobs?
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      • The Role of Education in Creating a More Dynamic Workforce
      • Primary Education in America and the Changing Needs of Society
      • The Greatness of the American Education System
      • Ideas for Improving the United States Education System
      • Are Teachers Treated as Professionals?
      • Is Engaging Parents in Their Children's Education a Major Factor in Turning Around Low-performing Schools?
      • Should Grants Be Awarded to School Districts that Try Innovative Methods to Improve Student Achievement?
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      • On Reading the US Constitution
      • The Senate should not do more to limit the powers of the Judicial Branch
      • On the DOJ Justifying the “targeted Killings” of US Citizens
      • Corporations Do Not Have the Same Rights as US Citizens >
        • Corporate America Pleads the First
      • Discussing the Constitutionality of Per Capita Taxes
      • Was the California Supreme Court Right in Legalizing Gay Marriage?
      • Should the Bible Continue to Be Used for Swearing-in Ceremonies and in Courtrooms?
      • Should Religious Student Clubs Be Allowed in Public Schools?
      • Should the Government Control Talk Radio to Make it More "balanced"?
      • The Second Amendment: Not Outdated >
        • Are We Losing Our Second Amendment Rights
      • Eminent Domain Used Against Banks
      • Should a Woman Have the Right to Choose Abortion? >
        • Should Fathers Be Able to Opt Out of Parenthood?
      • Should Smoking Be Allowed in Public Places?
      • Is Teen Driving a Right or a Privilege?
      • Should US Companies Be Required to Provide Equal Pay to Women and Men?
      • Is eighteen too young to vote?
      • First Amendment Rights: The Priviledge of The Press
      • Do Mandatory Seat Belt Laws Violate Individual Rights?
      • Should cell phone use be banned while driving?
      • Dealing with the link between video game violence and children's behavior
      • Should police have to submit to routine drug and alcohol testing?
      • Public schools should not impose mandatory drug testing on students
      • Are High Taxes on Cigarettes Proper?
      • Should pharmacists be required to violate their religious beliefs and dispense the "Morning After Pill?"
      • Should school counselors uphold patient privacy or report students who become unstable?
  • For the record
    • Ongoing Issues >
      • Red Dawn in Ukraine: Understanding the Actions of Russia >
        • On Russia’s Coercion of Ukraine
        • The Russian Annexation of Crimea in the Eyes of the World
        • Putin Has Overplayed His Hand With Crimea
        • Ukraine in Terms of Resovereignization
        • Avoiding a Conflict Between America and Russia Over Ukraine
        • What Drives the World’s Interest in Russia’s Actions in Ukraine
      • China’s Aggressive Pursuit of Interests Demands a Global Response
      • Iran Makes a Deal: A Start to a Long-term Diplomatic Effort to Denuclearize Iran >
        • On the Future of a Nuclear Negotiations with Iran
      • America's Sphere of Influence: Retaking South-East Asia >
        • Power in Asia: Looking at the Power Shift in Japan
        • The China Paradox: Why America is Worried About China
      • Assessing US Support of Israel >
        • Tread Softly Israel for a Heavy Step May Be Your Undoing
      • Understanding the Dysfunctional Nature of the US-Pakistani Relationship
      • Recognizing the True Threat Behind the Current Unrest in the Middle East >
        • Reacting to the Escalating Crackdown in Syria
      • Assessing the Threat of North Korea >
        • Answering North Korea's Call for Food Aid: Breaking the Vicious Cycle Forced Upon Us by a Warring Nation
        • Dealing with the Restarting of the Korean War
        • North Korea Attacks South Korea
      • Dealing with the Ill-effects of Climate Change
      • Racial Inequality and Oppression Do Truly Exist in Today's Society
      • Should energy independence be a high priority in the US?
      • An overview of world wide Human Rights violations
      • Nuclear Threat from Pakistan
      • Return of The Cold War?
    • World >
      • Coverage of FIFA World Cup is a Chance to Focus on Poverty >
        • The FIFA World Cup Offers Benefits for More Than Brazilian Soccer Fans
        • FIFA Can Bring Brazilians Together as a Nation
      • Being Prepared for Any Potential Dangers at the FIFA World Cup Games
      • Treading Softly on the Politicizing of the 2014 Sochi Olympics Over Gay Rights
      • Why NATO Operations in Libya Lack a Well-defined Mission
      • China Hijacks the Web
      • Lessons from the Great Japanese Earthquake of 2011
      • A Modernizing Cuba Offers an Opportunity for Capitalists
      • The Seeds of Democracy Take Root in the Middle East
      • The Rebirth of Democracy in Tunisia
      • What May Come from the Hurt Revolution in Libya
      • Responding to the Violence of Qaddafi and Other Besieged Leaders
      • Embracing the Rise of a Democratic Egypt
      • Protests in Afghanistan Turn Deadly for Coalition Forces and UN Personnel
      • Haiti: Another Failing Humanitarian Investment
      • What Karzai Can Learn from Calderon
      • START II: A Necessary, Easy Success that Nearly Failed
      • Why Does the U.S. Government Support Independence for the Breakaway Serb Territory of Kosovo but Oppose Independence for the Breakaway Georgian Territories of Abkhazia and South Ossetia?
      • Iraq's Electric Issues: When Human Wants Trump Economic Sense
      • The International Community Reacts to Wikileaks: We May Be Moving Toward a Third World War in Cyberspace
      • On Climate Gate
      • Assessing Obama's Afghanistan War strategy
      • 2009 Iranian Presidential Election: The Fallout
      • Resolving Sri Lankan Conflict through Free Media
      • What are the Global Consequences of Russia's Invasion of Georgia
      • The War in Iraq: an assessment of President Bush's surge strategy
      • Drug War: Actions of Venezuela, Columbia, Ecuador in terms of Resovereignization
      • Is the Iraq Refugee Crisis America's Responsibility?
      • US support for a united Kosovo, Abkhazia, and South Ossetia: why?
      • Should the US withdraw from Iraq?
      • Setting a Timetable for Troop Withdrawal from Iraq is a Terrible Mistake
      • War on Terrorism is needed
    • Law and Order >
      • Rape in the US Military
      • Ethics of Force-feeding Guantanamo Bay Detainees
      • Reacting to the Aftermath of the Tucson Massacre
    • Economy >
      • Affordability Drives Fear of Obamacare and the Individual Mandate
      • Is the Economy Built for a Job's Recovery?
      • Gutting Healthcare Reform of the Individual Mandate
      • Arizona Budget Cuts Lead to Lethal Healthcare Rationing:
      • Shameful Collection Practices of American Banks
      • The Fed Reveals it Actually Undertook an International Bailout
      • Thoughts on French Budgetary Reforms
      • Seniors Start Businesses
      • The Case for Slimming Down the US Military to Make it Better
      • Looking at the Obama Administration's New Approach to Economic Policy
      • Should the Government Regulate the Credit Card Industry?
      • The Big Three's Big Chance
      • The Unhealthy Tone of the Healthcare Reform Debate
      • Should the federal government offer a bailout for home owners?
      • Environmentalists: Do They Do More Good Than More Harm?
      • Responding to Scott Walker's Contribution to the War on Unions
    • US Government >
      • America Needs to Focus on the Impending Fiscal Crisis
      • Reacting to the Bush Era-tax Cut Extension Deal
      • Quitting the Obama Revolution: The Fickle Nature of American Politics
      • John Boehner's Circus
      • Is the Fed Putting Itself in Jeopardy?
      • Wikileaks Goes After the US State Department
      • Discussing the Political Environment Surrounding the 2011 Budget Debate
      • What the Democrats Can Do to Ensure a GOP Year in 2012
      • What the 2010 Midterm Actually Said
      • Congresswoman Kathy Dahlkemper
      • Democrats Minus Nancy Pelosi Equals Opportunity
      • Terrorists Go Postal: The Terrorism Threat Reexamined
      • Victory in the 2008 Election: Reaction to Barack Obama'a Win >
        • Expectations for Barack Obama
      • President Obama's first one hundred days
      • John McCain's Negative Campaign
      • Reasons People did not Elect John Mccain
      • History judges the George W. Bush Administration
      • Should the next US President focus on domestic issues?
      • President Bush, should he resign or be impeached
      • Should the Ban on Government Sponsored Assassinations be Repealed
    • Off Topic >
      • A Face of America’s Greatest Generation
      • A Story About a Man Who Made the World a Better Place
      • Making the World a Better Place
      • The Bipolar Ethical Nature of Google
      • Learning Computer Plays Jeopardy
      • Verifying Medicine is the Real Thing
      • Taking a Practical Step Forward in Optical Computing Using Slow Light
      • Scientists Take a Closer Look at How Lithium Batteries Work
      • Remarking on the First Blizzard of the 2010-2011 Winter Season
      • Driving in the Snow: Acceleration is the Key
      • How People in Northwest PA Are Coping with the Increasing Cost of Oil
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