Meaning
South–South cooperation means cooperation among developing countries of the Global South for mutual development.
It involves the exchange of knowledge, technology, skills, resources and development experiences among countries of Asia, Africa, Latin America, the Caribbean and the Pacific.
It is different from traditional North–South aid, where developed countries provide assistance to developing countries. South–South cooperation is based more on partnership, equality and shared development experience.
It usually works through:
• Technical cooperation
• Capacity building
• Trade and investment
• Development finance
• Technology sharing
• Training programmes
• Humanitarian assistance
• Infrastructure and connectivity projects
The United Nations describes South–South cooperation as a tool used by developing countries to collaborate and share knowledge, skills and successful development solutions.
Background
The idea of South–South cooperation emerged from the shared historical experiences of colonialism, underdevelopment and unequal global economic structures.
After decolonisation, many newly independent countries wanted a more equal international order. This led to platforms such as the Non-Aligned Movement, G77, and later several Global South forums.
A major milestone was the Buenos Aires Plan of Action, 1978, which promoted technical cooperation among developing countries. The UNOSSC notes that such cooperation helps developing countries pool knowledge and experience for mutual benefit and collective self-reliance.
The idea was further strengthened through:
• Bandung Conference, 1955
• Non-Aligned Movement, 1961
• Group of 77, 1964
• Buenos Aires Plan of Action, 1978
• Nairobi Outcome Document, 2009
• BAPA+40 Conference, 2019
• Voice of Global South Summits hosted by India
Principles
South–South cooperation is based on the idea that developing countries should not be seen only as aid recipients. They can also be knowledge providers, technology partners and development collaborators.
Its major principles include:
• Respect for sovereignty
• Equality among partners
• Mutual benefit
• Non-conditionality
• Non-interference in domestic affairs
• Demand-driven cooperation
• Shared development experience
• Collective self-reliance
This is why countries of the Global South often prefer this model. It does not formally carry the same donor-recipient hierarchy seen in traditional aid models.
Major Areas
South–South cooperation can take place in almost every development sector.
Important areas include:
• Agriculture and food security
• Public health
• Education and skill development
• Digital public infrastructure
• Climate change adaptation
• Renewable energy
• Disaster management
• Trade and investment
• Infrastructure development
• Capacity building and training
• Space and technology cooperation
For example, one developing country may share low-cost healthcare models, another may provide digital payment technology, and another may offer climate-resilient farming practices.
India’s Role
India has historically projected itself as a voice of the Global South. Its role started with anti-colonial solidarity, the Non-Aligned Movement and support for decolonisation.
Today, India’s South–South cooperation is visible through development partnerships, concessional lines of credit, capacity-building programmes, digital public infrastructure, humanitarian assistance and multilateral leadership.
India’s major platforms include:
• Indian Technical and Economic Cooperation Programme
• Lines of Credit to developing countries
• India-UN Development Partnership Fund
• Voice of Global South Summit
• International Solar Alliance
• Coalition for Disaster Resilient Infrastructure
• Vaccine Maitri
• Digital Public Infrastructure sharing
• Development projects in Africa, Asia and small island states
India hosted the Voice of Global South Summit in 2023 and later continued the initiative to raise common concerns of developing countries. At the 3rd Voice of Global South Summit in August 2024, India announced initiatives including a USD 2.5 million fund for trade promotion and a USD 1 million fund for capacity building in trade policy and trade negotiation.
India has also established DAKSHIN, the Global South Centre of Excellence, to share development experiences and best practices among Global South countries.
Importance
South–South cooperation is important because many developing countries face similar problems. These include poverty, climate vulnerability, debt stress, food insecurity, health gaps, digital divide, infrastructure deficit and unequal global trade rules.
Solutions from developed countries may not always fit the realities of developing countries. But a low-cost public health model from India, a digital payment model from the Global South, or a climate-resilient farming practice from Africa or Latin America may be more relevant and affordable.
South–South cooperation helps in:
• Sharing affordable development solutions
• Reducing dependence on traditional Western aid
• Strengthening bargaining power in global forums
• Promoting technology suited to developing countries
• Supporting SDG implementation
• Expanding trade among developing economies
• Building solidarity on climate finance and global governance reform
It also helps developing countries demand a fairer global order in areas like climate finance, debt restructuring, trade rules, technology transfer and reform of international institutions.
Challenges
South–South cooperation also faces limitations.
The first challenge is resource constraint. Developing countries themselves have limited financial and technological capacity.
The second challenge is uneven power. Some countries in the Global South are much larger and richer than others, creating the risk of unequal partnerships.
The third challenge is weak implementation. Many announced projects suffer from delays, funding gaps or capacity issues.
The fourth challenge is debt and dependency concerns. Infrastructure loans and development finance can create stress if projects are not economically viable.
The fifth challenge is lack of strong monitoring. Measuring the actual impact of South–South projects is often difficult.
Major concerns include:
• Limited financial resources
• Weak institutional capacity
• Project delays
• Debt sustainability concerns
• Lack of transparency in some projects
• Unequal power within the Global South
• Competition among developing countries
• Difficulty in measuring outcomes
South–South cooperation should therefore remain partnership-based and demand-driven, not a new form of dominance by larger developing countries.
Relevance for India
For India, South–South cooperation is both a development tool and a foreign policy instrument.
It helps India build goodwill in Africa, Asia, Latin America and island countries. It also supports India’s claim to leadership in the Global South and strengthens its demand for reforms in global institutions like the UN Security Council, WTO, IMF and World Bank.
It also supports India’s strategic interests. Development partnerships can improve connectivity, market access, energy cooperation, digital cooperation and diplomatic influence.
At the same time, India must ensure timely project delivery, financial transparency and sensitivity to local priorities.
Important factual points to remember:
• South–South cooperation means cooperation among developing countries
• It is based on equality, mutual benefit and non-conditionality
• It complements, but does not replace, North–South cooperation
• Buenos Aires Plan of Action was adopted in 1978
• BAPA+40 was held in 2019
• India’s ITEC programme is a major capacity-building platform
• India hosted Voice of Global South Summits
• DAKSHIN is India’s Global South Centre of Excellence
• South–South cooperation is linked with SDGs, climate justice and global governance reform
• Triangular cooperation involves two or more developing countries supported by a developed country or multilateral institution
Conclusion
South–South cooperation gives developing countries a platform to share solutions, build solidarity and demand a fairer global order. For India, it is central to its role as a voice of the Global South.
