South-South and Triangular Cooperation (SSTC)

News: Recently, UN has celebrated UN Day for South-South and Triangular Cooperation on 12 September 2025. The theme was “New Opportunities and Innovation through SSTC”.

About South-South and Triangular Cooperation (SSTC)

About	It is southern driven partnerships where two or more developing countries (South-South) collaborate with support from developed countries and/or multilateral organisations. It has been recognized as a complement and not a substitute to North-South cooperation. SSTC aim to strengthen knowledge sharing, technology transfer, and innovation among developing countries.
Formation	It was formalized under the Buenos Aires Plan of Action (BAPA), 1978. The UN recognizes September 12 as the International Day for SSTC, commemorating the anniversary of BAPA.
Significance	Solidarity and Mutual Benefit: Fosters self-reliance and mutual benefit through knowledge and resource sharing, free from external conditionalities. Capacity Building: Strengthens the ability of developing countries to address their own development challenges. Collective Self-Reliance: Encourages sharing resources and expertise to solve common problems. Non-Conditional Partnerships: Promotes equality, national sovereignty, and non-interference in development efforts. Inclusive Development: Supports vulnerable countries and contributes to achieving global development goals like the 2030 Agenda.
India’s Role in SSTC	India emphasises solidarity and inclusiveness in global cooperation through principle of Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam. Digital Innovations: India’s Aadhaar and UPI serve as scalable models for digital transformation. WFP Partnership: India’s collaboration with the World Food Programme has led to innovations like Grain ATMs and the Take-Home Ration programme, improving food security. India-UN Development Partnership Fund (2017): It supports SDG projects, especially in Least Developed Countries and small island countries.

About Buenos Aires Plan of Action (BAPA)

• BAPA was adopted in 1978 at the Buenos Aires Conference on Technical Cooperation among Developing Countries.
• Aim: To promote technical cooperation among developing countries (TCDC) and enhance self-reliance in development efforts.
• Core Principles of BAPA:
  • Solidarity and Mutual Respect – Cooperation based on equality, not dependency.
    
  • Sharing of Knowledge and Technology – Developing nations helping each other through expertise and technical assistance.
    
  • Strengthening Capacities – Building human and institutional capacities for sustainable development.
    
  • Mutual Benefit and Equity – Ensuring that partnerships create fair outcomes for all involved.