WIPO and the United Nations South-South Cooperation Framework Geneva

22 November2013

Nathalie Montillot

Assistant Project Officer

South-South Cooperation in the UN: Institutional Framework

High-level Committee on South-South Cooperation

Main policy-making body on SSC in UN system

Subsidiary body of the UN General AssemblyProvides policy guidance on SSCEnsures that efforts to strengthen SSC are

sustained within the UN system, including through the allocation of adequate resources for SSC

Reviews the progress made in implementing the recommendations of BAPA on SSC

Meets biannually

South-South Cooperation in the UN: Institutional Framework

UN Office for South-South Cooperation (UNOSSC)

Formerly “Special Unit for South-South Cooperation”

Serves as the Secretariat to the HLC on SSCOrganizes the sessions of the HLCCarries out research to inform policy decisions on

the deepening of SSCAdvocates for SS approaches to development in

the UN system and provides advisory services to UN Member States and agencies

Overall promotes, coordinates and supports SSC globally and within the UN system

South-South Cooperation in the UN: UNOSSC multilateral support architecture

South-South Cooperation in the UN: Key Policy Documents

Buenos Aires Plan of Action (1978)

Technical cooperation among developing countries described as a:

“vital force for initiating, designing, organizing and promoting co-operation among developing countries so that they can create, acquire, adapt, transfer and pool knowledge and experience for their mutual benefit and for achieving national and collective self-reliance, which are essential for their social and economic development”BAPA, paragraph 5

South-South Cooperation in the UN: Key Policy Documents

Nairobi Conference Outcome Document (2009)

To date the most comprehensive internationally agreed documentation of SSC principlesIncreasing relevance of SSC as a complement to

North-South CooperationImportance of triangular cooperation Urges UN organizations and specialized agencies

to take concrete measures and mobilize resources to further promote SS knowledge-sharing, networking and capacity-building

WIPO and UNOSSC

Participation in 17th session of the HLC (NY, May 2012)

Participation in 2012 and 2013 editions of GSSD Expo

GSSD Expo 2012 (Vienna, November 2012)GSSD Expo 2013 (Nairobi, October 2013)

Building Inclusive Green Economies: SSC for Sustainable Development and Poverty Eradication

New partnership between WIPO GREEN and SS-GATE (sharing of green technologies and IP advice)

WIPO and UNOSSC

High-level Forum for Development Cooperation

Forum for UN system practitioners to share experiences and best practices in the management and support of SSC

Showcase developments and SSC initiatives at the national/regional/international level

Broad participation from Member States and a large number of IOs

High-level Forum for Development Cooperation – GSSD Expo 2013Distribution

High-level Forum for Development Cooperation – GSSD Expo 2013Distribution

Africa: Angola, Guinea, Kenya, LiberiaArab States: Algeria, Egypt, Iraq, Yemen, Kuwait, Qatar Sudan, TunisiaAsia: Bangladesh, China, Indonesia, Nepal, Sri LankaEurope & CIS: Slovakia, Turkey, UzbekistanLAC: Argentina, Chile, Colombia, Mexico, VenezuelaDonor countries: Finland, Germany, Japan, Norway, UK, USAIOs: FAO, IFAD, ILO, UNCTAD, UNDP, UNECE, UNEP, UNIDO, UN-OHRLLS, UNOSSC, WBI, WHO, WIPO, AfDB, ICCIA

Total: 129 participants

High-level Forum for Development Cooperation – GSSD Expo 2013Overview

Review of national and regional SSC initiatives highlights a growing use of SSC at all levels: increase in SSC programs Increase in SSC funds Increase in policies and strategies for SSCNew SSC institutional frameworksLarge number of triangular cooperation projects with the

support from donor countries (Japan and USA in the lead)

High-level Forum for Development Cooperation – GSSD Expo 2013Overview

International level: UN funds, programs and specialized agencies are also increasingly placing emphasis on SSCDevelopment of new web-based platforms to foster the sharing

of knowledge and experienceDocumentation of solutions and best practicesEstablishment of hubs & centers of excellence to promote SSC Formulation of SSC strategiesEmergence of dedicated SSC units

High-level Forum for Development Cooperation GSSD Expo 2013Lessons Learned

Better capture and disseminate experiences and good practices from the South

Engage the private sector&civil society/encourage PPPs

Strengthen resources, capacities and institutional frameworks for SSC

Use SSC as a tool to support, in particular, LDCs, landlocked and small island developing countries

Strengthen SSC management practices (monitoring and review mechanisms, coordination mechanisms) UNOSSC study on capacity development for SSC

Encourage further use of and partnerships with SS-GATE for exchange of technologies&assets

ConclusionSSC has become an important mechanism for developing countries and LDCs to help them achieve their development agenda

The multilateral system and donor countries are increasingly supporting SSC helping to scale up these initiatives and acting as knowledge-brokers and catalysts

More efforts need to be made in terms of strengthening capacities and improving SSC management practices

WIPO will continue to work closely with UNOSSC to follow up on UN system-wide developments and contribute to the enhancement of SSC in the field of IP

Lessons learned will be taken into account in future work of South-South project subject to MS decision

Thank you