Statement by UNFPA Executive Director Dr. Natalia Kanem

On the International Day for South-South Cooperation

In the past 40 years, our world has transformed. Many developing countries in the Global South have emerged from poverty and built thriving economies and societies. They drive much of the global economic dynamism we have seen in recent times.

For such transformative sustainable development to continue and to reach everyone, what has worked should be widely shared. Today, as we mark the United Nations Day for South-South Cooperation, we have a chance to draw attention to the many remarkable accomplishments of developing countries.

It is also a moment to champion the enormous potential benefits that can emanate from countries working together to share solutions, and to encourage countries that have reached a higher level of income to play a larger role in financing development in poorer parts of the world.

South-South cooperation is needed more than ever. Yet, multilateral action is under serious threat, even as the COVID-19 pandemic has underscored the urgency of collective efforts.

We need to work together. We need to find solutions together. At UNFPA, the United Nations sexual and reproductive health agency, we stand behind all efforts to summon humanity’s collective knowledge to heal divides, build resilience, and realize human rights and choices.