South-South cooperation covers a wide range of areas, including renewable energy, digital innovation, public health, sustainable agriculture, disaster preparedness, education and public services. Rather than relying only on traditional development cooperation between wealthier and developing countries, the UN is encouraging countries of the Global South to share solutions that have already been tested in similar economic and social contexts. The UN emphasises that this approach is based on national ownership, equality, mutual benefit and respect for national sovereignty.

The growing importance of these partnerships can also be seen in economic relations. According to the UN, South-South trade reached US$6.8 trillion in 2025, while more than half of developing countries' exports now go to other developing economies. Investment between developing countries has also increased significantly, showing the growing connections between economies in the Global South.

The UN is also using South-South cooperation to support specific countries. In Uganda, for example, a high-level consultation held in Kampala on 27 August 2026 brought together government representatives, ambassadors and UN officials to discuss how the country could obtain new ideas, expertise, investment and practical solutions from other developing countries. The meeting called for a shift towards more mutually beneficial South-South partnerships.

South-South cooperation therefore represents a growing part of the UN's approach to international development. By helping countries exchange knowledge and experience directly, the organisation hopes to make development cooperation more responsive to national needs while strengthening partnerships across regions. The launch of the new Global Alliance in September marks another step towards making these connections more systematic and expanding cooperation between countries of the Global South.

• https://www.un.org/en/observances/south-south-cooperation-day