12 September marks the International Day for South-South Cooperation (SSC). It commemorates the social, economic, and political developments of developing countries and observes the UN’s effort in promoting solidarity and technical cooperation within and between countries of the Global South. The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) has been a steadfast supporter of SSC and Triangular Cooperation (TrC).
The Agency’s Technical Cooperation (TC) programme drives this framework through regional agreements, including the African Region Cooperative Agreement for Research, Development and Training (AFRA), the Cooperative Agreement for Arab States in Asia (ARASIA), the intergovernmental Acuerdo Regional de Cooperacion para la Promocion de la Ciencia y la Tecnologia Nucleares en America Latina y el Caribe (ARCAL), and the Regional Cooperative Agreement for Asia and the Pacific (RCA). The framework further supports collaboration with regional and national institutions, including through practical arrangements.
Agenda 2030 has identified science, technology, and innovation (STI) as key drivers of sustainable development. This offers new opportunities for the Agency to support and facilitate South-South and Triangular collaboration. Against this background, TC has facilitated knowledge exchange between Indonesia and African countries in the field of plant mutation breeding and the use of the Merah Putih Gamma Irradiator, designed to increase shelf life and safety of food and medicines; supported Asia and the Pacific through capacity building, human resource development, and knowledge management in nuclear science and technology, with help of the Asian Network for Education in Nuclear Technology (ANET); and assisted Latin America in the development of regionally produced radiopharmaceuticals for targeted cancer therapy by sharing regional capabilities and knowledge, improving facilities, and through networking and training. Having the scientific and technical expertise, the IAEA’s Technical Cooperation Department is uniquely positioned to deliver STI solutions, accelerate innovation, and strengthen capacities through South-South and Triangular Cooperation.
South-South cooperation has, and will continue to, play a key role in increasing the knowledge and use of nuclear technology for food security and safeguarding, health, water resource assessments and the promotion of ‘climate smart’ agriculture. The IAEA’s Technical Cooperation Department is thereby proud to continue to support its Member States in leveraging nuclear science and technology solutions to common challenges.
Over the past 46 years, the RCA has proven itself to be an effective cooperative mechanism, and has made a significant contribution to sustainable social and economic development in Asia and the Pacific, especially in the areas of human health, food and agriculture, industry, water resource management and environmental protection.
