As signature theme, a joint session on South-South and Triangular Partnership to accelerate the promise organized by PPD and UNFPA on 12 November 2019 at the Nairobi Summit Venue. The principal objective of this session was to scale up South-South and Triangular Cooperation to accelerate implementation of the ICPD agenda through the exchange and utilization of SSTC platforms to harness and bolster political commitment. Ministries and experts from PPD member countries attended the session as speakers including H.E. Dr. Yu Xuejun, Vice Minister, National Health Commission of China; H. E. Ms. Fatou Kinteh, Minister of Women’s Affairs of The Gambia; H.E. Ms. Lindiwe Zulu MP, South African Minister of Social Development and the Secretary of the PPD Board and H.E. Dr. Nisia Trindade Lima, President, Oswaldo Cruz Foundation, Ministry of Health of Brazil. Mr. Sam Ntelamo Resident Representative to African Union, International Planned Parenthood Federation (IPPF).
H.E. Mr. Zahid Maleque MP, Minister of Health and Family Welfare of the Government of Bangladesh moderated the session.
All the speakers highlighted SSC as an alternative political and financing tool in developing countries for achieving unfinished ICPD and SDGs 2030 agenda. They have also reiterated their commitments that was made during Tunis Conference held in the last September 2019 towards promoting South-South and Triangular Cooperation (SSTC) for achieving ICPD and SDGs. They have strongly recommended for inclusion of the SSTC into the Nairobi Statements.
They have stated that developing countries need more ODA for achieving ICPD, but meanwhile the developed world cannot ignore the contribution made by developing countries towards promoting South-South and Triangular cooperation to address ICPD and SDGs.
It was stated that our strength has been in our collaborations with progressive alliances through the South-South Cooperation to advance a shared national, regional and global development agenda. Our commitment to South-South Cooperation is reflected through a number of regional and international initiatives and platforms, which include our work on population and development in the Southern Africa Development Community (SADC) region, BRICS – the political and socio-economic alliance of Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa and the International Planned Parenthood Federation (IPPF), amongst others.
They have committed for continuing to promote a coherent and integrated implementation of the ICPD Programme of Action and SDGs in the SADC, BRICS, IPPF and other forums because we believe that our partnership with countries of the South is critical to advancing, not only our national agenda but the broader African Development Agenda. We share a common interest with countries of the South of addressing underdevelopment and its associated challenges.
In conclusion, it was said that SSTC is very relevant development strategy towards the achievement of national goals and SDGs. They have recommended that UNFPA and PPD need to deepening their facilitating role in promoting SSTC. SSTC is a sustainable approach as it is occurred based on the ownership of the governments and agencies involved in mutual benefits.
In addition to that an expert session was organized jointly by PPD and UNFPA to present the experts views on the promotion of SSTC in achieving three Zeros and addressing demographic dividend. The experts from different countries including youth representatives spoken on the importance of SSTC.
Dr. Josephine Kibaru-Mbae, Director General of NCPD of Kenya and member of PPD Board moderated the session. PPD Executive Director presented the theme paper highlighting PPD’s role in responding unfinished ICPD agenda.
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