Bandung and Beyond: Reclaiming Collective Agency through Triangular Cooperation
By Amitabh Mattoo
Seventy years after the 1955 Bandung Conference, the Global South finds itself once again at a moment of moral and geopolitical reckoning. This article argues that Bandung must be reimagined not as a commemorative episode, but as an evolving framework of collective agency. By placing triangular cooperation at its centre, and by advancing new epistemic and institutional partnerships, we can craft a more inclusive, ethical, and action-oriented multilateralism for the 21st century.
Seven Decades After Bandung: The evolving landscape for South-South and Triangular Cooperation
By Danish
Seven decades after the landmark Asian-African Conference held in Bandung, Indonesia, its outcomes and principles continue to guide South-South and Triangular Cooperation (SSTrC) among the nations of the global South. Despite the current challenges facing global governance, multilateralism and international development cooperation, the Bandung Principles or Dasa sila remain an effective framework for developing countries to work collectively towards achieving peace, economic growth and sustainable development, and creating a democratic and equitable global order fit for the current moment which ensures that no one is left behind. Highlighting the legacy and continued relevance of the Spirit of Bandung for developing countries, this paper looks at some of the important elements that are contributing to the changing landscape for SSTrC; its opportunities, challenges and future trajectories; and how SSTrC could be strengthened at the national, regional and multilateral level for realizing sustainable development in the global South.
Intervention by Carlos Correa at the Global South Media and Think Tank Forum, Kunming, 6 September 2025
We were pleased to speak at the Global South Media and Think Tank Forum on the increased weight of the Global South in the world economy and the need for a more assertive role in shaping a more inclusive and fairer international order.
Global South’s Aspirations for Inclusive Human Development
By Sudheendra Kulkarni
China’s epoch-changing success in complete eradication of extreme poverty by the end of 2020 has many lessons for other developing countries, including India, that still have a large burden of poverty. India and China, as the only two nations with populations over one billion, should expand all-round cooperation based on mutual learning. Without any doubt, this will prove highly beneficial to inclusive Global Development.
To honour the South Centre’s 30th Anniversary, we are pleased to feature reflections on the South Centre’s work over the years. We invited entities and individuals to share brief remarks on how the South Centre has contributed to support development efforts or, specifically, to their own work—whether through the Centre’s policy support, technical assistance, capacity-building, or advocacy. These reflections highlight the strength of South-South solidarity and the impact of our collective efforts over the years. We were grateful to receive the remarks compiled in this document and deeply appreciate the contributions to this celebration of the South Centre.
The First Meeting of the Council of Representatives of the Member States of the South Centre, 1995
The South Centre, an independent intergovernmental think tank of the Global South, was established by an Intergovernmental Agreement which came into force on 31 July 1995. This year, as the South Centre commemorates its 30th anniversary, we take a moment to reflect on the collective journey we have undertaken in advancing the interests of developing countries. Over the past three decades, the South Centre has had the opportunity to work alongside government officials and diplomats, academics, civil society, and development partners to champion South-South cooperation, equitable development, and a more just and inclusive global governance system. Our shared commitment to amplifying the voices of the Global South has aimed at shaping policies, strengthening capacities and fostering collaboration on critical global challenges relating to health, intellectual property, trade, finance for development, human rights, taxation, investment, and sustainable development amongst others.
Excerpt from the Speech by Mwalimu Julius K. Nyerere at the Opening Ceremony of the Second Meeting of the Council of Representatives of the South Centre in New York
21st September 1998
“If we in the developing countries are to shape our own destiny, and participate fully in shaping the future and the nature of the world in which we live, we have to have an effective voice. But we will not have that effective voice if we do not work together, at least in some areas of vital concern to all of us. Together we can reduce our separate weaknesses. Acting together we can become stronger; we can gain at least some more influence in the world.”
Winds of Change: The BRICS Club of Nations Chipping Away at Western Dominance
The Dawn of the New South
By Len Ishmael, PhD
This era of polycrises, a global health pandemic coupled with wars in Europe and the Middle East, against the backdrop of Great Power rivalry and climate related emergencies, has profoundly affected all countries, rich and poor alike. Disproportionately affected have been those of the Global South for whom the World Bank has cautioned a ‘decade of lost development.’ As rising geopolitical tensions fuel security concerns, the nature of economic ties between countries is changing. Several countries – spearheaded by BRICS members – have started to consider alternatives to the Western financial institutional architecture in a bid to safeguard their own interests. These measures risk fragmenting the existing global financial infrastructure and derailing benefits derived from decades of economic integration in the face of new barriers to cross border investment, commerce, and trade. Recent research shows that trade restrictions have more than tripled since 2019, financial sanctions have expanded and the geopolitical risk index has also spiked, following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. After decades of accepting the West’s rules, there is a sense that the era of the Global South is dawning, and that Western interests are no longer de facto those of the rest of the world. It is in this milieu that the BRICS and their initiatives take on heightened economic and political significance.
South-South Cooperation to Address Health Challenges in the Caribbean. The Role of Medical Cooperation
Side Event organized by the South Centre and the Republic of Cuba during the World Health Assembly 2025
Date and Time: 20th May 2025, 6:00 – 7:30pm
Venue: South Centre (IEV II Conference Centre, Ground Floor, room Rhin, Chemin de Balexert 7/9, 1219 Geneva)
Within the framework of the World Health Assembly 2025, this side event, organized by Cuba, will bring together distinguished Ministers of Health from the Caribbean and Latin America to exchange experiences on the current challenges facing their health systems and the solutions implemented through South-South cooperation.
The panel will focus on how to strengthen South-South collaboration in the health sector, with the aim of building more resilient, equitable, and sustainable health systems in the Caribbean region.
This session will explore how collaboration between Caribbean and Latin American countries has contributed to strengthening regional health systems. Successful initiatives in medical training, professional exchange, and technical assistance will be highlighted. Additionally, innovative medical cooperation strategies that have improved access to and quality of health services for the most vulnerable populations will be discussed, consolidating an exemplary model of solidarity and mutual support.
The event will be conducted in Spanish with simultaneous interpretation into English.
Address by President Nelson Mandela at the opening session of the South Centre’s Council of Representatives
New York, 21 September 1998
As the premier source of research on issues affecting the South, and growing out of the work and experience of the South Commission, the Centre plays a role whose value for the developing world cannot be underestimated…
…it is indeed a great privilege for me to express our gratitude to Mwalimu Julius Nyerere and all the other pioneers of the South Centre. I hope that we in the NAM and G77 plus China will redouble our efforts to support the South Centre so that it in turn helps us achieve our objective of over coming poverty and promoting peace.
Statement of Carlos Correa, Executive Director of the South Centre, on occasion of the Council of the Global South Research Center
Beijing, March 28th, 2025
We welcome the creation of the Global South Research Center with the Secretariat of the Center for International Knowledge on Development (CIKD), and look forward to the opportunities to cooperate on themes of particular relevance for the Global South.
Advancing International Cooperation under the Global Digital Compact
By Danish
Bridging the global digital divide in new and emerging technologies, particularly Artificial Intelligence, will require developing countries to strongly leverage international cooperation to build digital skills, knowledge and gain access to these technologies which can accelerate their digital transformation and sustainable development. This emphasis on international cooperation is also deeply embedded in the Global Digital Compact, which was adopted as part of the Pact for the Future. This paper therefore looks at how international cooperation modalities have been included in the GDC across the different issue areas, how developing countries are already engaging with the GDC through their national initiatives, and provides some useful considerations going forward.
