By: Staff Writer
February 3, 2026
The United Nations (UN) Office for South-South Cooperation (UNOSSC), said in a new report that the Latin American and Caribbean (LAC) region leads South-South cooperation towards advancing the 2030 agenda.
The report, “UN System Support for South-South and Triangular Cooperation in Latin America and the Caribbean: A UNOSSC-DCO LAC Regional Survey Report,” said that the LAC region continues to lead by example in promoting and institutionalizing South-South and triangular cooperation at the national, regional, and subregional levels.
The report notes growing use of UN system-wide tools and digital platforms to strengthen coherence, knowledge exchange and alignment. It also identifies challenges, including limited predictable resources, fragmented monitoring systems and uneven integration into planning and reporting. Finally, it outlines opportunities and recommendations for the UN system, emphasising reinforced RC leadership, stronger institutional capacities, regional collaboration and more systematic tracking and financing.
The report also said: “The LAC has firmly positioned itself as a dynamic centre for South-South and triangular cooperation, drawing strength from a long-standing tradition of horizontal collaboration, regional integration, and forward-thinking policy innovation.
“Countries across the region actively share their experiences to tackle common development challenges such as poverty, inequality, climate change, and digital transformation. Building on this strong foundation, The LAC region is well-positioned to elevate cooperation to the next level, and the United Nations System has an important role to play through the leadership of Resident Coordinators (RCs) and the coordination of UN Country Teams (UNCTs).”
It also said: “The UN System plays an enabling and catalytic role in integrating South-South and triangular cooperation within national planning frameworks, responding to government requests, brokering partnerships, and sharing technical resources and innovations via digital platforms. Over 90 per cent of RCOs reported supporting government requests through technical assistance (advice, training) and facilitation of knowledge and people-to-people exchanges.
“For example, in Mexico the government engages the UNCT to use SouthSouth and triangular cooperation to enhance national capacities and programmes across thematic areas such as social programmes, governance, public security, and justice.
“In Belize, the “Upgrade Belize Statistical System project”3 coordinated by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) country office and funded by the Korea International Cooperation Agency (KOICA) illustrates how UNCTs help host governments leverage South-South and triangular cooperation modalities.
“While technical and knowledge-based support remain dominant, findings indicate a growing role for partnership facilitation/brokering in advancing South-South and triangular cooperation.”