A UN day highlighting technical and economic cooperation among developing countries as a tool for sustainable development.
Date12 September
TopicEconomy & Labor
Established2003
Ways to observe this day
Learn about successful South-South cooperation projects
Support products and services from partner developing nations
Join discussions on development and international cooperation
Follow UN events related to this day
The UN General Assembly declared a Day for South-South Cooperation in 2003, originally observed on December 19. In 2011, the Assembly moved the observance to September 12 to coincide with the anniversary of the 1978 adoption of the Buenos Aires Plan of Action for promoting technical cooperation among developing countries.
The day highlights the importance of economic, technical, and scientific cooperation among countries of the Global South as an effective way to exchange expertise, resources, and knowledge between developing nations, moving beyond the traditional North-to-South aid model.
The UN marks the day with forums and exhibitions showcasing successful South-South cooperation projects in agriculture, health, and technology, encouraging governments, the private sector, and civil society to strengthen partnerships that advance the Sustainable Development Goals.