South Centre Inputs to FfD4 Elements Paper – Debt Sustainability, Business and Finance, Taxation
By Yuefen Li, Danish, Abdul Muheet Chowdhary
The upcoming 4th conference on financing for development (FfD4) represents an important opportunity for developing countries to achieve a deep reform of the international financial architecture so that it meets their sustainable development needs and enhances the scale of development finance to fully realize the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. Based on the inputs provided by the South Centre to the FfD4 process, this policy brief highlights some of the key messages, problem statements and policy solutions in the areas of sovereign debt, private business and finance, and international tax cooperation that should be considered by the countries of the global South in their deliberations towards achieving ambitious outcomes at FfD4.
A RAFT FOR THE FUTURE: Can the Pact for the Future Deliver the Multilateral Titanic?
South Centre Statement
24 October 2024
The South Centre participated in the Foundation for Global Governance and Sustainability (FOGGS) event evaluating the Pact For The Future. The Pact is a crucial step but needs a concrete roadmap with clear actions & timelines to find solutions central to developing countries.
Science in crisis times: The crucial role of science in sustainability and transformation
PLOS Sustainability and Transformation Journal
Authors: Paul Shrivastava, Louise Jackson, Thaura Ghneim-Herrera, Patrick Caron, Carlos Correa, Carlos Alvarez Pereira, Timothy Coombs, Oluchi Ezekannagha, Nick Ishmael-Perkins, Melissa Leach, Sélim Louafi, Gary E. Machlis, Julia Marton-Lefèvre, Alexander Müller, Janos Pasztor, Vivi Stavrou, Camilla Toulmin, and Sonja Vermeulen
In an era marked by the convergence of complex crises, the role of science in sustainability and transformative changes has never been more critical. A recent article in PLOS Sustainability and Transformation Journal, titled “Science in Crisis Times: The Crucial Role of Science in Sustainability and Transformation,” delves into this pressing issue. Authored by a distinguished group of experts, including former MAK’IT Scientific Officer Thaura Ghneim-Herrera and South Centre Executive Director Carlos M. Correa, the article draws from the insights of the 2022 MAK’IT conference “What Role for Science in Crisis Times? Outlook in the Health, Environment, and Agriculture Interconnected Areas”, held in University of Montpellier with the support of the South Centre, which brought together 18 international experts.
Reviewing the Implementation of Select Sustainable Development Goals – A Southern Perspective
By Yuefen Li, Viviana Muñoz Tellez, Vahini Naidu, Danish, Vitor Ido, Peter Lunenborg, Nirmalya Syam, Daniel Uribe
In line with the focus of the work of the South Centre, this paper specifically looks at the following Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs): Goal 1 – No poverty; Goal 2 – Zero Hunger; Goal 3 – Good Health and Well-being; Goal 9 – Industry, Innovation and Infrastructure; Goal 13 – Climate Action; Goal 14 – Life Below Water; Goal 15 – Life on Land; and Goal 17 – Partnerships for the Goals. Particular attention has also been paid to the concerns of least developed countries (LDCs) in relation to the SDGs.
The paper thus seeks to provide a review of the trajectory of the implementation of the aforementioned SDGs in the years since 2015 from the perspective of the Global South. It then spells out the drivers for the progress made and the challenges and the changing narratives in the world today. It also provides some concrete recommendations which can support developing and least developed countries in their sustainable development pathways.
South Centre Statement at the 60th Anniversary Celebration of the Group of 77 and China in Geneva
13 September 2024
The South Centre participated in the 60th Anniversary of the Group of 77 and China and strongly reaffirmed our commitment to supporting the Global South countries in meeting common challenges for achieving prosperity & sustainable development.
Comments to the Global Digital Compact Third Revision
South Centre
Geneva, August 2024
The Global Digital Compact to be agreed in September 2024 is a step towards equitable digital transformation.
Implementation of the Global Digital Compact will require inclusive, strengthened multilateralism, international cooperation and financing to close digital divides.
Statement by the South Centre on the Adoption of the Draft Terms of Reference for a UN Framework Convention on International Tax Cooperation
August 2024
The South Centre welcomes the adoption of the draft Terms of Reference for a United Nations Framework Convention on International Tax Cooperation (UNFCITC). The UNFCITC can establish a fair and equitable international tax system for developing countries.
UNCTAD at 60: Reflections on six decades of promoting economic development for the Global South
By Yuefen Li and Danish
The United Nations Trade and Development (UNCTAD) celebrated its 60th anniversary in June 2024 in Geneva, holding a high-level Global Leaders Forum that brought together ministers, officials and experts to discuss the multidimensional challenges facing countries, and strategies for advancing the UN 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. It highlighted the need for innovative solutions to address current global crises that can promote resilience, economic growth and sustainable development.
Foreign Direct Investment Screening for ‘National Security’ or Sustainable Development: a blessing in disguise?
By Daniel Uribe Teran
Over the past decade, the global adoption of Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) screening mechanisms (ISMs) has surged, reflecting developed countries’ policies aiming at restricting FDI on the grounds of broadly defined ‘security’ or ‘national’ interests. Recent geopolitical and economic crises have further fuelled this trend, leading to increasingly stringent ISMs. This paper explores the definition, evolution, and current practices of ISMs, highlighting their resurgence and differing motivations globally. It examines how, if properly used, ISMs could also be used to promote sustainable development and resilience, and advance climate action agendas. The paper also provides policymakers with insights into maximizing the impact of ISMs to achieve sustainable development and economic resilience in an interconnected world.
Unveiling the Controversies: ICTs in Agriculture and the Challenges for Africa
By Ruthbetha Kateule and Thaura Ghneim-Herrera
The integration of Information and Communication Technologies (ICTs) in African agriculture presents both significant opportunities and challenges. While ICTs can enhance efficiency and productivity, addressing the digital divide and structural inequalities is crucial for their effective implementation. It is imperative to incorporate local knowledge and address region-specific challenges to ensure that these technologies are accessible and beneficial to all, particularly in rural and underserved areas. Moving forward, a balanced approach that focuses on sustainable development, equitable access, and environmental stewardship will be key to realizing the full potential of smart agriculture in Africa and the Global South.
This paper presents a summary of a research conducted with the support of the Montpellier Advanced Knowledge Institute on Transitions (MAK’IT) of the University of Montpellier, within the framework of the 2024 COHORT programme, and the cooperation of the South Centre.
Statement to the 25th Session of the Intergovernmental Working Group on the Right to Development
South Centre
13 – 17 May 2024
The 25th Session of the UN Working Group on RtD is taking place at UN Geneva this week. Realizing the human right to development supports the achievement of the 2030Agenda and the enjoyment of all human rights.
Understanding the Interconnected Threats to Global Sustainability: A Focus on Deforestation, Traditional Knowledge, and Biopiracy
By Marissa Costa De Castro
This paper examines the interconnected threats of climate change, deforestation, misappropriation of traditional knowledge (TK), and the detrimental phenomenon of biopiracy. It discusses the profound impacts of deforestation on climate change, with an illustrative case study centered on Brazil’s Matopiba region. Additionally, it investigates the intricate relationship between TK, land grabbing, and biopiracy within indigenous and local communities.
