By Baboloki Semele: Sierra Leone is set to host the Third Africa High-Level Forum on South-South and Triangular Cooperation (SSTrC) for Sustainable Development in Freetown from May 7-9, 2025. The forum, which builds on previous high-level engagements, aims to strengthen Africa’s cooperation frameworks for sustainable development, fostering new partnerships and enhancing institutional mechanisms for economic growth and governance.
The evolution of South-South and Triangular Cooperation over the past five decades has reshaped the global development landscape. Countries such as China, Brazil, Japan, and Middle Eastern nations—including Turkey, the UAE, and Saudi Arabia—have played significant roles in advancing economic collaboration in the Global South. Institutions such as BRICS, the African Development Bank (AfDB), the Islamic Development Bank (IsDB), and the Arab Bank for Economic Development in Africa have contributed significantly to Africa’s socio-economic development.
The UN’s adoption of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) in 2015 underscored the growing importance of SSTrC in addressing development challenges. The Buenos Aires Plan of Action (1978), the Doha Declaration (2005), and the Nairobi Outcome Document (2009) laid the groundwork for enhanced South-South collaboration. The BAPA+40 Outcome Document reaffirmed the importance of national planning, resource mobilization, and knowledge-sharing to achieve Agenda 2063, Africa’s blueprint for socio-economic transformation.
Previous Forum Achievements
The Second Africa High-Level Forum on SSTrC, held in Kampala, Uganda, from January 15-17, 2023, emphasized the need to strengthen national ecosystems for SSTrC in Africa. Key recommendations from the forum included:
- Utilization of SSTrC to bridge financial gaps for Agenda 2063 implementation, address Illicit Financial Flows (IFF), and align skills development with market needs.
- Advocacy for a two-way flow of benefits in South-South Cooperation to ensure all participating countries gain equitably.
- Recognition of the diaspora community’s role in mobilizing resources, particularly human capital, for Africa’s sustainable development.
- Encouraging partnerships with non-state actors, including private sector entities, to drive industrialization, food security, and technology transfer.
- Strengthening governance mechanisms and institutional capacities for better accountability and transparency in SSTrC programs.
The upcoming forum in Sierra Leone will focus on key themes vital to Africa’s sustainable development and governance, including:
- The role of SSTrC in advancing the second ten-year implementation plan of Agenda 2063 amid global geopolitical shifts.
- The transformation of global financial structures and its impact on Africa, including the establishment of credit rating agencies and blended finance strategies.
- National ecosystem building for SSTrC and its contribution to APRM’s governance promotion.
- Strengthening partnerships with Global South countries to tackle governance challenges in food security, education, health, and industrialization.
- Providing a platform for youth and women to share domestic initiatives related to SDGs and Agenda 2063.
The forum will explore various thematic dimensions such as:
- Economic resilience and industrialization: examining the role of development banks like AfDB, IsDB, and the Saudi Development Fund in financing Africa’s development.
- Strengthening Africa’s role in the global economy, particularly in the BRICS+ framework.
- Enhancing governance through participatory engagement of non-state actors, youth, and the African diaspora.
- Promoting digital knowledge and innovation through South-South and Triangular Cooperation.
Several organizations will collaborate in organizing the forum, including: - African Union Commission (AUC)
- AU Development Agency (AUDA-NEPAD)
- AfDB, IsDB, and Saudi Fund for Development
- UN agencies (UNDP, WFP, UN ECA, UN Habitat)
- Regional Economic Communities (RECs)
- Morocco, Tunisia, Rwanda, and Brazil’s SSTrC agencies
- Development organizations such as GIZ and JICA
The Agenda 2063 Youth Exhibition A major highlight of the forum will be the Agenda 2063 Youth Exhibition, a platform for young African innovators to showcase solutions aligned with SDGs and continental development priorities. According to the rationale supplied by APRM, the Third Africa High-Level Forum on SSTrC presents a critical opportunity for African nations to deepen partnerships, harness emerging opportunities, and refine governance frameworks to drive sustainable development. With Sierra Leone hosting this landmark event, Africa is poised to further integrate South-South and Triangular Cooperation as a key strategy for economic resilience and inclusive growth.