UN agency builds global networks of think tanks for South-South cooperation

The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) is building global networks of think tanks to create better policy and legal environments for South-South cooperation, said a UN official here on Monday.

Xiaojun Grace Wang, lead adviser on South-South and Triangular Cooperation, said that the UN agency is working to establish the South-South Cooperation Global Thinkers Initiative, a coalition network of over 200 think tanks from both the developing and developed countries.

Wang said South-South cooperation is important for implementing the Sustainable Development Agenda for the whole world, but due to lack of understanding of the respective legal and policy environments, the potential of such kind of cooperation has yet been fully leveraged.

To tackle this challenge, think tanks can provide solutions and resources, and a global support to connect think tank networks with each other and pool resources, expertise and knowledge together is also in great need, said Wang.

Wang made the remarks at a special event held here at UN headquarters to discuss how think tanks can help with the creation of legal environment for South-South cooperation by providing professional advises based on high-quality research.

According to Wang, the global coalition will conduct collaborative research and produce knowledge products to inform policy for South-South cooperation.

It will also provide policy recommendations and advisory services to support South-South cooperation programmes, she added.

South-South cooperation is a kind of cooperation by exchange resources, technology and knowledge between developing countries.

Also at the special event, the UNDP has signed a partnership agreement with Beijing Yingke Law Firm to involve the Chinese company with expertise of laws and policies into its think tank initiative. Enditem