The future of global development will increasingly be shaped by countries learning directly from one another, sharing solutions to shared challenges, and strengthening institutions to sustain progress, according to the United Nations.

This message was delivered by Fatmata Lovetta Sesay, UNDP Resident Representative in Rwanda and UN Resident Coordinator, during the opening of the inaugural two-day Convention on South-South and Triangular Cooperation (SSTrC) on Monday, June 22.

Held under the theme Strengthening Collaboration and Institutional Frameworks for Effective Implementation, the convention brought together ministers, diplomats, development partners, UN agencies, financial institutions, researchers and civil society leaders to explore how Global South countries can accelerate sustainable development through stronger partnerships.

Sesay said South-South cooperation has become increasingly important amid economic uncertainty, climate pressures, health emergencies and financing gaps.

"South-South cooperation matters today more than ever,” she said. "At the heart of it is the understanding that every country has something to teach and every country has something to learn.”

Recent UN data shows requests from governments for South-South cooperation support have risen to more than 60 per cent, while over 85 per cent of UN development entities have integrated it into their strategic plans and reporting systems.

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The UN has also adopted a System-Wide Strategy on South-South and Triangular Cooperation for 2026–2029 to scale evidence-based solutions and strengthen data tracking.

Rwanda spotlighted as a knowledge hub

Sesay said the real value lies in practical outcomes, not statistics, highlighting Rwanda as an example of knowledge-sharing in action.

"Countries were already coming to Rwanda long before formal structures existed,” she said. "The challenge was how to ensure that learning did not end when delegations returned home. How do we ensure that visits become partnerships and partnerships become results?”

That thinking led to the creation of the Rwanda Cooperation Initiative (RCI) seven years ago, with UNDP support.

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Today, Rwanda is widely recognised as a knowledge hub, offering lessons in governance, digital transformation, public service delivery, community health systems and accountability. Key models include Irembo, Community Health Workers, YouthConnekt Africa, Umuganda, Imihigo, and the Umucyo e-procurement system for public tenders.

Rwanda’s drone-based medical delivery system, including bloody supply, has also gained international attention.

Beyond study visits: call for stronger systems

However, Sesay cautioned that South-South cooperation should not be reduced to study visits.

"The problem is not a lack of ideas,” she said during a panel discussion. "The cooperation is moving faster than the systems required to support it.”

She noted that while collaboration is increasing, many countries still lack mechanisms to track implementation, document lessons and measure long-term impact.

"What happens after the visits? Who follows up? Who measures whether knowledge has been adopted and sustained?” she asked. "That is where institutions matter.”

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Sesay said the future lies in stronger institutional networks rather than more centres of excellence.

"The future is about stronger networks, not the number of centres,” she said. "Knowledge that is organised but not shared has little value.”

UNDP, she said, plays a facilitative role in connecting countries and strengthening institutions to turn knowledge exchange into sustainable reform.

Examples shared at the convention included Benin, whose officials visited Rwanda to study reforms in public service delivery, digital identity, tax administration and urban cleanliness. They later adopted similar measures that improved governance and service delivery.

Rwanda Cooperation Initiative highlights Africa’s cooperation vision

Richard Niwenshuti, CEO of the Rwanda Cooperation Initiative, said South-South cooperation reflects a long-standing vision rooted in Africa’s independence era.

"Africa’s future would not be built by waiting for solutions from elsewhere, but by learning from one another, trading with one another and growing together,” he said.

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Since 2018, RCI has hosted more than 10,500 delegates from 80 countries. It has supported reforms in countries such as Chad, Eswatini, Guinea and Jamaica across public finance, e-procurement and judicial digitisation.

Niwenshuti said Rwanda does not present itself as perfect but as a country willing to share lessons from its transformation journey.

"We believe every country has something valuable to share and every country has something to learn,” he said.

Trust as a foundation for cooperation

Sesay emphasised that trust between governments and citizens is essential for success.

"South-South cooperation will not work where trust is absent,” she said.

UNDP plans to further strengthen institutional capacity, partnerships and knowledge systems to help countries scale proven solutions and accelerate progress toward the Sustainable Development Goals.

"The exchanges are truly mutual,” Sesay said. "Both countries learn, both countries teach, and both countries grow. That is the true spirit of partnership and the future of development cooperation.”