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Conference Title: The 6th Director-General’s Level Forum on Asia-Pacific South-South and Triangular Cooperation
Date: November 26-28, 2024
Organized by UNESCAP
Venue: Bangkok, Thailand
Main Participants
In addition to ESCAP member countries and UN agencies, traditional donors such as JICA, USAID, GIZ, AFD, FCDO, and emerging donors such as Azerbaijan AIDA, China CIDCA, Colombia APC (Colombia), Kazakhstan KazAID, Turkey TIKA, Thailand TICA
Background and Objectives
At the UNESCAP Director General (DG) Forum held at the headquarters of the United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (UNESCAP) in Bangkok on November 26-28, 2024, Director Ohba was a keynote speaker at the opening session of the forum, which discussed the effectiveness and good practices of triangular cooperation. Director Ohba gave a keynote speech at the opening session, followed by the signing ceremony of the Memorandum of Cooperation (MOC) with UNESCAP. The theme of the 6th forum was “Urban Development,” and the forum provided an opportunity to discuss challenges and solutions for sustainable development in the region through triangular cooperation1 . In addition to the host country, Thailand, participants included China, India, Indonesia, the Philippines, Kazakhstan, Turkey, Azerbaijan, Colombia, the United States, Germany, and other countries and related organizations that are actively promoting South-South and triangular cooperation, reaffirming the importance of partnership building.
Confirmation of the importance of triangular cooperation
In the opening session, Director Ohba mentioned good examples such as Thailand’s Third Country Training Program2 and Cambodia’s Mine Action Center (CMAC),3 and stated, “As the world faces multiple crises such as conflicts and pandemics, and the achievement of the SDGs is at stake, the importance of working with diverse countries and institutions, including emerging countries, is further increasing. We too can learn and innovate from our partner countries. We too would like to learn from our partner countries and co-create innovative initiatives,” he said, emphasizing the importance of partnerships with emerging countries.
He recommended the importance of building on past assistance, establishing equal relationships with partner countries, and learning from each other to solve regional issues.
Strengthen cooperation with UNESCAP
The opening session was followed by the signing ceremony of a Memorandum of Cooperation (MOC) on collaboration between JICA and UNESCAP. Under the MOC, it was confirmed that JICA will strengthen cooperation in four main areas where JICA has experience and strength in supporting regional issues in Asia and the Pacific: (1) air pollution control, (2) disaster risk reduction and management, (3) inclusion of persons with disabilities, and (4) South-South cooperation and triangular cooperation.
Signing ceremony by UNESCAP Executive Director Ali Shabana (left) and Director Ohba (right)
Mr. Kawabe, Deputy Director of the Thailand Office, appeared as a panelist. He introduced good examples from Thailand and Indonesia, as well as diverse initiatives such as issue-specific training in urban planning and wide-area seminars targeting Asia and Africa.
Beyond Triangular Cooperation
As many countries in Asia are changing from “recipients of aid” to “bearers of aid,” it is important to mobilize the knowledge and funds of diverse actors, including emerging countries, and cooperate with each other based on “co-creation and solidarity” in order to solve our global challenges. JICA will continue to contribute to solving global issues through diverse partnerships. JICA will continue to contribute to solving global issues through diverse partnerships.
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