In a world of multipolar growth, there is no longer room for a “one size fits all” model of development. New forms such as triangular co–operation offer significant opportunities to promote both mutual learning on development experiences and to maximise resources, capacities and knowledge.
Triangular co–operation promotes the engagement of new development actors and donors. This is crucial as the international community is in the process of defining a new global development agenda. The traditional distinctions and labels such as “donors-beneficiaries” or “North-South” co-opertation will no longer be as relevant as before in consideration of the diverse challenges all countries are facing. Partnership, common responsibility and mutual benefit are now key concepts for the development community.
In this framework, knowledge sharing across a broad spectrum of stakeholders is critical for laying and strengthening the foundations for endogenous capacity development. It is essential to foster mutually beneficial learning and to enhance local ownership and leadership. Triangular co–operation can promote knowledge sharing and enable new types of horizontal partnerships between “developed” and “developing” countries, creating “win-win-win” situations. These co–ordinated actions are of tremendous benefit, helping trigger the sharing of resources, competences and specific know-how, in line with aid effectiveness principles.
Working on a programme along with several partners with different financial and organisational mechanisms is not always easy. However, we believe that this kind of co-operation helps to share and disseminate best practices.
Italian Development Co–operation actively supports triangular co–operation initiatives. One clear example is “Amazonia Sem fogo” (Amazon Rainforest Without Fire) programme, addressing the persistently problematic use of fire in livestock and agriculture in the Amazon region. The programmeaims to reduce deforestation through the development of alternative means to the use of fire in agriculture, thus contributing to the protection of the environment and the improvement of the living conditions of the rural communities.
After the successful experience of the bilateral programme from 1999 to 2009in Brazil, the Italian Government along with the Government of Brazil agreed with La Paz to replicate the programme from 2012 in Bolivia. The programme has strong training and capacity building components, and knowledge sharing is an essential element. The methodologies and systems developed in Brazil are now replicated in Bolivia. Brazilian Ministry of Environment officers and technicians who took part in the implementation of the programme in their country are training their fellow colleagues and farmers in Bolivia. Such co-operation between Italy and Brazil will now be extended to Ecuador: “Amazonia sin fuego” is currently in its activation phase.
Working on a programme along with several partners with different financial and organisational mechanisms is not always easy. However, we believe that this kind of co-operation helps to share and disseminate best practices. This is done by engaging partners in research for shared solutions to common problems and by promoting inclusive and sustainable models of development.
This same spirit is at the core of Expo Milan 2015 with the theme “Feeding the Planet, Energy for Life”. There are now 147 official participants registered and millions of visitors are expected. All of this will coincide with the negotiations on the Post-2015 Development Agenda. Expo Milan thus represents a unique chance to contribute to the global debate on sustainability as well as food and nutrition security. It is an opportunity to share best development practices. It will be a platform for mutual learning and for building new partnerships among different actors on key issues of global development.
South-South and triangular co-operation can have a key role in achieving sustainable development in the framework of the Post-2015 Agenda. The Global Partnership for Effective Development Co-operation could be the right platform for encouraging networks for experience and knowledge sharing in order to improve and strengthen development policies and practices.
Lapo Pistelli is Italian Vice Minister of Foreign Affairs and member of the Italian Parliament, elected in 2013 for the Italian Democratic Party. He was a member of the Committee on Foreign Affairs from 1996-2004, and a member of the European Parliament from 2004-2008 where he served as both Head of the Italian Delegation and as a member of the committees for Foreign Affairs, and for Financial and Economic Affairs. In the Italian Democratic Party, he is the Head of the Foreign Affairs and International Relations Department.