Messages from the EU-WOP partnerts on the International Day for South-South Cooperation 2024
As the United Nations Office for South-South Cooperation (UNOSSC) Day 2024 approaches, here at GWOPA, we have begun commemorating stories highlighting South-South partnerships!
As we progress towards achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), South-South and triangular cooperation have proven to be invaluable catalysts for Sanitation Water Operators’ Partnerships (SWOPs) and Water Operators’ Partnerships (WOPs) in achieving their aims. With this opportunity, we want to emphasize the importance of south-south cooperation with messages from our EU-WOP partners.
Sanitation-focused WOPs like the IWK-Perumda PALD partnership highlight the benefits of South-South Cooperation. The collaboration promotes that the most appropriate vehicle to share knowledge and experiences is through Sanitation Water Operators Partnerships (SWOP) and Water Operators’ Partnerships (WOPs) with cultural and contextual similarities allowing for smoother knowledge transfer. The experience of IWK, underscores how these partnerships enable practical and phased improvements.
Besides the core advantages presented by South-South WOPs, we can understand from Ruhaida’s work that South-South cooperation also addresses climate change and inclusivity. Aisha Rahman from IWK emphasises that their collaboration focuses on enhancing operational efficiency through the refinement of Standard Operating Procedures SOPs, helping to make systems more resilient to climate disruptions. Additionally, efforts like modifying desludging equipment to reach remote areas showcase the commitment to inclusive development.
The IWK-Perumda PALD partnership is a testament to the power of South-South cooperation in not only addressing environmental challenges but also ensuring that no one is left behind in the drive toward sustainability.
Yolanda Gomez, a WOP facilitator in the Philippines, has witnessed firsthand how these similarities foster trust and camaraderie, which she explains is easily fostered between South-South partners. Through her work, she has seen how Southeast Asian partners, sharing linguistic and cultural commonalities, navigate their journeys toward sanitation improvements. When mentors and mentees have relatable experiences, it becomes easier to introduce new methods and solutions, making the path toward the SDG achievement smoother. Yolanda notes that the cost of a South-South WOP/SWOP is lower compared to other models, making these partnerships not only effective but also more accessible.
Through her work, Yolanda has also seen how these partnerships leverage shared experiences to address broader challenges, such as climate change and inclusivity. In the South, utilities have exchanged ideas to enhance operational capacities in managing sanitation and wastewater treatment. These partnerships not only improve efficiency but also ensure that even vulnerable and underserved communities benefit, contributing to more inclusive development and resilient systems.
With intra-South trade higher than ever, accounting for more than a quarter of all world trade, Yolanda’s work in the Philippines plays true testament to the invaluable acceleration that South-South collaboration in achieving our global aims.
