South–South Cooperation, Knowledge & Partnerships
The founding pillar. It builds the networks, knowledge systems and partnerships through which countries and institutions learn from one another and address shared challenges collectively.
What We Do
Three mutually reinforcing priorities through which South Collective connects knowledge, partnerships and solutions across the Global South.
Strategic Priorities
South Collective's work is organised around mutually reinforcing strategic priorities: broad enough to respond to emerging Global South priorities, with clear areas of institutional depth and credibility.
Resilient & Sustainable Development
Addresses the interconnected challenges affecting the resilience and sustainability of economies, communities and natural systems.
Digital Solutions & AI
Focuses on the transformative potential of Digital Public Infrastructure and Artificial Intelligence for development, through mutual adaptation rather than one-way technology transfer.
From priorities to programmes
The priorities are translated into a focused portfolio of flagship programmes, so that we establish credibility through demonstrable work rather than a large number of disconnected initiatives. Programmes are network-led, evidence-based, demand-driven and scalable, drawing on our distributed institutional and expert network rather than a large permanent workforce.
They are deployed in deliberate sequence: build the network, demonstrate value, deepen technical capability, then build the human ecosystem.
- Phase I: Build the Network. Establish the Global South Solutions Exchange and the Knowledge and Partnership Platform as the institutional and digital foundation.
- Phase II: Demonstrate Technical Depth. Develop focused initiatives in resilience and natural systems, digital and AI for development, and development finance and institutional readiness.
- Phase III: Build the Human Network. Establish the Global South Leadership and Fellowship Programme to build a long-term community of practitioners, researchers and emerging leaders.
South–South Cooperation, Knowledge & Partnerships
The founding pillar and institutional foundation of South Collective. It builds the networks, knowledge systems and partnerships through which countries and institutions learn from one another and address shared challenges collectively.
What we focus on
- South–South Solution Exchange
- Government and institutional peer learning
- Cross-country knowledge exchange
- Policy and practice transfer
- Communities of practice
- Triangular cooperation
- Global South institutional network
- Knowledge and partnership matchmaking
Our objective: to move South–South cooperation beyond episodic exchange, towards an enduring ecosystem of institutional learning and collaboration.
Flagship programmes
Global South Solutions Exchange
A structured platform for identifying, documenting, assessing and facilitating the exchange and adaptation of proven policies, practices, technologies and institutional innovations across the Global South. Intended value: reduces the cost of reinventing solutions and accelerates access to relevant experience across countries.
Global South Knowledge and Partnership Platform
The digital backbone of our network, connecting institutions, experts, knowledge, solutions, programmes and opportunities across the Global South. Intended value: evolves into trusted digital infrastructure for South–South knowledge exchange and institutional collaboration.
Resilient & Sustainable Development
This priority addresses the interconnected challenges affecting the resilience and sustainability of economies, communities and natural systems, giving South Collective technical depth within a broader sustainable-development mandate.
Focus areas
Climate Adaptation
Helping institutions move from fragmented sectoral responses to integrated resilience strategies grounded in local realities.
Climate-Resilient Agriculture
Strengthening food systems and dryland resilience in the face of a changing climate.
Water Security
Connecting proven approaches to water resource management across comparable contexts.
Energy
Supporting sustainable energy transitions suited to national priorities and resources.
Natural Resources Management
Protecting biodiversity and ecosystem resilience as foundations for development.
Public Health and Health Care
Sharing best practices and health technologies, and strengthening the links between climate and health.
Flagship programme: Resilience and Natural Systems Initiative
Integrated knowledge, advisory and capacity support on the interconnected challenges of climate resilience, agriculture, food systems, water and natural resources. Intended value: helps institutions move from fragmented sectoral responses towards integrated resilience strategies grounded in local realities.
- Climate-resilient agriculture
- Water security
- Dryland resilience
- Food system resilience
- Natural resource management
- Disaster resilience
- Climate and health linkages
Digital Solutions & AI
This priority focuses on the transformative potential of digital technologies, Digital Public Infrastructure and Artificial Intelligence for development. India's experience is an important source of learning, but we promote mutual adaptation and exchange rather than one-way technology transfer.
Focus areas
Digital Public Infrastructure
Assessing readiness and adapting proven DPI to national ecosystems and institutions.
AI for Development
AI-enabled public services and responsible technology adoption.
Financial Inclusion
Digital pathways that bring people and enterprises into the formal economy.
Data & Decision Systems
Data and decision-support systems that inform policy and practice.
Innovation Ecosystems
Technology adapted for resource-constrained contexts, from idea to adoption.
Flagship programme: Digital Public Infrastructure and AI for Development Facility
Support for countries and institutions in assessing, adapting and applying Digital Public Infrastructure, data systems and AI-enabled solutions to development challenges. Intended value: enables countries to learn from proven digital experiences while building approaches suited to their own context.
- DPI readiness and ecosystem assessment
- Digital governance
- Digital inclusion
- AI-enabled public services
- Data and decision-support systems
- Digital solutions for climate, agriculture and water
- Institutional capacity for responsible technology adoption
