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FAO and China sign two new South–South Cooperation Projects on Sustainable Soil Management and Water Roadmap
Rome, 20 June 2025 – The Food and Agriculture Organiz
South-South and Triangular Cooperation
There has been rapid economic transformation across the developing world over the past three decades, with notable increases in economic output, improvement in human development, and expansion of trade, investment and finance. Some of these developing countries have become major players in global development and economic governance owing to their economic progress, technological advances and contribution to a global pool of tested solutions to pressing development challenges.
The 2030 Agenda places increasing emphasis on South-South and Triangular Cooperation (SSTC) as both means to support effective capacity-building and the objective of enhancing cooperation. It underscores the need to mobilize resources through SSTC and strengthen SSTC partnerships on capacity-building, science, technology and innovation.
The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) has embraced South–South and triangular cooperation (SSTC) as a key delivery modality to catalyse agricultural development, food security, rural development. FAO has over 40 years of experience as a leading promotor and facilitator of SSTC in agriculture, food security and nutrition. Today, SSTC is fully integrated within FAO's Strategic Framework and is a key delivery modality in the implementation of FAO's projects and programmes.
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South-South and triangular cooperation (SSTC) in FAO
11/01/2022
FAO has embraced South-South and triangular cooperation (SSTC) as a key delivery modality to catalyze agricultural development, food security, rural development, poverty reduction and nutrition ove
Read morePublications
South-South and Triangular Cooperation Guidelines for Action
07/01/2022
The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) has embraced South-South and triangular cooperation (SSTC) as a key delivery modality to catalyse agricultural development, food security, rural development, poverty reduction and nutrition over the past two decades. FAO has strengthened its support for SSTC since 2012, and the SSTC portfolio has been expanding in line with the progressive institutionalization of SSTC in FAO.
FAO and China sign two new South–South Cooperation Projects on Sustainable Soil Management and Water Roadmap
20/06/2025
Rome, 20 June 2025 – The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) and the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs of China (MARA) have recently signed two new Global projects under the FAO–China South–South Cooperation (SSC) Programme to strengthen sustainable soil management and enable development of water roadmaps for countries in the Global South.
The projects aim to support developing countries in enhancing natural resource governance, agricultural productivity, and resilience to climate change in line with the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.
Supporting Sustainable Soil Management
The soil project focuses on building capacity for sustainable soil management in black, red, salt-affected, and paddy soils—with particular focus on four host countries: Cambodia, Mongolia, Uzbekistan and Zimbabwe.
With a budget of USD 2 million, the project will enhance national capacities in soil mapping and laboratory services, foster South-South technical cooperation with Chinese institutions, and promote coordinated regional actions to restore soil health and combat degradation. It builds on China’s extensive experience in addressing soil challenges through science-based policies and field-tested solutions.
Advancing National Water Roadmaps
The water project will assist countries in developing National Water Roadmaps to accelerate progress on Sustainable Development Goal 6 and water-related targets—with a focus on seven host countries: Azerbaijan, Ethiopia, Gambia, Kenya, Malawi, Rwanda and Zimbabwe.
With a budget of USD 1.5 million, the project draws on China’s achievements in efficient water use, irrigation modernization and ecosystem restoration to provide technical assistance and share best practices tailored to national contexts. It will support intersectoral National Water Dialogues to guide evidence-based policymaking and strategic investment, particularly in regions facing increasing water stress.
Strengthening South–South Cooperation
Both initiatives are implemented by FAO’s Land and Water Division (NSL), with support from the South–South and Triangular Cooperation Division (PST). They reflect FAO and China’s shared commitment to leveraging South–South Cooperation as a powerful mechanism to share policies, knowledge and expertise among developing countries.
The FAO divisions will further collaborate with the donors and relevant FAO country offices, as well as with the 11 host governments, to operationally start the projects with key technical activities, demonstrations and knowledge exchanges. Both project activities at global level will also support a number of other developing countries facing similar challenges to ensure global-level technical support and impact.
Since its inception in 2009, the FAO–China SSC Programme has supported over 40 projects through knowledge transfer, technical assistance and field-based cooperation, strengthening national, regional and global capacities to achieve food security and sustainable rural development.
Brazil-FAO International Cooperation participates in 2nd edition of international training on the cotton boll weevil
16/06/2025
The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) and the Brazilian Cooperation Agency of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (ABC/MRE), within the framework of the +Cotton project, partnered with the Brazilian Agricultural Research Corporation (Embrapa Cotton) to carry out the 2nd edition of the International Training on Rearing of Anthonomus grandis (cotton boll weevil), and the 6th edition in Portuguese, on June 11 and 12.
Study highlights recent progress in school feeding policies in 16 Latin American countries
09/06/2025
A study developed under the Brazil-FAO International Cooperation Programme on school feeding in 2024 presents a broad and updated overview of the development of school feeding programmes in 16 Latin American countries: the Plurinational State of Bolivia, Brazil, Chile, Costa Rica, Colombia, Ecuador, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Nicaragua, Panama, Paraguay, Peru, the Dominican Republic, Uruguay, and the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela.
Building Capacities through South-South Cooperation (SSTC) - GCP/SEC/023/TUR
02/04/2025
FAO-Türkiye Partnership Programmes. Building Capacities through South-South Cooperation (SSTC) - GCP/SEC/023/TUR. A variety of challenges including but not limited to climate change, conflicts and economic shocks are impacting agrifood systems. In the face of these risks, multi-stakeholder collaboration, knowledge exchange and expertise sharing have become more important than ever.
South-South Cooperation for Sustainable Land Management and Ecosystem Restoration
16/10/2024
An online survey and a series of workshops were organized in 2022 to assess demand and expertise for South-South Cooperation (SSC) about Sustainable Land Management (SLM) and Ecosystems Restoration (ER). Three regions were selected: Latin America and the Caribbean (LAC), Central Asia (CA) and Near East and North Africa (NENA). The knowledge brief sets out the case for investment in SSC in the context of SLM and ER.
Support to the diversification and sustainable crop production intensification for smallholder farmers in the drylands of Borno State (GCP/INT/1019/TUR)
24/05/2024
Agriculture is the main contributor to Nigeria's national economy, with over 65 percent of the population directly or indirectly relying on it for their livelihoods. Women and youth make up 50–70 percent of the sector's economically active population. The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), in cooperation with the Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry of the Republic of Türkiye and the Federal Republic of Nigeria, is supporting the capacity development of farmers and institutions.
South-South Cooperation (SSC)
South-South Cooperation (SSC) is defined as a mutual sharing and exchange of knowledge, experience, technical and financial resources related to agriculture and food systems between two or more developing countries, as well as collective actions in pursuit of their individual and/or shared development objectives.
Triangular Cooperation (TrC)
Triangular Cooperation (TrC) is defined as a development cooperation framework whereby two or more developing countries, alongside other development stakeholders, engage in mutually beneficial collaboration and exchanges with the support of a developed country(ies) and/or multilateral organization(s).
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South-South and Triangular Cooperation Division (PST)
FAO Headquarters
Viale delle Terme di Caracalla
00153 Rome, Italy