Deep Dive - SSTC in the UNDP's Istanbul International Center for Private Sector in Development

SSTC in the UNDP's Istanbul International Center for Private Sector in Development

The role of South-South and Triangular Cooperation (SSTC) in sustainable development is increasing substantially. In like manner, the private sector’s engagement in sustainable development is growingly contributing to the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). SSTC is enriching and diversifying development efforts and means through a variety of flexible cooperation modalities, such as knowledge exchanges, technology transfers, mutual learning, peer-to-peer support and innovative financing. The private sector’s engagement can further expand and enhance the outreach of the SSTC.  IICPSD supports companies in tailoring their business models to respond to sustainable development needs by identifying and promoting best practices within the framework of South-South Cooperation to achieve the SDGs.

- Johannes Sahmland-Bowling, Private Sector Resilience Specialist

1. Municipal Enterprises for Local Authorities (MELA) – Training Programme:

UNDP’s ICPSD offers the “Training Program on Municipal Enterprises for Local Authorities Ahead to Achieving the UN 2030 Agenda” (MELA). UNDP has collaborated with the organization United Cities and Local Governments partnership for comprehensive training program focused on ensuring sustainability, resilience, and inclusion in basic municipal service delivery. The program, designed to harness the benefits of urbanisation and improve access to infrastructure and social services, covers various critical aspects of municipal administration. The training is structured around technical modular seminar providing background on key concepts and recent trends in urbanization and describing how cities can be governed by an inclusive way, explaining different modalities of private sector engagement in basic municipal services and gives and comprehensive understanding of the legal framework while showcasing global good practices of MEs and potential financial instruments in these fields. The business models to engage the private sector can be Public-Private Partnerships (PPPs), State Owned Enterprises (SOEs) at the national level and Municipal Enterprises (MEs) at the local level. The training sessions have been held in multiple locations, including Azerbaijan, Turkey, and Ecuador.

2. Harnessing the Role of Private Sector for Effective Development Cooperation – Training Programme:

A training program has been initiated to underline the significance of development cooperation, with a particular emphasis on the instrumental role of the private sector in enhancing effectiveness. The initiative also promotes awareness of innovative financing tools designed to engage the private sector in sustainable development. Our target audience includes government officials, development practitioners, and private sector representatives. The training program includes several key modules: 'The Role of the Private Sector in Development Cooperation', 'Good Practices for the Effective Engagement of the Private Sector in South-South and Triangular Cooperation (SSTC)', 'Financing Instruments', and 'How to Design an Effective Partnership'. These modules are tailored to equip the participants with the knowledge and skills to foster beneficial partnerships and enhance the efficacy of development cooperation.

3. Conducting research on “Harnessing the Role of the Private Sector in Waste Management through South-South Cooperation for Inclusive Urbanization"

A report due to be published in September 2023 on "Harnessing the Role of the Private Sector in Waste Management through South-South Cooperation for Inclusive Urbanization". This report aims to take a snapshot of the municipal waste management ecosystems of certain countries in the Global South, particularly focusing on private sector-led good practices, inclusive growth and sustainable financing. The countries were selected upon criteria such as GDP, total waste production and geographic variety. The report specifically refers to Municipal Solid Waste which includes food waste, paper, plastic, rags, metal and glass, although demolition and construction debris are often included in collected waste, as are small quantities of hazardous waste, such as electric light bulbs, batteries, automotive parts and discarded medicines and chemicals. By identifying and shedding light on the good practices within the context, promoting cooperation amongst the countries in the South-South and promoting private sector engagement in the waste management sector it is possible to replicate and scale up these practices and ultimately achieve an inclusive urbanization scenario in the future.

Focal point: Johannes Sahmland-Bowling, Private Sector Resilience Specialist, [email protected]

Visit here to learn more about UNDP’s Istanbul International Center for Private Sector in Development (IICPSD).