The Future of Development Will Not Be Built by Any One Nation Alone: Inside Rwanda Cooperation’s Inaugural Convention on South-South and Triangular Cooperation
The Global South is not waiting for solutions; it is creating them. Across Africa and beyond, countries are building partnerships, sharing knowledge, and working together to shape their own development paths. The Inaugural Convention on South-South and Triangular Cooperation in Kigali demonstrated that cooperation among developing countries is becoming an important force for sustainable development.
On 22–23 June 2026, Rwanda Cooperation, in partnership with UNDP Rwanda, hosted the Inaugural Convention on South-South and Triangular Cooperation under the theme "Strengthening Collaboration and Institutional Frameworks for Effective Implementation." Bringing together more than 300 delegates, including ministers, ambassadors, development partners, academics, private sector representatives, and youth leaders from across Africa and beyond the Convention marked the beginning of a long-term platform for advancing practical cooperation across the Global South.
Richard Niwenshuti, Chief Executive Officer of Rwanda Cooperation
Richard Niwenshuti, Chief Executive Officer of Rwanda Cooperation, reminded participants that development is increasingly becoming a shared responsibility.
"The future of development will not be built by any one nation alone, but through collaboration, trust, and the collective wisdom of nations working together to solve shared global challenges."
His message set the tone for discussions that would continue throughout the Convention: countries facing similar challenges possess valuable knowledge, practical solutions, and lived experiences that can accelerate one another's development.
Dr. Fatmata Lovetta Sesay, UN Rwanda Resident Coordinator a.i. and UNDP Resident Representative
This vision was echoed by Dr. Fatmata Lovetta Sesay, UN Rwanda Resident Coordinator a.i. and UNDP Resident Representative, who emphasized that people must remain at the heart of international cooperation.
"As we discuss South-South cooperation, let us not forget that at the heart of this cooperation are actually people, so we must continue to invest in them."
The Convention also reflected Rwanda Cooperation's growing role as a facilitator of international knowledge exchange. Over the past seven years, the institution has engaged with more than 70 countries, hosted over 10,000 delegates, facilitated more than 850 study visits, and supported peer learning across sectors including digital governance, public financial management, climate action, gender equality, health, agriculture, reconciliation, and public sector reform. The Convention built upon this experience by creating a more structured platform where countries can move beyond individual exchanges towards sustained collaboration and institutional partnerships.
Across the two-day programme, discussions consistently returned to one central question: how can South-South and Triangular Cooperation move beyond dialogue to deliver measurable development results?
Hon. Olivier J.P. Nduhungirehe, Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation
As Hon. Olivier J.P. Nduhungirehe, Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, observed: "The case for South-South and Triangular Cooperation is made. What remains is the harder work: building the institutional frameworks, financing mechanisms and accountability structures that allow this cooperation to deliver, consistently and at scale." Hon. Olivier J.P. Nduhungirehe.
Digital transformation emerged as one of the Convention's strongest themes. Rwanda's experience with citizen-centred digital services demonstrated how technology can improve service delivery while providing practical lessons for countries pursuing their own digital transformation journeys. Delegates emphasized that sharing tested solutions can help countries accelerate progress without starting from scratch.
Hon. Paula Ingabire, Minister of ICT and Innovation, Rwanda
“South-South and Triangular Cooperation is a powerful force for digital transformation, enabling the Global South to close the digital divide faster through strong partnerships, citizen-centered innovation, and shared solutions that turn challenges into collective progress.”
Gender equality was equally prominent throughout the discussions. Participants called for stronger investments in women's leadership, better gender data systems, and policies that ensure women are recognised as drivers of development rather than simply beneficiaries.
Hon. Consolée Uwimana, Minister of Gender and Family Promotion
As Hon. Consolée Uwimana, Minister of Gender and Family Promotion, noted: "We must shift the narrative from protecting women to unleashing women's leadership. Women are not only beneficiaries of development; they are drivers of innovation, resilience, and transformation.
Financing sustainable development also featured prominently. Discussions highlighted that many countries already possess innovative ideas and nationally owned solutions but often struggle to connect these priorities with the right financing mechanisms. Participants emphasized that well-designed national priorities can become scalable, investable models capable of attracting stronger partnerships and long-term investment.
Hon. Yusuf Murangwa, Minister of Finance and Economic Planning
Reflecting on the broader philosophy behind the Convention, Hon. Yusuf Murangwa, Minister of Finance and Economic Planning, described South-South Cooperation as a model built on mutual understanding rather than dependency.
"South-South Cooperation offers an alternative paradigm, built on fundamentally different premises: shared context, horizontal relationships, and long-term relational thinking."
The Convention also placed young people at the centre of conversations about the future of cooperation. Through YouthConnekt, young entrepreneurs showcased innovative solutions and demonstrated that youth are active partners in designing and implementing the ideas that will shape Africa's future. Their participation reinforced the message that sustainable development depends on investing in young people as innovators, leaders, and agents of change.
Climate action remained another defining priority. Participants stressed that while many countries in the Global South contribute least to global emissions, they continue to face some of the greatest climate risks. Strengthening cooperation on climate finance, green technologies, and regional resilience therefore emerged as an urgent collective responsibility.
Although discussions covered diverse sectors, they converged around five common priorities: strengthening national ownership of development, promoting knowledge exchange, advancing women's and youth leadership, building climate resilience, and reinforcing the institutional frameworks needed to sustain effective cooperation.
Dr. Usta Kaitesi, Minister of State for Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation
Closing the Convention, Hon. Dr. Usta Kaitesi, Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, challenged participants to translate dialogue into concrete action.
"What this Convention must now evolve into is an affirmation of, and clarity on, the urgency for South-South Cooperation to become something more a strategic and practical economic framework for mobilizing capital, catalysing structured investment, and building the financial resilience of our countries and communities." Hon. Dr. Usta Kaitesi, Minister of State for Foreign Affairs
The Inaugural Convention was not an endpoint but the beginning of a sustained effort to deepen South-South and Triangular Cooperation.
Rwanda Cooperation will continue working alongside governments, development partners, technical institutions, civil society, and the private sector to transform the Convention's priorities into practical programmes, stronger partnerships, and expanded opportunities for peer learning.
As South-South and Triangular Cooperation continues to shape the global development agenda, Rwanda Cooperation remains committed to serving as a trusted platform for convening partners, sharing knowledge, and advancing sustainable development across Africa and the broader Global South.
