E-discussion: What kinds of legal frameworks, regulations and policies are needed to broaden the scale and impact of South-South cooperation on sustainable development?

This is a very interesting question. Let me try to unbundle one i.e. legal framework. 

When we talk about legal frameworks, question further arises as are we referring to international legal framework or domestic ones? Further, if we are suggesting international treaties, they will be binding on states and create legal obligations to the state parties. And if we are referring to international instruments, for instance, international declarations, they will be non-binding and are at best suitable to interpret such international standards for implementation in national legislation.  I guess the legal framework on the ‘scale’ of South-South Cooperation (SSC) on sustainable development must not be binding on states since it’s not in sync with the voluntary nature of SSC. However, since all the southern state actors have signed up to 2030 Agenda, it’s imperative that ‘impact’ of various SSC approaches, modalities and projects’ on SDG goals and indicators must be in sight while we engage in evolving international declarations on SSC, for instance, the forthcoming Second UN High-Level Conference on South-South Cooperation (BAPA+40). 

I agree with Sajid Amin Javed, about "Public Sector-to/-Public Sector" engagements as first thing coming in mind. In the case of Paraguay, since 1991 we are part of the integration initiative called MERCOSUR among Argentina, Brazil, Uruguay and Paraguay, based on the EU model. Even when the process is getting at slow pace, being at this moment something between a free commercial zone and a custom union, several economic and social projects has been conducted within its framework, including the creation of the "MERCOSUR Social Institute" and the "Fund for Structural Convergence of Mercosur - FOCEM". Among private sector organizations, collaboration has been scarce, and there is a huge space for integration there.
In that sense, the issues that negatively affected cooperation among southern countries has been giving more relevance to the political differences among those countries, rather than looking for shared solutions for our common needs.

Do you know examples of South-South cooperation among neighbouring countries? What policies have facilitated the cooperation among these countries? 

Hi all, presently, when we think of South_South Cooperation [SSC], the first thing comes in mind is "Public sector-to-Public Sector" engagement. Very few think of private sectors role. This is particularly critical when we think of SSC for achieving SDGs. In this regard, role of financial markets is very critical. The huge amount of investment required can only come when we are bale to involve private sector. A well developed Financial markets hedges against the risk and uncertainties facing private investors. Particularly, intra-regional private sector investments. It can be helpful, therefore, to have a full section/session/platform here for financial market development, integration and role thereof in achieving SDGs.

Paraguay is a small landlocked country that has traditionally maintained macroeconomic stability, balanced budget, low level of inflation, and even, since a little over a decade ago, significant growth rates. Although the country remains one of the poorest in the region, we hope that stability (a necessary but not sufficient condition for growth) will allow us to maintain the current level of growth (a necessary but not sufficient condition for development), and to strengthen our institutions, so that they will become more inclusive, helping to promote sustainable and equitable development. 
Paraguayan stability is based on elements such as an independent central bank (which maintains low inflation and a stable exchange rates), limits on fiscal deficit and indebtedness. Recently, a low-cost, high-impact public policy has been the passage of a law that establishes "free public access to information and government transparency (Law 5282/2014), which has been efficiently helping to combat one of the worst scourges affecting our countries: corruption.
Unfortunately, one of the major constraints for our development relates to the issue of education (ODS 4). Paraguay is far behind in terms of educational quality, although there has been some progress thanks to measures such as the adoption of the extended school day, provision of school snacks and delivery of kits of school supplies to all children in primary and secondary public education, as well as the promotion of initial education.
Despite exporting food (grains and meat), poverty levels (ODS 1) and extreme poverty (ODS 2) remain high in Paraguay, which is accentuated in rural areas and in peri-urban areas (where domestic migrants arrive). The problem is the duality of the productive system, where there is a competitive agro-export sector sharing the same space with inefficient small-scale producers. The country needs to adopt measures to generate inclusive economic growth, which will help jobs creation and better opportunities, especially for the country's young population (ODS 8). In this field, the need to increase research related to the productive sector, to improve the quantity and quality of productive technical assistance and to increase access to financial resources, among others, is highlighted.
In my opinion, these are some of the issues that the South-South Cooperation should incorporate as topics to discuss, analyze and spread experiences among countries seeking shared solutions to their common problems.

Hi all,
I think that the main issue is we are very disconnected as regions in the Global south. I think we need to improve:
- trading opportunities ( incentives to increase connections between regions)
- visa policies ( facilitate travel between regions)
- currency exchanges (that do not require transfering back to Dollars or euros)

There are probably more of these very concrete things that need attention and that could have impact beyond SSC.
 

To broaden the scale and impact on South-South cooperation on sustainable development, a platform like Global Thinkers is important and necessary to discuss around the roles and responsibilities of think tanks in supporting the growth of South-South cooperation and common research agenda in this topic. The regulations to be considered to develop are, among others: create networks for regional collaboration, define conceptual frameworks for South-South Cooperation, and sign a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to establish a strategic partnership.
 

The question is very broad and I think it should be separated in two stages:
First, we need to define which legal frameworks, regulations and policies may have the greatest impact on development.
Second, we need to choose the initiatives that best fit our countries and those that are more viable, because not all can be promoted in the same way. 
For example, changes in the legal framework and regulations may require open and participatory political negotiations, which necessarily must be passed by the legislature branch. On the other hand, the adoption of some regulations and policies depends mainly on the political will of senior government officials. SSC should address both types of solutions, but be aware that legal reforms take longer. For a short-term agenda, it would be better to move forward in the dialogue on successful regulations and policies, especially those that promote inclusion, increase access to better opportunities and take sustainability seriously into account. Along these lines, policies to improve the quality of education in our countries undoubtedly play a part.