Towards a Global Partnership for Development

Transcription

1 Towards a Global Partnership for Development The UN and Mexico s South-South Cooper ation

2 Towards a Global Partnership for Development The UN and Mexico s South-South Cooperation Copyright UNDP 2014 United Nations Development Programme - UNDP Montes Urales 440 Colonia Lomas de Chapultepec C.P , México, D.F. All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be produced, stored in a retrieval system or transmitted, in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording or otherwise without prior permission. The analysis and recommendations of this publication do not necessarily reflect the views of the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), its Executive Board, or the United Nations Member States. The views presented in this report are the sole responsibility of its authors. UNDP partners with people at all levels of society to help build nations that can withstand crisis, and drive and sustain the kind of growth that improves the quality of life for everyone. With offices in 177 countries and territories, we offer global perspective and local insight to help empower lives and build resilient nations The designations employed and the presentation of material on this map do not imply the expression of any opinion whatsoever on the part of the Secretariat of the United Nations or UNDP concerning the legal status of any country, territory, city or area or its authorities, or concerning the delimitation of its frontiers or boundaries. Editorial design: arte i diseño, S. de R.L. de C.V. Printed in México by: Fotolitográfica ARGO S.A. de C.V. Style correction: Ana María Limón First edition, 2014 Printed in Mexico For a list of any errors or omissions found subsequent to printing, please visit our website at:

3 Directory United Nations Development Programme Directory Marcia de Castro United Nations Resident Coordinator and UNDP Representative in Mexico María del Carmen Sacasa Deputy Resident Representative Sebastian Haug Global Affairs and South-South Cooperation Specialist Paola García Knowledge Management and Capacity Development Advisor Mexican Agency for International Development Cooperation Juan Manuel Valle Pereña Executive Director Bruno Figueroa Fischer General Director for Technical and Scientific Cooperation Daniela Borbolla Compean General Director Planning and Policy Formulation 3

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5 Contents Prologues 7 Acknowledgements 11 Contents In Numbers: UN Support for Mexico s South-South Cooperation Introduction: South-South Cooperation in a Multipolar World Mexico s Dual Role: Recipient and Provider UN Collaboration Framework for Supporting Mexico s South-South Cooperation Strategic Partners in Mexico The Geography of Mexico s South-South Cooperation Supported by the UN Dimensions of UN Support for South-South Cooperation: Fostering Development Solutions Supporting South-South Cooperation Schemes Facilitating Networks Systematizing Best Practices Supporting Institutional and Operational Development for South-South Cooperation The UN and Mexico s South-South Cooperation: Perspectives 55 Acronyms 58 5

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7 Prologue International development cooperation is an essential instrument of Mexico s foreign policy by means of which it favours supportive exchanges designed to produce social and economic development, as well as to strengthen relations with the rest of the world. In its dual role as a provider and recipient country, Mexico has an extensive background in cooperation schemes that allow human, technical and financial resources to be capitalized, and for knowledge to be shared. One the one hand, Mexico s experience is particularly relevant in view of the transformation of the global development cooperation architecture, the reduction and redeployment of Official Development Assistance, and traditional donors financial and fiscal limitations. On the other hand, international economic dynamism has been increasingly concentrated in Middle-Income Countries (MICs), so that Southern countries are now making a greater contribution to international development. In this context Mexico is prepared to increase its role in the new structure of international development cooperation, in particular by strengthening South-South and triangular cooperation (SSC and TC) schemes. For Mexico, SSC is a highly beneficial and solidarity-based cooperation model that facilitates the contextualized exchange of experiences and collective learning, and has become a valuable regional development asset. As effective development cooperation requires continuously strengthened institutions and clear coordination mechanisms, the Mexican Agency for International Development Cooperation (AMEXCID), established in 2011, acknowledges the challenge linked to its role as coordinator of cooperation efforts. The AM- EXCID is working towards achieving structured planning and an administration focused on results, with solid methodologies as well as transparent registration and inter-institutional coordination systems. To position Mexico as a stakeholder with global responsibility, strategic partnerships have been established to foster innovative forms of cooperation with a greater scope. The United Nations Development Assistance Framework (UNDAF) formalizes priority cooperation areas between the United Nations (UN) and the Mexican Government. The UN- DAF s sixth cooperation area, Global Partnership for Development, emphasizes UN efforts on SSC. The association with the UN in Mexico offers operational and technical advantages to the AMEXCID and those Mexican institutions that aim to both leverage the flow of SSC Prologues 7

8 Towards a Global Partnership for Development The UN and Mexico s South-South Cooperation and TC and expand their related institutional capacities. With the activities falling under the Global Partnership for Development cooperation area, the UN is expected to support efforts to increase the scope and visibility of Mexico s SSC and, consequently, to strengthen the country s position as an effective regional and global development actor. In April 2014 Mexico confirmed its commitment to global development by hosting the First High-Level Meeting of the Global Partnership for Effective Development Cooperation (GPEDC) and taking over as Co-Chair of this innovative and inclusive mechanism. In the framework of the GPEDC, Mexico has been promoting the principles of effective development cooperation as a useful tool for the generation of concrete country-level results as well as the implementation of the post-2015 development agenda. Mexico will continue to encourage the participation and inclusion of a wide variety of actors and development visions, which, in turn, will allow to maximize the impact of development cooperation. In this context, the AMEXCID is pleased to present together with the UN in Mexico and the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) the publication Towards a Global Partnership for Development: The United Nations and Mexico s South-South Cooperation. This publication is based on collaboration initiatives between Mexican Government agencies and institutions, primarily from the Federal Government, and the UN to provide more in-depth knowledge of the role played by the UN specialized agencies, programmes and funds in support of Mexico s SSC. The more general goal is to learn from the whole set of analysed experiences and make proposals to strengthen the strategic association between the Mexican Government and the UN, and thus foster Mexico s SSC and TC. Juan Manuel Valle Pereña AMEXCID Executive Director The partnership with the UN in Mexico offers advantages, both operational and technical, to promote and stimulate the flow of South-South and triangular cooperation. 8

9 Prologue Mexico s commitment in favour of equitable global governance is a fundamental part of the country s foreign policy. Its active role in building an inclusive multilateral architecture, one highlights the contribution made by Southern countries to face development challenges, has led to its increasingly significant international leadership. This commitment is embedded in the National Development Plan, whose fifth axis aims to position Mexico as a country with global responsibility. Crucial steps in that direction have been taken by building a strategic institutional architecture for international development cooperation. Under the leadership of the Mexican Agency for International Development Cooperation (AMEXCID), Mexico s devolpement cooperation that benefits from the advanced solutions as well as the regional and global prestige of dozens of Mexican Government institutions is being articulated and coordinated. In recognition of Mexico s leadership and the importance given by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) to South- South cooperation (SSC) in emerging countries, in 2011 the AMEXCID and UNDP signed a Collaboration Framework Agreement, establishing a strategic partnership to maximize Mexico s potential as a key international development actor. Within that framework, we present the publication Towards a Global Partnership for Development: The United Nations and Mexico s South-South Cooperation, the result of an inter-agency collaboration process designed to map the United Nation (UN) s support for SSC initiatives led by Mexican institutions. This publication provides insights into the UN s efforts in supporting Mexico s SSC and identifies opportunities for joint work with the Government in strategic areas, such as centres of excellence and the systematization of best practices. The publication also reflects the voices of the UN s partners in Mexico and is based on 90 UN initiatives led by 30 Mexican institutions. The analysis highlights the diversity of stakeholders with which the UN has established collaboration partnerships, from federal ministries to decentralized and autonomous bodies, State Governments, judicial entities, and academic institutions. It also demonstrates how the thematic focus of the UN s support is in line with Government priorities, such as social inclusion, environmental sustainability and citizen security. Prologues 9

10 Towards a Global Partnership for Development The UN and Mexico s South-South Cooperation Internationally, 2014 has been an important year for reflecting upon the advances and challenges of international development cooperation, by providing spaces for debate such as the Global Partnership for Effective Development Cooperation (GPEDC) that promotes reflection on SSC and aims to help defining the implementation mechanisms of the post-2015 development agenda. Mexico is one of the most influential and active stakeholders in this process and, in April 2014, hosted the First High-Level Meeting of the GPEDC. In this line, we hope that the publication at hand will not only provide elements for a Mexican reflection on the UN s role in development cooperation but also serve as a key input for regional and global debates on the new development agenda. The publication at hand affirms the commitment of the Mexican Goverment, UNDP, and the UN as a whole to promote international development cooperation based on the principles of respect, solidarity and horizontality and strengthen Mexico as a stakeholder with global responsibility. We are pleased to go hand in hand with the AMEXCID in this effort that represents another step towards consolidating the Mexican international development cooperation system. Marcia de Castro United Nations Resident Coordinator and UNDP Representative in Mexico The analysis highlights the diversity of stakeholders with whom the UN has established partnerships and shows how the UN s support for South-South cooperation is aligned to Government priorities. 10

11 Acknowledgements This publication was prepared by Nils-Sjard Schulz (Multipolar Network), Paola García (UNDP) and Sebastian Haug (UNDP). We would like to highlight the work and dedication of the South-South cooperation focal points of UN agencies, programmes and funds in Mexico 1 who provided substantial input and actively participated in compiling information for this document: Acknowledgements Economic Commission for Latin America and the Caribbean (ECLAC) Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) International Labour Organization (ILO) International Organization for Migration (IOM) Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) Pan American Health Organization/World Health Organization (PAHO/WHO) United Nations Children s Fund (UNICEF) United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) United Nations Entity for Gender Equality and the Empowerment of Women (UN Women) United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) United Nations Human Settlements Programme (UN-HABITAT) United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO) United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) 1. For purposes of this publication the term agencies is used to refer to the UN entities in Mexico. 11

12 Towards a Global Partnership for Development The UN and Mexico s South-South Cooperation We are grateful for the support of the Mexican Agency for International Development Cooperation (AMEXCID) during the preparation of this publication and thankfully acknowledge the feedback provided by the following institutions: National Forestry Commission (CONAFOR) National Population Council (CONAPO) Mexican Water Technology Institute (IMTA) National Institute of Statistics and Geography (INEGI) National Migration Institute (INM) National Institute for Women (INMUJERES) Ministry of Health (SALUD) Ministry of the Interior (SEGOB) Ministry of Environment and Natural Resources (SEMARNAT) Ministry for Energy (SENER) Ministry of Labour and Social Welfare (STPS) Electoral Court of the Federal Judiciary (TEPJF) Towards a Global Partnership for Development: The United Nations and Mexico s South- South Cooperation is a joint effort bringing together the AMEXCID and the UN in Mexico with a common goal: to strengthen Mexico s South-South cooperation while underlining the UN s added value and potential to effectively contribute to national and global development goals. This publication was made possible through UNDP s Fund for Country-level Emerging Priorities and Innovation (FCEPI). We would like to thank Michael O Neill, UN Assistant-Secretary General and Director of UNDP s Bureau of External Relations and Advocacy (BERA), and Jessica Faieta, UN Assistant-Secretary General and UNDP Regional Director for Latin America and the Caribbean, as well as their teams for jointly supporting UNDP Mexico s work on South-South cooperation. 12

13 For more details about UN initiatives that support Mexico s South-South cooperation see: Acknowledgements For more general information visit the following websites: AMEXCID UN Mexico 13

14 Towards a Global Partnership for Development The UN and Mexico s South-South Cooperation In Numbers: UN Support foir Mexico s South-South Cooperation 2 Led by 30 Mexican institutions, the UN has supported 2. The majority of the analyzed initiatives are currently underway. For details on the sources used for this publication see the following page. 44 South-South In addition, 50 cooperation projects and activities, of which: are directed towards Latin America and the Caribbean, focus on Central American and Caribbean countries, and are subregional schemes. South-South workshops and dialogue forums took place In total, the UN in Mexico has promoted more than 90 South-South cooperation initiatives. funds, programmes, specialized agencies and commissions of the UN in Mexico have accompanied these initiatives.

15 INFORMATION SOURCES FOR PREPARING THIS PUBLICATION Following two forums on SSC in September 2013, the UN agencies in Mexico identified the need to collect and systematize their experiences in supporting Mexico s SSC. Facilitated by UNDP and in collaboration with the AMEXCID they started to map their SSC initiatives, based on extensive record cards completed by 18 UN agencies that are represented in Mexico and contribute with substantive programmes to the country s development. In total more than 90 initiatives were shared, of which the vast majority are currently underway. Among those initiatives, 44 SSC projects and activities led by 30 Mexican institutions as well as 50 workshops and dialogue forums were registered. To supplement this data, the authors organized a validation workshop with UN agencies as well as a dozen in-depth interviews with representatives of the AMEXCID, Mexican ministries and other entities as well as UN agencies in February The inputs collected during this process form the basis for this publication that was made possible by the generous support of the focal points involved. The publication reflects the effort to provide a first account of the different ways through which the UN supports Mexico s SSC and is one of the first joint country-level analyses of UN SSC activities in the region. Building on this initial exercise, one of the key challenges for the future lies in the systematic documentation and financial quantification of SSC initiatives supported by UN agencies. To access the publication and a detailed list of initiatives go to: In Numbers: UN Support for Mexico s South-South Cooperation 15

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17 1. Introduction: South-South Cooperation in a Multipolar World Since the beginning of the 21 st century southern countries have been experiencing a sustained period of development, allowing hundreds of millions of people to get out of poverty and supporting the consolidation of social and economic development foundations on both national and regional levels. As underlined by the 2013 Human Development Report published by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), the growing group of Middle-Income Countries (MICs) has benefitted from economic growth, greater trading opportunities, as well as increasingly sophisticated information and communication technologies. At the same time, developing countries have been able to articulate and consolidate innovative public policies on a great variety of issues, from green development and agriculture to social protection and public finances reform. In this context, and in response to structural weaknesses, Southern governments have made progress on modernizing and strengthening their public sectors, with strategies adapted to their political and institutional realities. A key ingredient for the South s success lies in increasing willingness, commitment and capacities to promote development by States and societies that are more competent, better prepared and increasingly receptive for knowledge and experience-based learning. This new diversity of development has been accelerated by a rebalancing of the global economic system marked by the economic and financial crisis of developed countries since 2008, and by the appearance of a second generation of emerging economies which, in the last five years, have extended beyond the already traditional BRICS (Brazil, Russia, India, China, and South Africa). Countries such as Indonesia, Mexico and Turkey are now proof of a multipolar world in which the MICs have an accumulated capital of experiences and solutions on how to promote sustainable human development in such diverse areas as social protection, transport, public health, natural disaster risk management, and national statistic systems. Introduction: South-South Cooperation in a Multipolar World 1 17

18 Towards a Global Partnership for Development The UN and Mexico s South-South Cooperation In this dynamic context, South-South cooperation (SSC) has been playing a key role in shaping the future of the international development system, both in policies and in practice. While there are various definitions of SSC in inter-governmental agreements at both global 3 and regional 4 levels, this publication uses a working definition taken from the United Nations (UN) High-Level Panel on South- South Cooperation that refers to South-South cooperation for development as 3. Paragraphs 5-8 of the Buenos Aires Plan of Action for Promoting and Implementing Technical Cooperation among Developing Countries (1978); paragraphs 9-19 of the Final Document of the Nairobi Conference (2009); section 1 of the Bogota Report Towards Efficient and Inclusive Development (2010); and paragraphs of the Busan Partnership for Effective Development Cooperation (2010). 4. In particular the definitions in the Ibero-American South-South Cooperation Reports of the Ibero-American General Secretariat (since 2008). 5. Paragraph 9, Framework of Operational Guidelines on United Nations Support to South-South and Triangular Cooperation, Note by the Secretary-General, SSC/17/3 (2012). 6. According to Article 4 of Mexico s International Development Cooperation Act (LCID), Triangular Cooperation is a cooperation modality in association with a bilateral or multilateral traditional source, in order to jointly concur in actions in favour of a third demanding nation at a lower or similar level of relative development. For purposes of this publication we refer to UN support for Mexico s SSC in order to recognize Mexico s leadership and the evolving role of the UN beyond its status as a multilateral traditional source regarding the development cooperation Mexico provides. a process whereby two or more developing countries pursue their individual and/or shared national capacity development objectives through exchanges of knowledge, skills, resources and technical know-how, and through regional and interregional collective actions, including partnerships involving Governments, regional organizations, civil society, academia and the private sector, for their individual and/or mutual benefit within and across regions. 5 Deeply rooted in the solidarity movement of non-aligned countries during the Cold War and supported by the UN, SSC is experiencing a period of growth thanks to the extensive social and economic progress made by developing countries as well as their willingness to share their experiences and knowledge with partners and peers. Beyond the financial and investment flows originating from Brazil, China and other countries (particularly oil-producing economies), most SSC schemes are focusing on the exchange of knowledge, mutual learning and the transfer of experiences and specialized solutions. Based on their successful public policies, emerging economies and other MICs representing more limited markets have become vital sources of ideas and solutions to promote development in other countries. Against this backdrop it is no surprise that SSC, and in particular knowledge exchange, has positioned itself as a model of horizontal association between Southern countries. Its starting point tend to be confidence, equity and mutual benefit among the partners involved, thus enriching traditional North- South aid relations. While countries have maintained their South-South ties for decades, and more recently have promoted triangular cooperation (TC) with traditional donors, 6 there is a great potential to fully include these cooperation modalities in the global development system, particularly designing and implementing the post-2015 development agenda. Also, as shown by the following overview, there are a range of reference frameworks that guide and reflect the significance of SSC within the global development agenda. 18

19 International South-South Cooperation Reference Framework E BUENOS AIRES PLAN OF ACTION (1978) The Buenos Aires Plan of Action for Promoting and Implementing Technical Cooperation among Developing Countries, a crucial milestone for SSC, was adopted by 138 states on the 12 th of September E NAIROBI OUTCOME DOCUMENT (2009) The Outcome Document of the High-Level United Nations Conference on South-South Cooperation in Nairobi (2009) underlines the UN s key role supporting SSC through all its funds, programmes, specialized agencies and regional commissions. E E UN HIGH-LEVEL COMMITTEE ON SOUTH-SOUTH COOPERATION The UN High-Level Committee on South-South Cooperation is a subsidiary body of the General Assembly and the main normative entity regarding South-South Cooperation within the UN. HIGH-LEVEL PANEL ON THE POST-2015 DEVELOPMENT AGENDA Within the broader framework of defining the post-2015 development agenda, the High-Level Panel explicitly considers the contribution of South-South cooperation and knowledge exchange to reaching the new development goals, particularly in thematic areas with a clear demand of experiences from Middle Income Countries. Introduction: South-South Cooperation in a Multipolar World 1 E GLOBAL PARTNERSHIP FOR EFFECTIVE DEVELOPMENT COOPERATION Stemming from the High-Level Forum in Busan (2011), the Global Partnership for Effective Development Cooperation (GPEDC) reflects a greater attention to South-South cooperation and the proactive role of Middle-Income Countries in global development. The First High-Level Meeting of the GPEDC took place in April 2014 in Mexico Source: Authors. 19

20 Towards a Global Partnership for Development The UN and Mexico s South-South Cooperation The publication at hand is embedded in this dynamic global context. It analyses from UN agencies support for SSC schemes led by Mexican institutions and identifies elements to improve both the scale and quality of this multilateral effort. Facilitated by UNDP, this process originates from reflections within the UN on mechanisms and methods of collaborating with the Mexican Government in its extensive political, institutional and operational commitment to SSC. In this line, the publication is also part and proof of the close collaboration between UN agencies and the AMEXCID as the governing body of Mexico s SSC. 20

21 2. Mexico s Dual Role: Recipient and Provider Mexico looks back on a long history as an international development cooperation partner and has implemented multiple pilot projects in order to gradually adapt the country s approach to a changing national and international context. Over the last years Mexico s role as a dual partner has come to the forefront, reflecting its identity as both a recipient and provider of development cooperation. As one of the most innovative countries in building this new identity, Mexico is not only a pioneer in advanced models for mobilizing and channelling external sources of development financing (on climate change, for example) but has also designed a series of innovative SSC and TC models primarily directed towards Latin America and the Caribbean. UN support provided to Mexico s SSC directly responds to the country s policy priorities. In line with Mexico s National Development Plan (PND), SSC is a foreign policy tool for a Mexico with Global Responsibility (fifth axis), aimed at expanding and strengthening Mexico s presence in the world, with the AMEXCID as the key actor in the implementation and coordination of Mexico s international development cooperation. The publication of the International Development Cooperation Act (LCID) in the Official Gazette of the Federation in April 2011 was a milestone as it anticipates the instruments needed to consolidate Mexico s policy on the issue and thus extend the scope and impact of SSC initiatives. Drafted within a consensus-based and inclusive consultation process, the LCID establishes the goals, 7 principles 8 and guidelines aimed at guaranteeing (1) that SSC complements the countries own development efforts, (2) the self-sustainability of development processes, and (3) the involvement of the recipients of Mexico s SSC through co-financing and other schemes where all stakeholders contribute. Mexico s Dual Role: Recipient and Provider 2 7. The eradication of poverty, unemployment, inequality, and social exclusion; the permanent raising of educational, technical, scientific and cultural standards; the reduction of asymmetries between developed countries and developing countries; the pursuit of environmental protection and the fight against climate change; as well as the strengthening of public security. 8. International solidarity, the defence and promotion of human rights, the strengthening of the rule of law, gender equity, the promotion of sustainable development, transparency and accountability, and the criteria for appropriation, alignment, harmonization, results-oriented management and mutual responsibility. 21

22 Towards a Global Partnership for Development The UN and Mexico s South-South Cooperation Regarding the institutional framework for Mexico s international development cooperation, the LCID anticipates the following instruments: MEXICAN AGENCY FOR INTERNATIONAL DEVELOPMENT COOPERATION (AMEXCID) E COORDINATION OF DEVELOPMENT COOPERATION POLICY The AMEXCID was set up in September 2011 as a decentralized body of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (SRE). Over the course of three years, it has initiated transformation and reengineering processes aimed at responding to both the Act s provisions and the needs imposed by a continuosly changing national and international context. INTERNATIONAL DEVELOPMENT COOPERATION PROGRAMME (PROCID) E BASIS FOR PLANNING AND EXECUTING DEVELOPMENT COOPERATION SCHEMES The PROCID is the cross-cutting programmatic framework for Mexico s development cooperation. It applies to several Federal public administration entities, reflecting the fact that Mexico s development cooperation in general and the successful implementation of cooperation projects in particular depend upon collaboration between minis- 22

23 NATIONAL FUND FOR INTERNATIONAL DEVELOPMENT COOPERATION (FONCID) E TRUST FUND FOR SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT COOPERATION Mexico s Dual Role: Recipient and Provider 2 The setup of the FONCID will allow to improve the planning of development cooperation projects and increase their impact. It is currently being developed and expected to be set in motion in NATIONAL REGISTRY AND INFORMATION SYSTEM FOR INTERNATIONAL DEVELOPMENT COOPERATION (RENCID AND SICID) E TOOL FOR MONITORING AND REGISTERING DEVELOPMENT COOPERATION The RENCID and SICID build on previous efforts of the SRE to monitor and register development cooperation, such as the International Cooperation Data System (SICOI) and the Mexican International Development Cooperation Data System (SIMEXID). They will allow to register projects, agreements, partner institutions, monetary values and other data related to Mexico s development cooperation. Source: Authors. 23

24 Towards a Global Partnership for Development The UN and Mexico s South-South Cooperation In this favourable context, the AMEXCID s role is particularly relevant regarding inter-sectorial coordination and the support for institutional and operational capacities of ministries and other Federal entities that as development solutions providers, contribute to how Mexico s brand is perceived abroad. The main vehicles and resources of Mexico s development cooperation are sectorial experts from Government institutions offering their knowledge, experience and contextual sensibility for the benefit of other countries in the region. Within this context, the 2012 Catalogue of Mexican Capacities for International Development Cooperation, published in collaboration with the Japanese International Cooperation Agency (JICA), is the Goverment s first exercise to gather expertise from various Mexican institutions with great potential and capacity to participate in international development cooperation schemes. The Catalogue covers areas such as environment, education, energy, government and civil society, as well as agriculture, forestry and fisheries. In addition to database on international development cooperation, the AMEXCID is consolidating a methodology to account for human, financial and technical resources in development cooperation. At the same time, the AMEXCID is implementing an institutional capacity building strategy supported by partners such as the German International Cooperation Agency (GIZ), JICA, and UNDP. Regarding the geographic focus of Mexico s SSC, the LCID establishes Central America and Latin America and the Caribbean priorities. 24

25 Graph 1 MEXICO S SOUTH-SOUTH COOPERATION PROJECTS Q Latin America and the Caribbean: 153 Q Regional: 18 Q Asia-Pacífic: 17 Q Africa: 1 Note: In total Mexico provided 212 SSC projects in Source: AMEXCID s 2012 internal activities report. Mexico s Dual Role: Recipient and Provider 2 Bilaterally, most projects are designed for capacity building and institutional strengthening in key sectors of the partner country. Regionally, high-impact projects implemented under the Mesoamerican Integration and Development Project and those financed by the Infrastructure Fund for Mesoamerican and Caribbean Countries are particularly relevant for Mexico s development cooperation. The Infrastructure Fund, also known as the Yucatán Agreement, is a reflection of Mexico s commitment to Latin America. It was announced in 2001 and officially launched in March 2012 as a regional cooperation mechanism to finance infrastructure programmes and projects and to support technical assistance as well as the commercial exchange of goods and services associated with infrastructure. With certain countries there has been a shift towards horizontal cooperation programmes, where benefits and costs are equally shared. These bilateral schemes have been particularly relevant in South America and the Asia- Pacific region as well as under the umbrella of programmes in Mesoamerica and Ibero America. The Joint Cooperation Funds that Mexico has set up with Chile and Uruguay are emblematic mechanisms facilitating horizontal cooperation. Recently, efforts have been made to also apply this scheme with Costa Rica. In terms of TC Mexico has positioned itself as a promoter of debate and reflection and a strategic partner for the benefit of Latin American and Caribbean countries. During 2012 Mexico was involved in 23 triangular projects, mostly in association with Japan, Germany, Spain, and South Korea. 25

26 Towards a Global Partnership for Development The UN and Mexico s South-South Cooperation Different factors determine the role Mexico has assumed as a bridge and facilitator in the debate on the global development cooperation architecture. It is essential to acknowledge the variety of Mexico s roles as provider and recipient, its identity as a MIC, as well as its membership in the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD), and specifically, as an observer on the organization s Development Assistance Committee (DAC). Finally, Mexico has also promoted capacity building and knowledge exchange in the framework of the Group of 20 (G20) development agenda, during its G20 presidency in Mexico s active engagement with international development cooperation and the post-2015 development agenda has been reflected discussions in the framework of the OEDC and the UN, particularly in the Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC), and the Ibero-American Summit. In the context of the Global Partnership for Effective Development Cooperation (GPEDC), Mexico is leading the debate on SSC and TC as well as the role of MICs in the changing international development cooperation landscape. In April 2014 Mexico hosted the First High-Level Meeting of the GPEDC and took over as one of its Co-Chairs. 26

27 3. UN Collaboration Framework for Supporting Mexico s South-South Cooperation The United Nations Development Assistance Framework (UNDAF) establishes the basis for the joint work of the UN and the Government of Mexico and responds specifically to the country s development challenges. Via its cooperation area VI Global Partnership for Development the UNDAF highlights the UN s willingness to contribute to Mexico s responsible and proactive role on the international level. Specifically, according to effect 13 of the UNDAF, the Mexican Government will have strengthened its position as an effective regional and global development partner for which it will have consolidated a pertinent international cooperation platform. In addition to the UNDAF, various UN agencies also have SSC reference frameworks established by their headquarters and regional offices (see Graph 2). These general frameworks provide multiple opportunities to ensure that regional and global SSC guidelines can be translated into national strategies adapted to the country s priorities, above all those in line with the UNDAF. Particularly UNDP already has a history of supporting Mexican SSC capabilities. The Collaboration Framework Agreement, signed in 2011 between the Government of Mexico and UNDP, aims to ensure synergies between Mexico as an international development partner and UNDP s national, regional and global programmes. UN Collaboration UN Collaboration Framework for Framework Supporting for Mexico s South-South Cooperation 3 UNDP: Signature of the AMEXCID-UNDP Cooperation Programme (Mexico City, March 2013). 27

28 Towards a Global Partnership for Development The UN and Mexico s South-South Cooperation Graph 2 SOUTH-SOUTH COOPERATION STRATEGIES AND FRAMEWORKS OF DIFFERENT UN AGENCIES ECLAC: Based on resolutions adopted in 2004, ECLAC s Regulatory and Operational South-South Cooperation Frameworks seek to raise the profile of SSC in the Commission s strategic and operational work, and to support the direct link between supply of and demand for development solutions in Latin America and the Caribbean. UNICEF: In 2011 UNICEF headquarters published a Programme Guidance Note on South-South Cooperation that pays special attention to the role of Middle Income Countries. The document is used as a central reference in the UNICEF Mexico Country Programme. UNFPA: Adopted in 1997 and updated in 2010, UNFPA s South-South Cooperation Strategy became the starting point for the SSC strategy of its regional office for Latin America and the Caribbean in In both cases UNFPA defines its position as a broker between demand for and supply of development solutions. ILO: Adopted in 2012, ILO s strategy South-South Cooperation and Triangular Cooperation: The Way Forward anticipates, inter alia, promoting the exchange of knowledge fo cused on decent work and improving operational capacities to implement SSC schemes. UNDP: The Collaboration Framework Agreement signed with the Government of Mexico in 2011 provides the basis for UNDP s support in strengthening institutional capacities of the AMEXCID, identifying Mexican centres of excellence, and promoting Mexico s active participation in multilateral development dialogues. Note: Global Partnership for Development is the cooperation area VI in the UNDAF. Source: Authors. 28

29 The Agreement is now also the framework for more consistent collaboration with a view to strengthen Mexico as an international development partner. The AMEXCID-UNDP Cooperation Programme, a joint capacity building project set up under the Agreement, includes support for systematizing good practices and strengthening centres of excellence. Since UNDP has signed similar agreements with six other emerging economies (Brazil, China, India, Indonesia, South Africa and Turkey), there are many opportunities for a fluid and constant dialogue between the AMEXCID and development cooperation agencies of other countries supported by UNDP. In June 2013, the UN agencies in Mexico identified UNDP as the lead agency on SSC. In this context, UNDP started mapping Mexican SSC initiatives supported by UN agencies and, in February 2014, convened the first meeting of the UN Inter-agency Group on SSC. In collaboration with the AMEXCID the Inter-agency Group will offer a space to coordinate the contributions of UN agencies to Mexico s SSC. UN Mexico: Inter-agency Group on South-South Cooperation (Mexico City, February 2014). UN Collaboration UN Collaboration Framework for Framework Supporting for Mexico s South-South Cooperation 3 29

30 ECLAC FAO ICAO ILO IOM OCHA OHCHR PAHO/WHO UN-HABITAT UN Women UNDP UNEP UNESCO UNFPA UNHCR UNICEF UNIDO UNODC Towards a Global Partnership for Development The UN and Mexico s South-South Cooperation The South-South cooperation initiatives supported by the UN are linked to the 6 areas of the United Nations Development Assistance Framework (UNDAF) in Mexico: ECLAC IOM UNDP UNIDO FAO PAHO/WHO UN-HABITAT UNDP UNESCO UNFPA UNICEF ICAO UNDP UNEP UNDP IOM OCHA OHCHR UN-HABITAT UN Women UNHCR UNICEF UNODC 30

31 4. Strategic Partners in Mexico Graph 3 THE UN S STRATEGIC PARTNERS IN MEXICO FOR SOUTH-SOUTH COOPERATION INITIATIVES Q Decentralized and autonomous bodies : 13 Q Ministries: 10 Q Academic institutions : 3 Q State Governments : 2 Q Judiciary: 2 Note: This graph refers to the 44 SSC projects and activities (see Chapter 6). Source: Authors. UN SUPPORT FROM THE PERSPECTIVE OF MEXICAN PARTNERS Strategic Partners in Mexico 4 The process of preparing this publication included a consultation process with representatives from several Mexican institutions. The meetings and interviews brought to light the extensive record of entities such as the National Institute of Statistics and Geography (INEGI), the Ministries of Health and Environment, and the Electoral Tribunal of the Judicial Power of the Federation (TEPJF) regarding their regular exchanges with counterparts in other countries. In many cases, their SSC trajectories began over 15 years ago. Among the current challenges these Mexican institutions face are sectorial strategic planning, access to financing and coordination, both within the Government and with bilateral and multilateral agencies. At the sectorial level multilateral support is perceived as part of a natural alliance, anchored in historic relationships of joint work on specific development issues. Mexican stakeholders perceive a range of advantages from UN agencies SSC support, including institutional and operational capacity development: mobilization and expansion of networks and regional dialogue spaces; the possibility of receiving logistical support in other countries; and the deft handling of financial resources. Looking ahead, Mexican institutions expect UN agencies to collaborate in the growing scale of SSC, accompanying the establishment of centres of excellence, ensuring a better flow of information and supporting results-based management in Mexico s international development cooperation. 31

32 Towards a Global Partnership for Development The UN and Mexico s South-South Cooperation 5. The Geography of Mexico s South-South Cooperation Supported by the UN Most partners of Mexico s UN-supported South-South cooperation schemes are countries in the region. Of the 44 analysed projects and activities, 37 are directed towards Latin America and the Caribbean, 24 focus on Central America and the Caribbean and 15 are sub-regional. At the same time, initiatives have also been undertaken with countries in Africa and Asia. Mexico s international development cooperation has focused mainly on the Mesoamerican region. In this line, UN support for Mesoamerican programmes and strategies on the following topics has been particularly relevant: monitoring and evaluating compliance with the Millennium Development Goals (AMEXCID, supported by UNDP); road safety (Ministry of Health, supported by PAHO/WHO); food security (AMEXCID, in collaboration with FAO); assistance to vulnerable migrants (Ministry for the Development of the Southern Border of the Chiapas State Government, with support from the international Organization for Migration, IOM); and environmental sustainability (CONAFOR, together with UNDP). As for bilateral projects, two have been developed with Haiti (supported by ECLAC, together with the College of Mexico and IN- EGI, respectively); two with Nicaragua (Ministry of Agriculture, Livestock, Rural Development, Fisheries and Food, SAGARPA, supported by FAO); with the Dominican Republic (Ministry of the Interior, SEGOB, together with UNDP and UNODC); and with Honduras and Panama (in each country, one initiative of the Ministry of the Environment and Natural Resources, SEMARNAT, supported by the United Nations Envitonment Programme, UNEP). 32

33 The Geography of Mexico s South-South Cooperation Supported by the UN Graph 4 GEOGRAPHIC FOCUS Note: Countries in blue are part of at least one UN-supported SSC initiative that has been initiated by or includes Mexico. Mesoamerica (small blue circle) as well as Central America and the Caribbean (bigger blue circle) are geographic priorities of Mexico s UN-supported SSC schemes. Source: Authors. 33 5

34 Towards a Global Partnership for Development The UN and Mexico s South-South Cooperation 14 projects and activities have focused on wider geographical areas in Latin America and the Caribbean. Of those ten include the whole region and two relate to specific groups of South American countries. The Ibero-American area plays a role in a range of projects and activities, such as the fight against human trafficking and migrant smuggling (Ministry of Foreign Affairs, SRE, with UNO- DC), and the Forums on Migration and Development (AMEXCID with UNHCR) as well as Habitat (Centre for Housing and Urban Studies, CENVI, with UN-HABITAT). Brazil and Colombia are partners in bilateral projects in South America promoted, among others, by UNICEF (Seguro Popular 9 ) and UNFPA (local planning, with the Puebla State Government). Besides two global projects led by UN-HABITAT to promote exchange between cities on economic development and public safety, the UN has also contributed to SSC projects and activities with countries in other regions. This is reflected in the work of UNICEF to coordinate missions and visits of delegations from China (the Ministry of Health on restructuring the health sector), Vietnam (the AMEXCID and other institutions on protecting ethnic minorities) and Morocco (the National Council for the Evaluation of Social Development Policy, CONEVAL, on measuring multidimensional poverty). Finally, it is worth noting that most initiatives supported by UN agencies involve several countries, often with a distinctly subregional character, in both Central and South America. Without underestimating their valuable contributions to bilateral relations, this concentration on multi-country projects and activities appears to be in line with the potential of many UN agencies to simultaneously mobilize and facilitate exchanges between different governments, through coordination with other country offices and facilitation by regional offices (see Graph 6). This aspect of the UN s contribution has the potential to effectively complement the strong concentration of Mexico s development cooperation on bilateral and triangular projects (92% of the total of 212 projects in 2012, see chapter 2), in order to increase the weight of regional and multicountry schemes Seguro Popular is Mexico s public health insurance scheme.

35 Graph 5 REGIONAL AND SUBREGIONAL OFFICES OF UN AGENCIES Mexico City MEXICO ECLAC, ICAO, UNIDO San Jose COSTA RICA IOM Panama City PANAMA FAO, OHCHR, UN Women, UNDP, UNEP, UNFPA, UNICEF Lima PERU ILO Washington USA PAHO/WHO The Geography of Mexico s South-South Cooperation Supported by the UN 5 Rio de Janeiro BRAZIL UN-HABITAT Santiago de Chile CHILE ECLAC, FAO, UNESCO Source: Authors. 35

36 Towards a Global Partnership for Development The UN and Mexico s South-South Cooperation 6. Dimensions of UN Support for South-South Cooperation: Fostering Development Solutions Support from UN agencies for SSC refers to actions that promote, facilitate and catalyse SSC schemes led by developing countries. This type of support has been focusing on technical aspects, a task mostly undertaken by multilateral organizations offering services and resources to member countries. For this publication four key dimensions of multilateral support particularly relevant for UN SCC support have been identified (see Graph 6). UNICEF: Signature of the Cooperation Agreement between UNICEF, ProMéxico and the AMEXCID for the setup of a project on recruiting potential suppliers on both national and regional levels (Mexico City, August 2012). UN Women: Signature of the Memorandum of Understanding on gender statistic and indicators between SRE, INEGI, INMUJERES and UN Women (Mexico City, November 2013). See 36

37 Graph 6 DIMENSIONS OF UN SUPPORT FOR COUNTRY-LED SOUTH-SOUTH COOPERATION 1 Supporting SSC schemes Includes technical and/or financial collaboration of UN agencies regarding (A) projects, (B) regional schemes, (C) one-off activities and (D) workshops and forums, all led by partner governments. 3 2 Facilitating Networks Refers to establishing and fostering networks and communities of institutions and individuals, and may consist of connecting the demand for and supply of knowledge between countries (brokering). 4 Dimensions of UN Support for South-South Cooperation: Fostering Solutions Fostering the Development Solutions Agenda 6 Systematizing best practices Related to knowledge management, this refers to mapping, documenting and preparing successful policies and practices in order for them to be shared with or transferred to other countries. Supporting institutional and operational development for SSC Consists of contributing resources and strategies to develop institutional and operational arrangements of Government entities implementing SSC (including development cooperation agencies and departments of ministries), in areas such as planning, monitoring and evaluation, designing cooperation modalities, and human resources management. Source: Authors. 37

38 Towards a Global Partnership for Development The UN and Mexico s South-South Cooperation 6.1 Supporting South-South Cooperation Schemes A. Projects The mapping exercise that provides the basis for this publication(see page 14) identified 22 SSC projects directly supported by UN agencies. The United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) has used this modality extensively with a total of five projects, followed by the Programme of the United Nations for Human Settlements (UN-HABITAT) with three, and the Economic Commission for Latin America and the Caribbean (ECLAC), the Pan-American Health Organization/ World Health Organization (PAHO/WHO) and UNDP with two projects each. The UN High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR), the International Labour Organization (ILO), the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC), the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO), the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) and the United Nations Fund for Children (UNICEF) have each developed one project. Graph 7 TYPES OF DIRECT UN SUPPORT FOR MEXICO S SOUTH-SOUTH COOPERATION Q Forums and workshops: 50 Q Projects: 22 Q Regional schemes: 11 Q One-off activities: 11 Note: Overall 94 initiatives were registered. Source: Authors. 38

39 UNODC: Presentation of the project Promoting cooperation between Mexico and Central America to prevent and combat the illegal trafficking of migrants (Mexico City, April 2013). FAO AND UNDP - NATIONAL FORESTRY COMMISSION (CONAFOR) Implemented by the National Forestry Commission (CONAFOR) with support from UNDP and FAO, a major component of the project Strengthening the preparation process of REDD+ in Fostering Development Mexico and promoting South-South cooperation focuses on experience sharing and SSC with Solutions countries in Central America to develop their National Monitoring, Reporting and Verification Systems. In this line, and in coordination with the AMEXCID, collaboration has been promoted with the Central American Integration System (SICA) and Colombia, particularly regarding the development of the Mesoamerican Environmental Sustainability Strategy that is part of the Mesoamerica Project. As central component of a broader SSC strategy, the project aims at contributing to the development of a Virtual Centre of Excellence dedicated to forest monitoring, training workshops, experience and knowledge exchange, interagency agreements and specialized technical assistance shared among countries in the region. Set up for a duration of four years, the project has a SSC budget provided by the Government of Norway. Dimensions of UN Support for South-South Cooperation: Fostering Solutions Fostering the Development Solutions Agenda 6 FAO - NATIONAL FISHERIES INSTITUTE (INAPESCA) An example of a bilateral project is FAO s support for restructuring lobster dive fishing in Nicaragua, involving experts from Government authorities and fishermen from both countries. This ongoing intervention has allowed to engage with other Mexican institutions, including the National Water Commission (CONAGUA) and the Mexican Institute of Water Technology (IMTA). 39

40 Towards a Global Partnership for Development The UN and Mexico s South-South Cooperation OHCHR - JUDICIARY The OHCHR focuses its efforts on reproducing Mexico s consolidated experience in the process of implementing the methodological framework on human rights indicators in the judiciary branches of Paraguay, Ecuador, Bolivia and Brazil. The publication Constructing Human Rights Indicators: Regional Experiences summarizes this experience and was launched in 2013 both at the Human Rights Council in Geneva and, through Mexico s SRE, during the ECOSOC meeting in New York. The successful processes of monitoring the right to fair trial in Mexico s Federal District as well as the States of Nayarit and Tamaulipas will be replicated across the country, thanks to the leadership of the National Superior Tribunals Commission. On the federal level a similar process has been initiated with the National Supreme Court and the Federal Judiciary Council. The above-mentioned methodology has also informed the monitoring of rights foreseen under the San Salvador Protocol, in the framework of the Inter-American Human Rights System. South-South collaboration between the Haitian Institute of Statistics and Informatics, ECLAC and INEGI aims to develop indicators for economic conditions in Haiti and serve as a statistical tool to track changes in the economic sector. We believe that this initiative allows the country, the authorities and other institutional stakeholders to make quick decisions based on direct access to information on how the economy evolves. Randolph Gilbert Coordinator and Haiti Focal Point, ECLAC 40

41 Dimensions of UN Support for South-South Cooperation: Fostering Solutions Fostering the Development Solutions Agenda 6 ECLAC: Visit to the State of Zacatecas in the framework of a project with Haiti and the Colegio de México on the experience of the remittances programme 3x1 (Zacatecas, April 2013). 41

42 Towards a Global Partnership for Development The UN and Mexico s South-South Cooperation B. Regional Schemes A second form of direct SSC support consists of regional cooperation schemes provided or facilitated by the UN that contain a SSC component, for example facilitating exchanges and technical cooperation between various participating Government institutions. In this category overall 11 initiatives were reported by UNEP and UNODC (two initiatives each) as well as by the UN High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO), IOM, PAHO/ WHO, the UN Entity for Gender Equality and the Empowerment of Women (UN Women), UNDP and UNESCO. UN WOMEN - NATIONAL INSTITUTE OF STATISTICS AND GEOGRAPHY (INEGI) - NATIONAL INSTITUTE FOR WOMEN (INMUJERES) Initiated fifteen years ago, the tripartite collaboration between UN Women, the National Women s Institute (INMUJERES) and INEGI focuses on gender statistics to support public policies aimed at achieving equality between women and men. From 2006 onwards, this continuing effort has led to inter-institutional collaboration providing input to national exchanges in the framework of the ECLAC Statistical Conference of the Americas (CEA). The programme activities of the CEA Working Group on Gender Statistics, chaired by INEGI, have been of particular relevance, with ECLAC S Division for Gender Affairs in charge of the technical secretariat and INMUJERES and UN Women providing technical assistance. This cooperation modality has allowed the systematization of experiences and the horizontal transfer of best practices on gender statistics (mainly on time use and unpaid work, violence against women and poverty measurement). In late 2013 the SRE joined this partnership by signing a Memorandum of Understanding that formalizes and strengthens Mexico s SSC on gender statistics. 42

43 OIM - MINISTRY FOR THE DEVELOPMENT OF THE SOUTHERN BORDER (CHIAPAS) The objective of the Regional Capacity Building Programme for the Protection of and Assistance to Vulnerable Migrants in Mesoamerica is to strengthen capacities to protect and assist vulnerable migrants, through both (1) direct assistance tools with capacity building sessions directed at migration officials, border police, civil society organizations (CSOs) and shelters, and (2) improving the in-kind attention capacities. The Programme responds to necessities and objectives identified by the Regional Migration Conference and brings together seven countries: Panama, Costa Rica, El Salvador, Nicaragua, Honduras, Guatemala and Mexico. At the same time the Programme supports the improvement and harmonization of best practices regarding migrant services through organizing the Tapachula-San Marcos trans-border forums; creating spaces for strengthening networks; and holding regional workshops. UNESCO - MINISTRY OF PUBLIC EDUCATION (SEP) In the framework of the Regional Teachers Strategy UNESCO and the Ministry of Public Education (SEP) have actively collaborated on knowledge development, based on the experience of countries in Latin America and the Caribbean. In order to consolidate the goals formulated under the Quality Education for All umbrella, both parties aim to generate input and best practices that provide a platform for the design and implementation of education programmes. In this line, UNESCO and the SEP have set up the necessary conditions for an exchange between Ministers of Education in the region and other relevant stakeholders. This exchange informs Latin America and the Caribbean s Post-2015 Education Agenda that accounts for the region s education-related challenges and tackles topics like citizenship and culture of peace education. Dimensions of UN Support for South-South Cooperation: Fostering Solutions Fostering the Development Solutions Agenda 6 43

44 Towards a Global Partnership for Development The UN and Mexico s South-South Cooperation FAO - MEXICAN AGENCY FOR INTERNATIONAL DEVELOPMENT COOPERATION (AMEXCID) Signed in May 2014 between FAO and the AMEXCID, Mesoamerica Without Hunger aims to foster food and nutrition security in the Mesoamerica region as a complement to the cooperation between member states (Belize, Colombia, Costa Rica, Dominican Republic, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Mexico, Nicaragua and Panama). Its main goal is to widen and strengthen member state capacities and to help establish conditions that allow projects to provide concrete benefits for the societies in question. For the implementation of this regional initiative the AMEXCID has established a cooperation framework with the regional offices of six UN agencies: FAO, PAHO/WHO, UN Women, UNDP, UNICEF and the World Food Programme. Together, these agencies have suggested that Mesoamerica Without Hunger should prioritize the following four areas of action: (i) Political commitment and governance of food and nutrition security; (ii) appropriate nutrition; (iii) strengthening of family farming; and (iv) reducing vulnerabilities. Based on this multi-agency agreement, FAO and the AMEXCID have signed a Cooperation Framework Agreement that aims to support the design and implementation of projects on both national and Mesoamerican levels focusing on public policy in the fields of food and nutrition security, family farming and rural poverty. 44

45 C. One-Off Activities In addition to projects and regional cooperation schemes, the UN supports Mexico s South-South cooperation also by means of one-off activities such as exchange and capacity-building missions. In this category 11 initiatives in particular supported by UNDP, UNEP, UNICEF and UNODC have been identified. UNDP s effort to establish a platform for exchange of experience and knowledge between electoral management bodies (EMBs) in Tanzania and Mexico will have a crucial impact on democratic reform at both EMB and country levels. (...) The more EMBs cooperate and exchange experiences and knowledge the more their skills are enhanced and they become more resilient and efficient in executing their mandates. Jecha Salim Jecha Chairman, Electoral Commission of Zanzibar, Tanzania Dimensions of UN Support for South-South Cooperation: Fostering Solutions Fostering the Development Solutions Agenda 6 UNDP: Exchange between the electoral management bodies of Mexico and Tanzania (Tanzania, February 2014). 45

46 Towards a Global Partnership for Development The UN and Mexico s South-South Cooperation UNICEF: Exchange between CONEVAL and the National Human Development Observatory of Morocco (Morocco, May 2012). UNICEF has facilitated South-South collaboration between Morocco and Mexico in the area of social development in favour of vulnerable populations including children. This project is very relevant for the National Human Development Observatory (ONDH) since its goal is to establish cooperation between ONDH, CONEVAL and UNICEF in evaluating social development programmes, identifying poverty measurements, and exchanging experiences and experts in the area of social development. ONDH wishes to continue collaborating with CONEVAL and UNICEF to improve the situation of people in poverty conditions in both countries. Rachid Benmokhtar Benabdellah ONDH President, Morocco 46

47 D. Forums and Workshops Complementing their direct support to SSC, UN agencies facilitate and/or accompany regional and global forums and workshops in which the Mexican Government has played a leading role. For this publication 50 SSC forums and workshops supported by UN agencies in Mexico were reported. Institutions with highly specialized expertise such as the INEGI and the TEPFJ indicate that they participate in some 80 regional and global dialogue events each year. At times these forums lead to further bilateral or multi-country partnerships to exchange experience in a more structured way. In addition, multilateral agencies often play a role of input suppliers or brokers that allow the discussions to continue beyond one-off exchanges. This form of cooperation can be UNICEF: First Regional Meeting on Childhood and Adolescence Indicators (Mexico City, September 2011). seen in UNHCR s contributions to the Regional Migration Conferences, and in the role of PAHO /WHO regarding dialogue spaces on health. Both organizations contribute with contacts, knowledge and strategic contents to these forums that have the potential to propel longterm action plans with SSC components. PNUD: Closing Session of the First High-Level Meeting of the Global Partnership for Effective Development Cooperation, hosted by the Mexican Government through the AMEXCID (Mexico City, April 2014). Dimensions of UN Support for South-South Cooperation: Fostering Solutions Fostering the Development Solutions Agenda 6 47

48 Towards a Global Partnership for Development The UN and Mexico s South-South Cooperation 6.2 Facilitating Networks In addition to direct SSC support, the UN facilitates networks to strengthen knowledge sharing and link supply and demand. UNEP and UNFPA have established two key examples of structured platforms that collect solutions from certain countries and connect them with the demand of others. In both cases, facilities are provided by the agency s regional office while the office in Mexico endorses a liaison role. UNEP - REGATTA Since 2011, the UNEP REGATTA programme connects key institutions and centres of excellence for climate change in areas such as agriculture, energy, transport and climate financing. 23 specialized Mexican institutions are involved in the REGATTA programme, mainly representing Federal Government institutes, research centres and CSOs. UNFPA - SOUTH-SOUTH COOPERATION PLATFORM UNFPA recently launched a regional platform for SSC on issues related to population policies. In this framework and in line with what it has done with other development cooperation agencies in Latin America UNFPA seeks to sign a Memorandum of Understanding with the AMEXCID in order to allow Mexico to strategically contribute to and benefit from the platform. This would allow the coordinated participation of specialized Mexican entities in this area, such as the National Population Council (CONAPO) and State Governments. 48

49 UNFPA s South-South cooperation platform is an important tool that helps countries to get familiar with each other and identify both the good experiences that all of our countries have as well as the challenges we are still facing in the region. In one way or another, the platform will thus contribute to closing gaps and supporting local development. Karin Kramer Presidential Agency for International Cooperation of Colombia Dimensions of UN Support for South-South Cooperation: Fostering Solutions Fostering the Development Solutions Agenda 6 UNFPA: First Regional Capacity-Building Workshop on South-South Cooperation (Panama, April 2013). 49

50 Towards a Global Partnership for Development The UN and Mexico s South-South Cooperation 6.3 Systematizing Best Practices Graph 8 OPPORTUNITIES FOR SYSTEMATIZING BEST PRACTICES Mexican Agency for International Development Cooperation (AMEXCID): Advances in the humanitarian assistance architecture National Institute for Women (INMUJERES): Advances in women s political participation; budgets with gender focus; the production and analysis of information on violence against women and femicide. National Migration Institute (INM): Experiences of Beta Groups on Humanitarian Assistance to Migrants. Ministry of Public Administration (SFP): Designing corporate integrity incentives in the fight against corruption. National Statistics and Geography Institute (INEGI): Surveys on victimization and crime classification. Ministry of Labour and Social Welfare (STPS): Experiences of the System for Integrated Measurement and Productivity Improvement. National Population Council (CONAPO): Experiences and solutions concerning population policies and practices. Centre for Housing and Urban Studies (CENVI): Capacities of urban communities, through an Ibero-American forum. 50 Electoral Court of the Federal Judiciary (TEPJF): Electoral justice experiences. Source: Authors.

51 Knowledge management and the generation of best practices are crucial prerequisites and the foundation for SSC. Clearly identified and systematized development solutions ready to be transferred are key for engaging in meaningful SSC schemes with partners and peers in other countries. The process of turning an implicit experience (related to individual) into explicit knowledge (documented and ready to be shared, independent of individual experience) is a central challenge for SSC. On the one hand, the desire to make SSC grow may clash with the limited number of experts and Government officials who are available and capable of sharing the country s development solutions. On the other hand, however, systematizing experiences may lead to better results-based management based on more formal knowledge-transfer methodologies. The UN has the necessary instruments and capacities to become a key support for systematization processes, building on both its sectorial-thematic networks as well as relevant experience and reputation to guarantee the quality of best practices identified by the Government. The advice and experience transferred by Mexico s Integrated Measurement and Productivity Improvement System (SIMAPRO) through the ILO in Mexico helped us to adapt it quickly to the Chilean context, and to avoid making the same mistakes, in spite of the fact that we adapted Mexico s experience to another sector: fruit. Being part of the regional network on the issue keeps us up to date, provides a great opportunity to incorporate and share best practices, and, above all, serves as an effective communication mechanism on innovation. Rodrigo López General Manager of the Fruit Export Training Institute of Chile Dimensions of UN Support for South-South Cooperation: Fostering Solutions Fostering the Development Solutions Agenda 6 Mexico s experience with the Integrated Measurement and Productivity Improvement System (SIMAPRO) in the sugar industry allowed us to easily assimilate it as we were dealing with a similar context. The flexibility of the methodology also allowed us to focus on aspects that could be more easily integrated into our work particularly its philosophy: the social dialogue on improving productivity and working conditions. Juan Wright Council President of the El Angel Sugar Mill, El Salvador Noé Nerio Secretary-General, El Angel Sugar Mill Labour Union 51

52 Towards a Global Partnership for Development The UN and Mexico s South-South Cooperation 6.4 Supporting Institutional and Operational Development for South-South Cooperation Regarding the UN s support for institutional development for SSC, a couple of agencies are already working with Mexican Government entities on their SSC capacity. Embedded in the 2011 Collaboration Framework Agreement, the joint project between the AMEXCID and UNDP aims at strengthening the Agency s institutional capacity and consists of three components: 1) Strengthening the AMEXCID s immediate institutional capacity by supporting the implementation of the RENCID, the national registry system that records relevant aspects of Mexico s international development cooperation; 2) Identifying Mexican institutions with widely recognized experience on the transfer of knowledge and practice to strengthen them as centres of excellence for international development cooperation, based on UNDP s experience in countries such as Brazil, Singapore and Turkey; and 3) Systematizing best practices and public policies to facilitate strategic knowledge transfer. 52 UNDP: Conference on South-South cooperation with representatives from the AMEXCID, the UN, civil society and development cooperation agencies (Mexico City, September 2013).

53 UNODC: First meeting of the Working Group on Security and Criminal Justice Statistics in the framework of the ECLAC Statistics Commission of the Americas, organized by the INEGI-UNODC Centre of Excellence (Mexico City, August 2013). The efforts of the Centre of Excellence to implement this meeting exemplify its work on strengthening country capacities regarding victimization surveys. Salomé Flores Sierra Franzoni Coordinator, INEGI-UNODC Centre of Excellence UNODC - NATIONAL INSTITUTE OF STATISTICS AND GEOGRAPHY (INEGI) A flagship example for UN support to the institutional setup for SSC is the collaboration between UNODC and the INEGI, where the latter hosts the joint Centre of excellence on government statistics, public security, victimization and justice. This initiative is consolidating the INEGI s role as a provider of practical solutions on a regional-level in areas such as victimization surveys as well as security and criminal justice statistics. In this line, the Centre has an immediate impact on the Institute s capacities to articulate and lead associations with peers from other countries. Dimensions of UN Support for South-South Cooperation: Fostering Solutions Fostering the Development Solutions Agenda 6 53