South-South Collaboration
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“South-South cooperation at all levels is an important instrument of development.
In this regard, such cooperation – technical cooperation among developing countries – should play an important part in the implementation of the present Programme of Action ” - Chapter XVI, Section C, Para.16.19, Activities at the International Level : Follow-up to the Conference ICPD programme of Action, Cairo, 5 – 13 September  1994.




ICOMP and South-South network members


South-South Collaboration is an important mechanism for improving RH services. An important means for learning and capacity strengthening, it promotes:

Exchange Modalities - information exchange, training, high-level visits, inter-country meetings and workshops, technical assistance and peer review.

Collaborative Efforts - surveys and research, production/marketing, cooperation with other countries, joint programmes and networking.

Therefore, ICOMP integrates a South-South collaboration component (earlier called Technical Cooperation among Developing Countries) in all its projects where it capitalises on the strengths of networks in exploring various mechanisms to facilitate bilateral or multi-lateral sharing of experiences amongst the NGOs and government.



South-South Partnership Mechanisms

The database of In-Country NGO Mapping is meant to strengthen South-South programmes within individual countries for continuous dissemination and sharing of experiences.

Catalogue of Practices is an on-going collection of best practices of relevant topics in RH that could be helpful in diffusing innovative programmes.

A database on Reproductive Health Websites is developed as a resource center for online articles or publications.

A South-South Collaboration Insert is incorporated into ICOMP's quarterly Feedback newsletter to update the latest happenings in the South-South collaboration effort.



Asian South-South Facilitator NGO Network

The establishment of Asian South-South Facilitator NGO Network in 1999 was the result of ICOMP’s initiative to operationalise the South-South Collaboration framework through:

a) facilitating the process of learning through dialogue

b) providing information exchange through documentation and dissemination

c) synthesising lessons learned from diverse settings

d) transferring knowledge