Support for South-South and triangular cooperation

Intervention context

South-South and triangular cooperation is a strategic lever for accelerating the implementation of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). By promoting the exchange of knowledge, technologies, and best practices among developing countries, it enables the development of inclusive solutions that are tailored to local realities and grounded in solidarity.

In this context, Luxembourg provides technical and financial support to the Government of El Salvador to strengthen its role as a key actor in this type of international cooperation. This intervention aims to build the capacities of Salvadoran public institutions, positioning the country as both a provider and recipient of technical cooperation at the regional and international levels. The initiative is fully aligned with SDG  17, which promotes the strengthening of global partnerships for sustainable development, with a focus on international cooperation, knowledge sharing, and mutual support among countries.

The project builds on the evaluation and lessons learned from previous interventions by the Luxembourg Cooperation in this field – particularly the Programme for strengthening South-South cooperation in El Salvador, implemented through the Salvadoran fund for South-South and triangular cooperation.

Objectives and vision of change

The overall objective of this intervention is to strengthen El Salvador’s participation in international cooperation platforms, in its dual role as both a provider and recipient of cooperation.

The specific objective is to enhance the Salvadoran state’s capacity to design, implement, and coordinate South-South and triangular cooperation initiatives, thereby contributing to the country’s sustainable development.

The project is structured around three main pillars:

• strengthening the Salvadoran Agency for International Cooperation (ESCO) in its role of coordinating South-South cooperation activities;
• developing the technical capacities of sectoral public institutions to manage South-South cooperation projects;
• financing specific cooperation projects between El Salvador and its partner countries.

Beneficiaries

The direct beneficiaries of the project are national institutions responsible for managing, coordinating, and implementing south-south and triangular cooperation initiatives. Indirect beneficiaries include the Salvadoran population, particularly through improved and strengthened public sector management.

Target geographical area

The project targets the entire national territory of El Salvador as well as several partner countries in the region.

Stakeholders

The project is implemented jointly with ESCO, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of El Salvador, and several sectoral public institutions.