Africa must diversify its development partnerships to turn COVID-19 challenges into opportunities.

During a workshop titled “Triangular Cooperation With Africa”, held during the first edition of Egypt- International Cooperation Forum (Egypt- ICF), H.E. Dr. Rania A. Al-Mashat, Minister of International Cooperation, shed the light on the importance of a more inclusive and horizontal triangular relationships amongst African nations in leveraging and scaling up innovations to help meet the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) following the pandemic. Calling for a “unified voice” at the inaugural Egypt International Cooperation Forum (Egypt-ICF), H.E. Dr. Rania A. Al- Mashat said knowledge sharing on a regional level is a very important part of triangular cooperation. “When we share experiences, we can take shortcuts,” Al- Masaht explained during the workshop, which also delved into the benefits of South-South cooperation in supporting developing economies. H.E. Al- Mashat added that “If a country implements a project or policy successfully in relation to its SDGs, it can give us that know-how. We can approach the international community having saved time rather than design over and over again.” The workshop witnessed the presence of H.E. Dr. Rania A. Al-Mashat, Minister of International Cooperation; Anping Ye, Director of the South-South and Triangular Cooperation Division (PST) at the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO); and Mr. Jorge Moreira da Silva, Director of the Development Cooperation Directorate (DCD) at OECD. In addition to a number of bilateral partners, namely H.E. Salama AlGhawil, Minister of State for Economic Affairs of Libya; H.E. Mr. Fransisco André, Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation of Portugal; and H.E. Amb. Albert Shinigro, Minister of Foreign Affairs and Development Cooperation in the Republic of Burundi; and many other esteemed attendees. Through triangular cooperation, there is scope to expand and improve the implementation of the modality across the continent to scale up innovation and share successful solutions. Hence, Al- Mashat stated that: “As long as we are faced with the challenges that we see globally, there will always be a continuous movement of innovating,” adding that nations need the will and optimism to be able to push forward in spite of the challenges. In underlining the need for triangular cooperation, H.E. Francisco André, Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs and Cooperation of Portugal, said that triangular cooperation could foster exponential growth in the exchange of knowledge and the consolidation of relations between partners. Along the same lines, H.E. Salama AlGhawil, Minister of State for Economic Affairs of Libya, elaborated: “South-South cooperation is a good model for developing countries because these countries have a similar socio-economic climate that will foster their cooperation.” Partner countries can divide responsibilities based on their area of expertise so they can make best use of their comparative advantages, as H.E. Ambassador Albert Shingiro, Minister of Foreign Affairs and Development Cooperation of Burundi, remarked, saying that: “South-South cooperation is a successful platform for collaboration and exchanging skills, transferring technologies, expertise and knowledge between countries, and ensuring maximum trust.” Addressing the workshop, Anping Ye, Director of the South-South and Triangular Cooperation Division (PST) at the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), said: “Triangular cooperation, in particular with Africa, is very useful to share experience, knowledge, and promote innovation and technologies. It can enable a lot of policies and innovative methods.” Minister Al- Mashat expressed Egypt’s kennes on fostering mutual cooperation with stakeholders from everywhere, and that she looks forward to engaging with colleagues from all across the globe, since “ everyone has a role to play. Nobody has the ultimate answer, the pandemic proved that,” said H.E. The forum, organized by the Ministry of International Cooperation, took place in the presence of H.E. Dr. Mostafa Madbouly, Egypt’s Prime Minister; H.E. Dr. Rania A. Al-Mashat, Minister of International Cooperation; in addition to a high-level participation of government representatives from African Ministers and policy makers; Presidents of international financial institutions; bilateral and multilateral development partners’ representatives; think tanks; the private sector; and international and regional research centers.