Southern Innovator and Development Challenges, South-South Solutions | UNOSSC Client

Since 2007, DS Consulting has been working with the United Nations Office for South-South Cooperation (UNOSSC) in UNDP (formerly the United Nations Development Programme’s Special Unit for South-South Cooperation), tracking the most exciting event of our times: the rise of the global South as an economic powerhouse. Learn more about South-South cooperation from Wikipedia here: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/South%E2%80%93South_cooperation.

On top of documenting the trends and new players shaping this fast-changing world, DS Consulting worked on developing Southern Innovator, launched in May 2011. Southern Innovator (ISSN 2222-9280) is designed by Icelandic graphic designer Sólveig Rolfsdóttir and is intended to showcase innovation-led ways people across the global South are making money and fighting poverty. It is being distributed around the world and online.

“As a communicator, UNOSSC uses a variety of tools to promote, advocate for and share information on South-South cooperation. These tools, which have enabled partners to take leadership and ownership roles, show results and claim credibility, include the annual United Nations Day for SSC, exhibitions at the GSSD Expo [Global South-South Development Expo], Southern Innovator, the quarterly multi-agency “South-South in Action” and the Creative Economy Report.” Compilation of Case Studies on Management of South-South and Triangular Cooperation, March 2015, United Nations Office for South-South Cooperation (UNOSSC) and Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA)

Strategic framework of the United Nations Office for South-South Cooperation, 2014-2017

In 2013, the Executive Board of the United Nations Development Programme, the United Nations Population Fund and the United Nations Office for Project Services had this to say:

"In providing secretariat services to the High-level Committee, UNOSSC will provide Member States with evidence-based research and analysis on trends, opportunities and challenges to South-South cooperation and triangular cooperation through reports prepared in collaboration with other United Nations organizations, including the annual reports of the Secretary-General on the state of South-South cooperation, biennial reports to the High-level Committee on South-South Cooperation, policy briefs, public statements, advocacy e-newsletters, the Southern Innovator magazine and many other publications on South-South cooperation and triangular cooperation, as resources permit."

View the PDF of the Strategic Framework for South-South Cooperation here: http://www.wipo.int/export/sites/www/cooperation/en/south_south/docs/unossc_strategic_framework_2014-2017.pdf

Two e-book compilations are also available showing key documents and artwork from the magazine since 2011.

Southern Innovator Magazine from 2012 to 2014: A compilation of documents from the magazine's recent years

Southern Innovator Magazine from 2012 to 2014: A compilation of documents from the magazine's recent years 

Southern Innovator Magazine from 2011 to 2012: A compilation of documents from the magazine's early years 

From 1997 to 1999 I headed the UN's Communications Office in Mongolia. This was a time of great change and crisis in the country. In 1998, I wrote an update on the unfolding political crisis. Mongolia Update - Coverage of 1998 Political Changes can be downloaded here. Some highlights from this briefing include an introduction to the new prime minister (and now current president) and an explanation of the turbulent forces behind Asia's newest democracy. A lively account of this time is Wild East: Travels in the New Mongolia by Jill Lawless. For a thorough account of Mongolia's transition experience, try reading Modern Mongolia: From Khans to Commissars to Capitalists by Morris Rossabi.

Curated content is now also online. This includes:

Mongolia Crisis 1997 to 1999 Resources

GOSH Child Health Portal 2001 to 2003 Resources

 

© David South Consulting 2017

Update on Monday, March 9, 2020 at 3:56AM by David South

The stories featured in the United Nations e-newsletter Development Challenges, South-South Solutions (2006-2014) have been cited in many books and papers. One example is Autonomous Systems in the Intelligence Community: Many Possibilities and Challenges by Jenny R. Holzer, PhD, and Franklin L. Moses, PhD in Studies in Intelligence Vol 59, No. 1 (Extracts, March 2015). Read the full article here: https://www.cia.gov/library/center-for-the-study-of-intelligence/csi-publications/csi-studies/studies/vol-59-no-1/pdfs/Studies-Extracts.pdf

Studies in Intelligence, Vol. 59, No. 1 (Unclassified).

Autonomous Systems in the Intelligence Community: Many Possibilities and Challenges by Jenny R. Holzer, PhD, and Franklin L. Moses, PhD in Studies in Intelligence Vol 59, No. 1 (Extracts, March 2015).

Autonomous Systems in the Intelligence Community: Many Possibilities and Challenges by Jenny R. Holzer, PhD, and Franklin L. Moses, PhD in Studies in Intelligence Vol 59, No. 1 (Extracts, March 2015).

Southern Innovator at GSSD Expo 2014 | 16 November 2014

Southern Innovator Issue 5 was distributed to participants at the GSSD Expo 2014 (Global South-South Development Expo) and at the 6th annual AIDF Disaster Relief Summit.

Southern Innovator has attended every Global South-South Development Expo (GSSD Expo) since 2011. This year’s Expo – from the 17th of November until the 21st in Washington, D.C. – marks the beginning of a new phase for Southern Innovator (SI). The magazine has outgrown its humble beginnings and is now negotiating the funding for a major global expansion. In September of this year, Southern Innovator began talks with television programme makers in order to launch an SI television presence and an online video service. Southern Innovator is also exploring ways to match this rich media content with an expanded and improved online and mobile offering and a funding platform specialising in social ventures and supporting innovators. SI will also look for ways to continue to support efforts within UNDP and the wider UN family to encourage and support innovation in all its forms.

As 2014 comes to a close, this is an outstanding opportunity for the right partners to get on board with this unique global media brand producing “content for the 21st century”. Contact the United Nations Office for South-South Cooperation (UNOSSC) to discuss this further: cosmas.gitta@undp.org.

In the meantime, our sixth issue is underway and also represents a great way to reach readers across the global South. We are seeking sponsors to help with expanding our print run and also to fund various supplements to accompany the magazine.

© David South Consulting 2017 

Southern Innovator Goes Forward with Issues 4 and 5 and an Expo in Kenya | 19 September 2013

As I write, Issue 4 of Southern Innovator is at the printer and being readied for its formal launch (ISBN 978-0-9920217-0-2). Issue 5 (ISBN 978-0-9920217-1-9) is in production and being readied for its launch at the Global South-South Development Expo (GSSD Expo) to be held in Nairobi, Kenya from 28 October to 1 November 2013.

At this point, Issue 6 is also in the works and scheduled for release in 2014.

This next phase for the magazine is critical: the magazine has developed a reputation for chronicling a growing innovation culture in the global South. It is reaching highly influential readers around the world, many of whom are leaders in their countries and communities. In short, it is a powerful communications tool for reaching these individuals.

It is now possible to sponsor the magazine (sponsorship helps to pay for the printing of the magazine) or to fund relevant inserts to be included in the magazine to help our readers. Southern Innovator is a cost-effective tool for reaching a large audience spanning many cultures, countries and communities.  The magazine, for it to continue to be successful, requires adequate funds to cover the costs of research, editing, design and printing. Why not include supporting Southern Innovator in your plans to reach innovators in the global South?

Southern Innovator Issue 3 Amost Complete | 5 July 2012

The final touches are being made to the third issue of Southern Innovator. The issue covers the theme of Agriculture and Food Security and is the result of intensive research. Much of the structure of this issue benefited from the Global South-South Development Expo (GSSD Expo) held in December of 2011 at the Food and Agriculture Organization based in Rome, Italy. An example of the artwork that can be found inside Issue 3 is below:

Southern Innovator Goes to South-South Expo | 13 December 2011

Southern Innovator made its way to the annual Global South-South Development Expo (GSSD Expo), which was held this year in Rome, Italy and was hosted by the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) of the United Nations. It was great to meet many of the people presenting their work at the Expo and to catch up with the team at the Special Unit for South-South Cooperation.

Southern Innovator Issue 1 called a "tour de force of what is interesting, cutting edge and relevant in the global mobile/ICT space..."