(Originally published on 08/08/2016)

The United Nations Secretary-General, Ban Ki-moon visited the International Centre for Small Hydro Power (ICSHP) in Hangzhou on 9th July, as part of his official visit to China.

ICSHP provides technical expertise and capacity building for the UNDP Renewable Energy Technology Transfer projects in China-Ghana-Zambia-Denmark. Due to its role as a key project partner, the Centre hosted a session on South-South Cooperation to highlight how China’s knowledge and expertise can be used to address the lack of access to energy in rural and disconnected communities in Africa.

UNDP champions trilateral cooperation as a core approach to South-South Cooperation; this is reflected in the 2014-2017 Strategic Plan and the 2010 UNDP-China Memorandum of Understanding signed by the government of China and UNDP.​ Trilateral cooperation offers a unique approach to development in which parties join hands in promoting innovative solutions that build on international best practices and concrete country experience.

“South-South cooperation for climate change and other thematic areas offers a unique opportunity to share China’s knowledge and experience to make the world a better place” noted Patrick Haverman, Deputy Country Director for UNDP China.

Last year, UNDP, Denmark, China, Ghana and Zambia extended cooperation on trilateral projects by launching the Renewable Energy Technology Transfer projects. The RETT projects transfer renewable energy technologies and capacities from China to Africa by facilitating exchange of expertise and technology between China and Ghana/Zambia, building on China’s unique development experience.

During the session, H.E Secretary General Ban Ki Moon affirmed his support to innovative approaches to solving some of the most pressing needs in developing countries “The Centre and its partners are good examples of South-South Cooperation. Innovative trilateral cooperation projects, such as the Renewable Energy Technology Transfer, shows the Centre’s commitment to Goal 17 – revitalizing the global partnership for development.”

During the next 3 years, UNDP China will facilitate and support project implementation with financial support of Denmark government.