South-South cooperation plays an indispensable role in today’s development landscape, representing a shared vision among the countries of the Global South that is shaped by close historical realities, similar development pathways, and shared challenges. Over the last decade, the economic power of individual states has spurred a new wave of South-South cooperation, with increasing importance and attention given over the last two years on the political level in Egypt to establishing more cooperation in Tri-Africa.

Throughout a series of panels, which highlighted how transnational collaboration and academic exchange can foster innovative research in the MENA region and Sub-Saharan Africa, over 15 academic researchers from universities across Germany and the region presented research topics in the fields of water, agriculture, and health, highlighting common challenges and different innovative approaches. The three-day conference also offered a space for networking and joint brainstorming on the opportunities of academic exchange to enhance South-South cooperation and achieve sustainable development, along with ways to encourage joint academic projects and increase intermobility opportunities in the field of science.

As a proud partner for Africa, the DAAD sees South-South and triangular cooperation as an accelerator and multiplier of sustainable development, and as an organization active in the field of academic exchange, it aims to play a key role as a catalyst for South-South cooperation. The DAAD’s global footprint and knowledge base make the organization an ideal partner for developing the continent as an incubator for important service projects by bridging together experts from the MENA region and Germany to discuss and exchange their outstanding knowledge and experience.