South Centre is an intergovernmental organisation of developing nations, established by an intergovernmental agreement (treaty), which came into force on 31 July 1995, with its headquarters in Geneva, Switzerland. It functions as an independent policy think tank, whilst also holding observer status at the United Nations and other development agencies.
Creation
The South Centre was created by the South–South cooperation in 1995.
Its predecessor, the South Commission, recognized the need to strengthen South-South cooperation in international affairs. In its report The Challenge to the South, the South Commission emphasized the need for countries of the South to work together at the global level.
Observer status The South Centre has an observer status in the following forums:
Organisation Date Resolution / Website United Nations General Assembly 15 January 2009 United Nations Economic and Social Council 27 July 2006 https://www.un.org/docs/ecosoc/documents/2006/decisions/Decision%202006-244.pdf UN Economic and Social Council World Intellectual Property Organization 19 August 2002 UN Trade and Development 12 June 2007 http://www.unctad.org/en/docs/tdigolistd7_en.pdf United Nations Conference on Trade and Development United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change 2 November 1998 http://unfccc.int/cop4/resource/docs/cop4/14a01.pdf United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change Convention on Biological Diversity https://www.cbd.int www.cbd.int Convention on Biological Diversity International Criminal Court 21 November 2008 Resolution ICC-ASP/7/Res.3, Pursuant to rule 92, paragraph 1 and 2 World Trade Organization Committee on Trade and Development 4 June 1999 http://www.wto.org/english/theWTO_e/igo_obs_e.htm World Trade Organization Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change 9,10 April 2008 http://www.ipcc.ch/meetings/session28/final-report.pdf Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change Group of 24 Rotterdam Convention on the Prior Informed Consent Procedure for Certain Hazardous Chemicals and Pesticides in International Trade 28 April 2013 Rotterdam Convention information document 13WHO Framework Convention on Tobacco Control12 November 2012 Basel Convention on the Control of Transboundary Movements of Hazardous Wastes and their Disposal 28 April 2013 Basel Convention information document 30 Stockholm Convention on Persistent Organic Pollutants 28 April 2013 Stockholm Convention information document 34 (UNEP/POPS/COP.6/INF/34/Rev.1) World Health Organization (WHO) 23 May 2013 WHA Resolution WHA66/46 Green Climate Fund June 2013 http://gcfund.net/partnerships/observers.html List of GCF ObserversInternational Union for the Protection of New Varieties of Plants16 October 2014
Member states
The Council of Representatives is composed of high-level representatives of the centre's member states. It meets annually, and on an inter-session basis when required, in order to examine the work of the centre and to provide policy and operational guidance. All states signing and ratifying or acceding to the agreement are required to appoint a high-level individual as their representative to the council. This individual should have been recognized for his or her commitment and contribution to the development of the South as well as the promotion of South-South cooperation. The council appoints a nine-member board and elects the centre's chairperson. From its members, the council elects a convenor and a vice-convenor.
As of 2026, the following 55 states have signed, ratified, or acceded to the intergovernmental agreement:
Former members (signed in 1994; ratified in 1996)
Publications South Bulletin, a regular publication of the South Centre, takes stock of ongoing debates on major global policy challenges and delivers regular flow of analysis and commentary to policymakers in the South.
The South Centre also publishes policy briefs addressing global development issues.
Research papers, published articles, analytical notes and other publications are made available in English, French and Spanish on the South Centre website under "Publications".
References
Media South Centre Blog The South Centre Digital TV
External links The South Centre The South Centre Intergovernmental Agreement (Treaty) PDF