South-South Cooperation:

Triangular Cooperation Experience

between the Government of

the Argentine Republic and

the Pan-American Health Organization

/World Health Organization

Ministerio de

Relaciones ExterioresComercio Internacional y CultoRepública Argentina

South-South Cooperation:

Triangular Cooperation Experience

between the Government of

the Argentine Republic and

the Pan-American Health Organization

/World Health Organization

© Pan-American Health Organization (PAHO/WHO)Ministerio de Relaciones Exteriores, Comercio Internacional y Culto de la República Argentina

October 2009

250 pieces

Edited by PAHO/WHO Argentina

Disegn by Andrés Venturino (PAHO Argentina)

This document may be reproduced in part without special permission but the source is cited information.

Content

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1. Introduction .........................................................................................................................................................

2. South-South Cooperation...........................................................................................................................

3. South-South and Triangular Cooperation in Argentina ..........................................................

4. Technical Cooperation among PAHO/WHO countries............................................................

5. Triangular Cooperation PAHO/WHO Argentine Government........................................

6. Final considerations.........................................................................................................................................

Annex ............................................................................................................................................................................Memorandum of Understanding between the Argentine Republic and the Pan-American Health Organization/World Health Organization

Abbreviations and acronyms.........................................................................................................................

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13

19

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Since it was first referred to within the framework of the United Nations Conference on South-South Cooperation, it has gone a long way which provides it today with a renewed impulse over thirty years after the presentation of the Buenos Aires Plan of Action. In a global context of economic, energetic and environmental crisis, the countries of the Americas, most of them categorized as middle-income countries, face the challenge of playing a protagonist role in the new cooperation scenario with the aim of consolidating the paradigm based principally on the pillars of solidarity and joint work without disregarding their own national reality.

Promoting equitable and inclusive economic growth and a sustainable development are still questions of utmost importance for middle-income countries, which are in a condition of providing technical cooperation to other countries which are on an equal or lower level of relative development but which, in many cases, also need international expertise to solve their own asymmetries. In this sense, cooperation becomes even more relevant and needs to be promoted as an effective tool to create, adapt, transfer and share knowledge and experiences both for a mutual benefit and for the fulfillment of the Millennium Development Goals (MDG).

1. Introduction

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The Special Unit for South-South Cooperation of the United Nations Development Program, UNDP, states that South-South Cooperation is:

A wide framework for the collaboration among the countries of the South on economic, political, environmental and technical issues.It can take place on a bilateral, regional, sub-regional, both intra- as inter-regional, level.The partners of the northern hemisphere countries and international organizations endorse and reinforce south-south Cooperation through agreements called Triangular Cooperation. That is to say, Triangular Cooperation is the technical cooperation between two or more developing countries, which is endorsed by partners of Northern countries or international organizations.

South-South Cooperation has not been defined in a univocal manner but a series of characteristics can be pointed out to identify it, among which the following are worth mentioning:

It is the result of an approach that implies the abandonment of the original concept of cooperation as a purely assisting practice, replacing it by a model of cooperation increasingly understood as the product of the association of different factors. The evidence of a relationship between partners who offer and demand benefits on a reciprocal basis represents a step ahead from the concept that identified a “donor” and a “receiver” in a one-way relationship.The states that cooperate with this way of doing face similar development challenges at local and global level, which makes it easy to adequate the actions to the common needs and perspectives. This favors mutual understanding and also allows the sharing of management models already implemented by the countries of the South, where not only the successful outcomes are taken into account but also the failures and lessons learned.In the regional spaces, developing countries share common ambitions and experiences as regards the construction and development of a nation, historical similarities and cultural bonds which facilitate mutual understanding and may improve the effectiveness of the projects. Something similar happens in relation to the use of technologies. Cooperating countries usually make a more effective use of the available technologies within South-South Cooperation since the technological resources of the developing countries that offer cooperation bear adaptability characteristics that make their use, maintenance and conservation simpler.

2. South-South Cooperation

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This new scenario and structure of cooperation has made it possible to implement ways of participation as the Triangular Cooperation, which facilitates the carrying out of programs and projects of a wider coverage thanks to the effects of co-financing. The Official Development Assistance (ODA) is associated with the South South Cooperation facilitating, promoting and multiplying the enormous potential of the developing countries to enlarge to the maximum their skills for technical cooperation based on the own experiences of the countries of the South and their appropriate technologies. In this way, the intervention of multilateral organisms or of a third country with a higher level of relative development and financing capacity shows another way to put South-South Cooperation into operation, which allows the generation of synergies between the two cooperation modalities, promoting a greater impact.

South-South Cooperation within the United Nations system receives general guidelines from the sessions of the High Level Committee on South-South Cooperation,

1which are held biennially. The report of the Committee of the year 2007 encourages the Member States to deepen, intensify and improve South-South Cooperation taking also Triangular Cooperation as an effective tool to help overcoming the challenges faced by the countries of the South. Moreover, it encourages the organisms of the United Nations to include in their programs and through their activities and offices in the countries modalities to endorse South-South Cooperation, taking better advantage of the available capacity on a local level in the South and as a means to interchange the best practices.

In this same sense, in the 62th session of the United Nations General Assembly (2008), two resolutions were passed where the contribution of South-South Cooperation as a development tool is reaffirmed. In resolution 62/209, the advancements on the topic are acknowledged but it encourages the assessment of the progress made by the United Nations development system as regards the support to South-South Cooperation, in particular by means of providing resources for said cooperation and transferring technical and financial resources for Triangular Cooperation, as well as incorporating South-South Cooperation within the tasks of the funds and programs of the United Nations and the organisms specialized in this matter. At the same time, it highlights the need to double the efforts made to better understand the approaches and the potential of South-South Cooperation.

Resolution “Triennial Comprehensive Policy Review of operational activities of the 2

United Nations development system” encourages funds, programs, specialized organisms and other relevant entities of the United Nations system to support South-South Cooperation and Triangular Cooperation, and to assist the countries which so request, at their responsibility and direction, in strengthening their capacity to take maximum advantage of the benefits and effects of said cooperation to achieve their national objectives and, in particular, the development goals internationally agreed upon since the declaration of the Millennium Summit of the year 2000 as the Millennium Development Goals.

T h e f u l f i l l m e n t o f t h e development goals needs the consolidation of new alliances between countries and between all the development organisms, agencies and parties, public and private institutions and civil associations, all together to achieve the necessary progress in the cooperation for development.

1A/62/39, sessions period 2007.2The 62th Session of the United Nations General Assembly (2008) passed the Triennial Comprehensive Policy Review of the operational activities of the United Nations development system.,(Resolution A/RES/62/208).

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3. South-South and Triangular Cooperation in Argentina

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Latin American countries have promoted cooperation activities throughout the last years. Moreover, they have developed this South-South modality including the integration processes and sub-regional blocs, such as the Caribbean Community (CARICOM), the Common Market of the Southern Cone (MERCOSUR), the Andean Community (AC) and the South American Community of Nations.

The Argentine Republic has a long tradition of international cooperation, both as a country receiving the contribution of the skills existing in other countries as well as a cooperating country providing assistance in several areas. The commitment and the will to play a significant role together with other sister communities throughout the developing world get Argentina to consider international cooperation as a fundamental tool to achieve those goals. For the Argentine government cooperation must be seen as a continuing process, which forms part of an integral system to endorse the efforts of countries for economic and social progress, as well as to coordinate the actions of different parties that aim at common goals.

Argentine foreign policy develops an international cooperation strategy based on three basic pillars:

Economic development, where regional integration is a fundamental factor which allows the joint approach to key problem situations related to our countries' infrastructure.

Knowledge, a starting point from which education, science and technology consolidate technical-professional skills for the development the country has always placed at the service of other brother countries.

Social development, which replaces assistance with the elaboration of public policies for inclusion based on the principles of social economy.

In this sense, the policy of South-South Cooperation generated by Argentina aims at the promotion of joint experiences that strengthen development strategies and programs, and generate the interchange of alternatives that seek to overcome asymmetries. In this sense, cooperation initiatives are encouraged to be aimed at promoting social inclusion, sustainable development, solidarity among peoples, defense of human rights and equality in all its forms.

With the aim of encouraging the cooperation among the countries of the region, in 1992 the Argentine Fund for Horizontal Cooperation (FO-AR) is created. This instrument has allowed Argentina to share national knowledge and experiences with different developing countries and its fundamental basis is the creation of skills through training and the transfer of the “know-how”.

1.

2.

3.

The FO-AR is the instrument of foreign policy by means of which the Argentine Republic carries out, since its creation, activities of South-South Cooperation, promoting joint initiatives with other countries, through mechanisms of association, collaboration and mutual support. Up to date, it has carried out more than 4,000 actions of technical cooperation in 55 countries, covering different subjects that contribute to the fulfillment of the Millennium Development Goals in the petitioning countries.

The FO-AR has been developing activities on the basis of three fundamental core issues: Administration and Governability, Human Rights and Sustainable Development. The following graph details the areas and their relative participation on which the FO-AR has carried out cooperation tasks in the countries of the region between the years 2000 and 2007.

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2%2%2%5%

8%

20%

50%11%

ParaguayBoliviaGuatemalaHondurasNicaraguaEcuadorEl SalvadorRepública Dominicana

32%

22%15%

8%

5%

4%

4%

3%

1%1%2%

HaitíBoliviaParaguayGuatemalaHondurasEcuadorRepública DominicanaPerúEl SalvadorNicaraguaAngolaBrasilCuba

FO-AR 2005-2007:Human rights

FO-AR 2005-2007:Administration and governability

The cooperation activities carried out from 2000 to 2007 were mostly aimed at contributing with the fulfillment of the MDG. Part of this technical assistance has been empowered and is being developed during the last years on the basis of triangular cooperation..

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22%

21%

4%8%

5%

9%

26%

5%

FO-AR 2005-2007:Sustainable development

PerúBoliviaHaitíNicaraguaParaguayEl SalvadorColombiaPanamáEcuadorGuatemalaHondurasTrinidad y TobagoBrasilCubaGranadaRepública DominicanaVenezuelaCosta Rica

2%2%

3%

3%

4%

5%

5%

9%

11% 15%

16%

20%

FO-AR’S CONTRIBUTIONS TO MDG (2000-2006)

8.Ensure a sustainable environment

6.Improve maternal health

5.Reduce child mortality

4.Promote gender equality

3.Promote decent work

2.Achieve universal primary education

1.Eradicate extreme poverty and hunger

7.Fight against HIV, tuberculosis, Chagas disease, malaria and other diseases

Objectives of FO-AR:

1.

2.

3.

Generate and consolidate partnerships for the development in other countries, within the framework of a paradigm of equality and on the basis of their own national strategies and priorities.

Support the strengthening of appropriate areas and mechanisms to promote the interchange of knowledge, technologies and better practices between Argentine organizations and their counterparts in other countries aiming at the strengthening of the own capacity for development.

Develop methodologies and instruments that permit to dynamize the processes of technical assistance with the purpose of taking maximum advantage of human and financial resources.

In order to achieve an effective instrumentation of cooperation by means of FO-AR, the Argentine representative offices abroad play a key role since they are responsible for informing local authorities about FO-AR, the characteristics and management mechanisms under this cooperation modality. Furthermore, they channel the petitions of the different countries and send them through the diplomatic channels to the Directorate-General for International Cooperation (DGCIN) of the Argentine Foreign Office, which is the responsible area at the national level, organism that carries out the follow-up and evaluation of activities and which convenes experts of the area corresponding to the treatment of the subject requested. Likewise, the representations abroad provide support and articulate the execution of the activities as a link between the DGCIN of the Foreign Office and the local institutions for the management of the cooperation.

The budget for the functioning of the FO-AR is wholly contributed by the Argentine Foreign Office, and the Organization of American States (OAS) and the International Organization for Migration (IOM) take part in its implementation, both of whom provide logistic and operative support to the Argentine experts that travel abroad and to the foreign ones that carry out apprenticeships or training in Argentina.

During the last years, the activities of South-South Cooperation have been leading increasingly to Triangular Cooperation. These activities increase and empower the results of technical cooperation since they make it possible to put forward and carry out cooperation proposals more extensive in time by joining skills and resources of two or more parties. This scheme that permits the association of two countries, or of a country and an international organism in order to provide joint technical cooperation to a third country is becoming a broader modality each time in the Argentine cooperation activities.

The Argentine experience in Triangular Cooperation began in the year 2001 within the framework of the joint assistance agreement called Partnership Program for Joint Cooperation between Japan and Argentina (PPJA). After this experience, the Argentine cooperation policy has fed in several specific agreements bound to develop programs of Triangular Cooperation with Spain, Brazil, Canada, Italy, Portugal, the National Democratic Institute (NDI), the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD), the Inter American Institute for Cooperation on Agriculture (IICA) and the United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF) and the Pan-American Heal th Organiza t ion (PAHO/WHO). Moreover, an agreement has just been signed with the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), and another is about to be signed with the United Nations Development Fund for Women (UNIFEM), and with Colombia and Chile.

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The Pan-American Health Organization, responding to its mission to lead collaborative efforts among the Member States and other allies, has promoted measures tending to achieve health for everyone in the countries and among them, and has developed several alliances with international institutions and cooperation agencies.

Since 1977, by resolution of the Directing Council DC25.R28, the continuous interest of the countries of the Region has been expressed as regards Technical Cooperation among Countries and the purpose of setting up and keeping coordination between the countries and the Organization in this respect.

In the 80's, the position of PAHO/WHO in the Governing Bodies is reaffirmed with the aim of promoting and supporting technical cooperation among countries as a mechanism to foster countries' self-sufficiency, on an individual and collective basis, in the health sector.

In September, 1998, PAHO Secretariat put forward before the 122th session of the i

Executive Committee and the 25th Pan-American Sanitary Conference the document “Technical Cooperation among Countries: Pan-Americanism in the XXI Century”. Said document enlarges the development of the concept of Technical Cooperation among Countries, and embodies a report on the progress of TCC in the Region on the occasion of the

iiXX anniversary of the Buenos Aires Plan of Action. Moreover, in the 46th Directing Council in 2005, a report was presented on the progress of the support of PAHO/WHO Secretariat for the application of Technical Cooperation among Countries as a unique instrument of solidarity, horizontal cooperation, understanding and strengthening of the countries' institutional capacities to satisfy their needs in the health sector.

PAHO acts as a facilitator of TCC, favoring the presentation of cooperation projects among countries on the basis of national priorities for sanitary development, always within the framework of global and regional norms. Once these projects are presented by the countries, they are approved at the level of the Regional Office and funds are assigned for their execution, accompanied whenever needed by the corresponding offices in the country.

i http://www.paho.org/spanish/gov/csp/csp25_9.pdfii http://www.paho.org/spanish/gov/cd/cd46-09-s.pdf

4. Technical Cooperation among PAHO/WHO countries

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In this scenario of new cooperation models, where there is a multiplicity of parties for the benefit of cooperation for development and in search of fulfilling the MDG, the Pan- American Health Organization/World Health Organization (PAHO/WHO) and the Argentine Republic have signed in August 2008 a Memorandum of Understanding for the development of a Program of Triangular Cooperation (attached in the annex). It is a strategic alliance whose objective is to offer joint technical cooperation to third countries and help economic and social development by means of the efficient use of the human, technological and financial resources of the parties.

Under such agreement different actions are being carried out tending to implement it, as follows:

NIGERIA

PAHO/WHO with the Argentine Foreign Office at the moment of signing the Memorandum agreed to support the eradication of polio in the Nigerian child population. To that effect, professionals of DGCIN have finished drafting the project through which a mission is scheduled with the participation of three Argentine epidemiologists, who will stay in Nigeria between 3 and 6 months, this activity being foreseen in one or two missions.

The objectives of the project are to strengthen the program of immunizations giving emphasis to the eradication of polio and to optimize the system of epidemiology surveillance. Likewise, other priority areas are expected to be identified, where Argentine joint cooperation with PAHO/WHO can collaborate in the public health sector in Nigeria to, for example: strengthen the strategy of primary health care, put forward preventive and attention policies for prevailing pathologies, such as, cholera, malaria, dengue and yellow fever, among others. The project is waiting for the approval of the Government of Nigeria. In this case, the development of the activities will count with the support of WHO head offices in Geneva and its Representative Office in Nigeria.

AFRICA

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5. Triangular Cooperation PAHO/WHO countries

ANGOLA

The Government of Portugal, who has subscribed an agreement with the Argentine 3 4government, has expressed its concrete interest in supporting Angola by accompanying

triangular cooperation experiences in the health sector from Argentina that could be developed jointly with PAHO/WHO. It is expected that the Government of Angola evaluates the interest in developing a cooperation program in the health sector and the thematic priorities are defined with Angola's authorities.

CARICOM

The Secretariat for CARICOM has requested the cooperation of the Argentine government to endorse the strengthening of the policies for the regulation of medicines in the countries of the English-speaking Caribbean. To that effect, a first joint mission has already taken place with resources of FO-AR and PAHO/WHO, in which Argentine experts belonging to the Food and Medical Technology Authority (ANMAT) of the National Ministry of Health took part as lecturers in a Regional Workshop and decided together with authorities of the interested countries the thematic and strategic guidelines for the program of Triangular Cooperation PAHO/WHO, CARICOM and Argentine government to be developed during the next 18 months and for which several cooperation activities and modalities have been decided upon through the interchange of professionals, special missions, formal training and using distance-based technological platforms as well as videoconferences.

PLURINATIONAL STATE OF BOLIVIA

5The Plurinational State of Bolivia has requested, under the existing Agreements , Argentine cooperation for the strengthening of its policies and activities related to health issues, such as: regulation, control and legislation on medicines, programs related to disabilities, development of capacities to carry out the ablation and transplantation of organs, as well as others leading to the strengthening of sanitary polices for prevention and health primary attention.

Up to date, PAHO/WHO and DGCIN are deciding the agenda jointly in order to hold a two-day workshop with Bolivian officials with the aim of developing, on the basis of the topics included in the petition, a definite program of Triangular Cooperation that covers the topic areas of interest for the government.

3Memorandum of Understanding for Triangular Cooperation in Portuguese-speaking developing countries. July 20084General Economic, Technical, Scientific and Cultural Cooperation Agreement between the Government of the Argentine Republic and the Government of the Republic of Angola, in force since February 19925Cultural, Scientific and Technical Cooperation Agreement in force since February 1972. Other Agreements signed between Ministries, such as Árbol III between Ministries of Health in March 2007 and the recently signed Intent Protocol on Health Issues, August 2009.

AMERICA

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PARAGUAY

The Argentine government has a long tradition of cooperation with this neighbor 6country. Currently and under the Memorandum subscribed there are specific conversations

and agreements under way related to the execution of the joint project to reach an agreement on sanitary policies and the strengthening of primary health care with the Ministry of Public Health of the Province of Misiones, Argentina and its counterpart or party in charge of health issues of the Department of Itapúa, Paraguay, neighboring with said Argentine Province, with the aim of harmonizing and optimizing policies and execution of programs.

Likewise, under the Triangular Cooperation Program it is expected to strengthen the cooperation already requested to Argentina and relating to:

Strengthening the institutional capacity of the National Institute for Ablation and Transplant (INAT) in relation to the obtaining, procurement, ablation and transplantation of organs and tissue.

Developing the basic technical skills for surveillance and control of transmissible diseases in 4 mirror cities of Paraguay and Argentina.

REGIONAL DEVELOPMENT PROJECT IN SOUTH-AMERICAN CHACO

The first conversations between the Representatives of PAHO/WHO in Argentina and DGCIN have been held with the aim of getting ahead with the presentation and execution of an integral development project aimed at the three countries that make up South-American Chaco (Paraguay, Bolivia and Argentina). To that effect, an evaluation of possible topics to be developed and the origin of possible financing sources is under way.

This alliance with the Argentine Republic, as already stated, offers an exponential scenario in cooperation activities through the articulation with new partners to support and encourage economic development and the achievement of the Millennium Goals. Argentina receives the cooperation petitions through different mechanisms: either through concrete applications from its representative offices abroad or through the execution and fulfillment of existing bilateral agreements with different countries, or by means of holding Bilateral Committees with officials of other countries or blocs of countries; the subscription of the above-mentioned Memorandum permits the identification of new areas or countries that request Argentine cooperation by means of applications identified by PAHO/WHO and channeled to Argentina.

Likewise, the preexistence on the part of the Argentine government of different Agreements with other parties to the cooperation such as Banks, Agencies or Financial Entities will make it possible to empower the results for the benefit of the parties, such is the case of the cooperation activities in the health sector resulting from agreements with the Spanish Agency for International Development Cooperation (AECID) or with Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) or the European Union Cooperation on Health Issues among others, where this partnership will be able to unite efforts optimizing the fulfillment of the objectives sought.

6 Scientific and Technological Cooperation Agreement 1976 and others signed afterwards.

A)

B)

Potential work areas and countries for Triangular Cooperation with PAHO/WHO

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The Argentine experience in Haiti, where it started to provide South-South Cooperation in the year 2005, by means of the implementation of a food safety project aimed at fostering community production of fresh foods for Haiti population, shows that when wills come together and entities and governments get associated towards common objectives, the potential of cooperation overrides even the quantitative dimension of “triangular” since up to the present, for the technical cooperation provided to said country, the Argentine government counts with six more partners (UNICEF, IICA, Canada, Brazil, AECID, National Democratic Institute - NDI) and future agreements with new partners are under analysis.

Likewise, the participation in the Common Market of the Southern Cone Bloc (MERCOSUR) since DGCIN is in charge of the National Coordination of the Technical Cooperation Committee (TCC). In this area and through the work groups of the bloc, cooperation projects are being carried out. The basic functions of the TCC are to identify, select, negotiate, approve, follow up and evaluate the horizontal actions of technical cooperation of MERCOSUR and with extra-zone countries, regional associations and international organisms. This alliance will enable a more direct and productive dialogue at the moment of contributing support to the concrete needs of the bloc of countries.

The Argentine government has received cooperation applications in the health sector that will allow the empowering of Triangular Cooperation joining efforts in search of achieving the countries' goals in the health sector. On the basis of these applications these activities could be started with the following countries:

PEOPLE'S DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC OF ALGERIA: within the framework of 7

the Cooperation Agreement signed with this country , it has requested cooperation for the transfer of technology, development of skills and strengthening of hospital services of different levels of complexity.

GHANA: it has formally requested cooperation on prevention policies for the eradication of malaria and other endemic tropical diseases.

LESOTHO: the Government of this country has expressed its interest in receiving cooperation on prevention and treatment of HIV/AIDS, emphasizing the prevention of vertical transmission (mothers to children).

BURUNDI: the Government of Burundi has requested through the Argentine Embassy in Kenya cooperation on health issues.

7Cooperation Agreement in the Medical Sciences Field between the Argentine Republic and the People's Democratic Republic of Algeria, November 2008

AFRICA

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DOMINICAN REPUBLIC: it has requested Argentine cooperation for training in image diagnosis and food and nutritional surveillance systems.

Other countries: the National Agency of Laboratories and Institutes of Health “Dr. Carlos G. Malbrán” (ANLIS) is planning to hold a strengthening course in the area of bio-safety in laboratories and training in biological containment safeguards in BSL3 laboratories for Latin America. Initially aimed at Colombia, Peru, Panama, Ecuador, Brazil, Chile and the Caribbean.

INDONESIA: it has requested Argentine cooperation in health issues and specifically in primary health care and sanitary policy.

KINGDOM OF THAILAND: the Kingdom of Thailand is currently developing a research on Dengue, and has expressed its interest in knowing Argentine advances in this area and the possible development of a joint research project within the framework of the existing

8agreement.

EGYPT: the Government of Egypt has expressed its interest in collaborating with and supporting Argentine cooperation in other African countries, as regards HIV/AIDS, malaria and

9hepatitis within the framework of the existing cooperation agreements.

10TUNISIAN REPUBLIC: there are Cooperation Agreements on the basis of which the Government of the Tunisian Republic has requested technical cooperation in the health sector, the areas of interest to be identified in order to put forward a concrete proposal of cooperation to be carried out in said country.

11PEOPLE'S REPUBLIC OF CHINA: under the Cooperation Agreement on health issues , the Government of the People's Republic of China has expressed its interest in implementing the cooperation with Argentina for the development of policies and the presentation and execution of specific programs on sanitary issues.

8Scientific and Technical Cooperation Agreement between the Government of the Argentine Republic and the Government of the Kingdom of Thailand, in force since 19869Economic and Technical Cooperation Agreement between the Government of the Argentine Republic and the Government of the Arab Republic of Egypt, in force since 198510Economic and Technical Cooperation Agreement between the Government of the Argentine Republic and the Government of the Tunisian Republic, in force since 1980, and Cooperation Agreement on Health Issues, October 2006.11Framework Cooperation Agreement on Health Issues and Medical Sciences between the Government of the Argentine Republic and the Government of the People's Republic of China, in force since 2007.

AMERICA

SOUTH-EASTERN ASIA

EASTERN MEDITERRANEAN

WESTERN PACIFIC

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6. Final considerations

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The new impulse and the changes generated in the area of international cooperation provide comparative advantages that allow, in a context of economic, energetic and environmental crisis, the optimization of results towards the fulfillment of the Millennium Goals, economic strengthening and population's welfare.

This new cooperation structure and models for development need the consolidation of alliances between all the parties to international cooperation: countries, agencies, international organisms, public and private institutions related to finances, commerce and international development.

In the health area it becomes even more relevant and is turned into a challenge to face future scenarios. This Argentine government and PAHO/WHO partnership experience allows the reaffirmation of the parties' vocation for creating a fairer world.

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MEMORANDUM OF UNDERSTANDINGBETWEEN THE ARGENTINE REPUBLIC

AND THE PAN-AMERICAN HEALTH ORGANIZATION/WORLD HEALTH ORGANIZATION

FOR THE DEVELOPMENT OF A TRIANGULAR COOPERATION PROGRAM

The Argentine Republic and the Pan-American Health Organization, World Health Organization Regional Office for the Americas (PAHO/WHO), hereinafter “the Parties”;

WHEREAS

The Pan-American Health Organization (PAHO) sets forth in its Mission, according to what is stated in its document “Values, Vision and Mission of PAHO/WHO” July 2004, “to lead strategic collaborative efforts among State Members and other allies in order to promote health equality, fight against disease and improve life quality and extend the lifespan of the peoples of the Americas”, so that Technical Cooperation among Countries be one of the essential instruments to fulfill its mission.

It is of utmost importance for the Argentine Republic to set up a solid and stable basis for technical cooperation as an instrument to endorse the efforts of the Governments committed to social and economic inclusion in their countries.

The development and implementation of a Triangular Cooperation Program between the Parties shall allow the optimization of resources and the provision of adequate operative mechanisms for joint cooperation action in favor of third countries in Latin America and the Caribbean and in Africa enabling the transfer of knowledge and experience in the health sector.

The parties wish to establish a formal framework of understanding from which they can, jointly, identify and implement cooperation actions in third countries with the purpose of widening the range of activities and obtaining more sustainable results.

The Basic Agreement between the Government of the Argentine Republic and PAHO/WHO on Institutional Relationships and Privileges and Immunities subscribed on June 16, 2005 constitutes sufficient legal basis for the execution and interpretation of this Agreement and/or Specific Tripartite Agreements to be subscribed within its framework.

Annex

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AGREE TO ENTER INTO THIS MEMORANDUM OF UNDERSTANDING AS FOLLOWS:

Section 1Subject Matter

This Memorandum of Understanding, hereinafter the “Memorandum”, has the purpose of setting up the legal framework for a Triangular Cooperation Program between the Argentine Republic and PAHO/WHO, hereinafter the “Program”, with the aim of providing joint technical assistance to countries in Latin America and the Caribbean and to countries in Africa, and help economic and social development by means of the efficient use of the human, technological and financial resources of the Parties. Furthermore, PAHO/WHO shall coordinate and/or enable the execution of technical cooperation initiatives in countries of Africa with the relevant areas of WHO and its Regional Office for Africa (WHO/AFRO).

Section 2Actions to be Developed

The Parties, using their experience and knowledge in the health sector, shall carry out joint cooperation actions in accordance with the petitions, presented and/or put forward by Third Countries before the Argentine Foreign Office Directorate General for International Cooperation hereinafter “MRECIC-DGCIN”, on the basis of their national priorities and under the policies of the Argentine Republic and the Strategic Plan of PAHO/WHO currently in force. In the execution phase of the activities agreed upon special attention shall be paid to previous years experiences of programs carried out jointly by the Parties in the Argentine Republic.

The technical cooperation activities towards Third Countries may encompass:

Experts sent by the Parties for the drafting of Technical Agreements and Projects, and for the training of local professionals with the aim of replicating and transmitting knowledge in their country.Training seminars in the area of institutional strengthening.Provision of materials and equipments.Other forms of cooperation decided upon jointly by the Parties upon the request of the Third countries.

Section 3Specific Tripartite Agreements

This Memorandum does not imply that the parties assume any financial obligation whatsoever. All agreement in that sense shall be shown in the Specific Tripartite Agreements that the Parties may enter into with the Third Countries under this Memorandum, as long as they identify, by mutual agreement, specific needs and opportunities respecting what is set forth in their domestic policies, regulations and procedures.

Section 4Management Committee

The implementation of the Program shall be under the direction of a Management Committee made up by the Parties: (i) the Government through MRECIC-DGCIN and a representative appointed by the Ministry of Health, and (ii) PAHO/WHO through its Representative Office in Argentina.

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The Management Committee shall fulfill the following functions:Draft an Acting Regulation for the implementation of this Program.Prepare a sample Technical Tripartite Agreement, and a sample Project document for the cooperation activities to be developed.Carry out disclosure modalities of this Memorandum.Select the triangular cooperation actions to be developed in Third Countries, according to the priorities of the latter, the policies of the Argentine Republic and the Strategic Plan of PAHO/WHO currently in force.Evaluate the relevance and approve the financing of projects or petitions for technical cooperation put forward by Third Countries.Draft the Specific Tripartite Agreement to be subscribed by the Parties and the Third Country beneficiary of the technical cooperation.Look after the proper execution of the Specific Tripartite Agreements subscribed, coordinating the activities of the project and the corresponding monitoring and assessment.

Section 5Modifications

This Memorandum shall be modified through an agreement effected by exchange of notes.

Section 6Dispute resolution

The disputes concerning the interpretation and/or application of this Memorandum shall be resolved by means of direct negotiations through the diplomatic channels. If the question cannot be resolved in this way, either Party shall be entitled to subject it to arbitration. The arbitration tribunal shall be made up by an arbitrator appointed by the Government, another one appointed by PAHO/WHO and a third one appointed by the former two, who shall preside over the tribunal. The arbitration rules and procedure shall be determined by the arbitrators, as well as the applicable law. The award shall be final and not subject to appeal.

Section 7Term of legal effect

This Memorandum shall be in effect for two years and shall be automatically renewed for equal time periods, except when one of the Parties notifies the other in writing of its decision to denounce it. In such a case the denunciation shall become effective three months after being notified. In case of denunciation of this Memorandum, its terms and conditions shall continue to apply to the projects under way up to their fulfillment, except when the denouncing Party puts forward appropriate alternatives for their early fulfillment.

Section 8Communication and notification channel

In order to coordinate the cooperation activities provided for in this Memorandum the parties appoint:

In representation of the Argentine Republic, the Directorate General for International Cooperation of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, International Trade and Cult. Esmeralda Street 212, 12 floor, City of Buenos Aires (Argentina). Telephone 0054-11-4819-7268.

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In representation of PAHO/WHO, the Representative Office in Argentina, Marcelo T. de Alvear street 684, City of Buenos Aires (Argentina). Telephone 0054-11-4319-4214.

Either Party to this Memorandum, by notifying the other Parties to that effect, shall be entitled to appoint or replace the corresponding representatives.

Section 9Auditing

All auditing action concerning the funds that PAHO/WHO may get to administer under this Memorandum or the Specific Tripartite Agreements to be subscribed within the framework of this Memorandum shall be carried out by the person or persons chosen to that effect by the Head Organs of PAHO/WHO and in accordance with its rules, regulations and policies.

Section 10Exemption from Responsibility

The Government shall bear the responsibility of handling any claim that may be filed by third parties against PAHO/WHO resulting from activities derived from this Memorandum and carried out on behalf of the Government or with its consent, except when said responsibility is due to gross negligence or criminal intent. The Government shall communicate PAHO/WHO any claim it receives in this respect. PAHO/WHO shall provide the Government with all the necessary elements to face any claim which under the terms of this section the Argentine Government communicates to it. PAHO/WHO shall bear all claim which under the terms of this section the Argentine Government communicates to it, when said claim originates in PAHO/WHO's responsibility derived from gross negligence or criminal intent present in the behavior of the representatives, counselors, employees or agents of said Organization.

Section 11Act of God

Neither Party to this Memorandum shall be responsible if they were not able to comply with their obligations in whole or in part due to an act of God, such as wars, natural disasters, civil riots and any other cause beyond their control.

Section 12Privileges and immunities

Nothing in this Memorandum or related to it shall be deemed an express or implied waiver of the privileges, immunities and exonerations enjoyed by PAHO/WHO in its character of International Organism.

Section 13Commencement of legal effects

This Memorandum of Understanding shall become legally effective at the moment it is subscribed by both Parties.

Executed in the city of Buenos Aires, on the eleventh day of the month of January of the year two thousand eight, in two original copies in Spanish of the same true tenor.

AC: Andean Community AECID: Spanish Agency for International Development CooperationANLIS: National Agency of Laboratories and Institutes of Health “Dr. Carlos G.

Malbrán” ANMAT: Food and Medical Technology Authority CARICOM: Caribbean Community DGCIN: Directorate General for International CooperationFAO: Food and Agriculture Organization of the United NationsFO-AR: Argentine Fund for Horizontal Cooperation IFAD: International Fund for Agricultural DevelopmentIICA: Inter American Institute for Cooperation on Agriculture INAT: National Institute for Ablation and Transplant INAT: National Institute for Ablation and Transplant, Paraguay IOM: International Organization for MigrationJICA: Japan International Cooperation AgencyMDG: Millennium Development GoalsMERCOSUR: Common Market of the Southern Cone NDI: National Democratic InstituteOAS: Organization of American StatesODA: Official Development AssistancePAHO/WHO: Pan American Health Organization /World Health Organization PPJA: Partnership Program for Joint Cooperation between Japan and Argentina TCC: Technical Cooperation Committee UNDP: United Nations Development ProgramUNICEF: United Nations Children's FundUNIFEM: United Nations Development Fund for Women

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Abbreviations and acronyms