Japan is a long-standing supporter of South-South and triangular co-operation. Through third-country training programmes, partnership programmes with pivotal countries and centres of excellence, Japan helps partners share development experience across countries and regions. This approach is evolving from one-way knowledge transfer towards more circular forms of co-operation, where expertise flows between Japan, pivotal partners and beneficiary countries. When it is demand-driven, adapted to context and followed up beyond individual training, circular knowledge can strengthen institutions, build regional networks and support mutually beneficial partnerships.
A training approach to triangular co‑operation
Abstract
Solutions developed in the Global South can offer relevant and credible responses to shared development challenges. Triangular co-operation helps scale and adapt these experiences by connecting countries with recent, context-specific expertise. Its challenge is to move beyond training and knowledge transfer towards partnerships that foster institutional change, mutual learning and wider development outcomes. As development challenges become more interconnected, triangular co-operation is increasingly evolving towards multidirectional knowledge exchange, where all partners contribute and learn. For Japan, one of the largest triangular co-operation partners globally, this means leveraging decades of technical expertise to support collaboration among partner countries.
Japan embeds triangular co-operation within its broader technical co-operation portfolio, with knowledge sharing at its core. Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) has accepted approximately 85 000 participants for Third Country Training Programs and dispatched 2 000 Third Country Experts. Key features of Japan’s evolving approach include:
Building on earlier bilateral co-operation. Triangular initiatives often build on previous bilateral co-operation that has developed expertise, institutional capacity or adapted solutions.
Using multiple modalities for knowledge exchange with follow-up through financing, technical assistance, operational support, and other means including “mini projects” to ensure sustainability of training courses. Japan supports triangular co-operation through Third Country Training Programmes, Partnership Programmes with pivotal countries and Centres of Excellence, etc., increasingly embedded in regular programmes rather than treated as stand-alone activities.
Focusing on thematic priorities through sub-programmes in areas such as health and agriculture, aligning the programmes with JICA’s regional strategies.
Connecting countries facing similar challenges and making the comparative advantages of pivotal countries in the region, such as their cultural proximity or capacities in order to develop solutions that are adapted to the context of beneficiary countries, strengthen regional networks and foster peer-to-peer learning.
Sharing costs and resources. Resource contributions dedicated to the triangular partnership between JICA and the pivotal country are determined on a case-by-case basis through dialogue.
Promoting circular knowledge. Initiatives such as the Japan-Mexico-Uruguay triangular initiative on ageing and elder care illustrates a more reciprocal model, creating spaces for countries to share experiences and develop responses to common demographic challenges.
Disseminating practical solutions at scale. Triangular co‑operation programmes have helped adapt and scale successful approaches across regions, from Tanzania’s adoption of Sri Lankan hospital management practices to the development of a regional disaster risk reduction training hub in Chile serving Latin America and the Caribbean.
Contributing to the emergence of new development co-operation providers. Countries such as Indonesia, the Philippines, Singapore and Thailand, have evolved from aid recipients into providers of training and technical assistance. Examples include Thailand’s Third Country Training Programme, Tunisia’s transfer of Kaizen methodologies to Libya, and Kazakhstan’s support to Uzbekistan.
Building trust and partnerships, through co-creating solutions adapted to the context of developing countries. Through third-country training, Jordan has been acting as a regional training hub, contributing to regional knowledge sharing with countries and territories as Iraq, Syria and West Bank and Gaza Strip and ownership in a fragile regional context.
Expanding the partnership base. Japan is promoting triangular co-operation while engaging new actors through several initiatives that connect Japanese private sector actors with local networks. Collaboration between Cambodian Mine Action Centre (CMAC) and a Japanese company led to the development of the world's first shovel-type demining machine, now being used to support recovery and reconstruction efforts in Ukraine.
Promoting triangular co-operation globally. Japan has helped raise the profile of triangular co‑operation in international development policy, from its recognition in the BAPA+40 Outcome Document to its reaffirmation in the 2025 Busan Global Partnership Forum and the Sevilla Commitment as a vehicle for capacity development, knowledge exchange and collective action.
Triangular co-operation works best when it is embedded in wider partnerships. Stand-alone training activities rarely lead to systemic change; impact is stronger when exchanges build on bilateral co-operation, respond to partner demand and are linked to follow-up activities, institutional reform or broader development programmes.
Sustainable results depend on institutional uptake. Outcomes are strongest when participants can apply and disseminate new knowledge within their organisations, underscoring the importance of careful participant selection, engaging different management levels and supporting teams rather than individuals.
Peer learning enhances credibility and ownership. Countries with recent and relevant development experience can often provide practical and context-specific solutions that are perceived as more adaptable by partner countries, while strengthening ownership of development processes.
Networks are a valuable development outcome. Relationships among partner institutions, practitioners and former trainees often outlast individual activities, creating platforms for continued knowledge exchange, collaboration and South-South co-operation.
Flexible modalities can facilitate innovation. Training programmes, technical exchanges and third-country co-operation provide practical opportunities to test new partnerships, engage new sectors or actors, and pilot approaches before scaling them up.
Circular knowledge can strengthen the added value of triangular co-operation. Moving beyond one-way knowledge transfer towards multidirectional exchange allows all partners to contribute expertise, learn from each other’s experience and jointly develop solutions to shared challenges.
Better documentation of results remains important. While evidence points to benefits in capacity development, partnership-building and knowledge sharing, stronger monitoring and reporting are needed to better demonstrate institutional, policy and system-level outcomes.
JICA (n.d.), South-South and Triangular Co-operation, https://www.jica.go.jp/english/activities/schemes/ssc/index.html.
JICA (2026), Thematic Evaluation 2025: Joint Evaluation on Third Country Training Program (TCTP) in Thailand, https://www.jica.go.jp/activities/evaluation/n_files/Thematic_Evaluation_Joint_Evaluation_TCTP_in_Thailand_EN.pdf.
JICA (2020), Knowledge Co-Creation Program (AAKCP), https://www.jica.go.jp/english/activities/schemes/tr_japan/summary/lineup.html.
JICA (2014), Triangular Co-operation Mechanisms –Comparative Study of Germany, Japan and the UK, https://libopac.jica.go.jp/images/report/12151502.pdf.
OECD (forthcoming), OECD Development Co-operation Peer Reviews: Japan 2026, Development Co-operation Peer Reviews, OECD Publishing, Paris, Development co-operation peer reviews and learning.
OECD/IsDB (2025), Global Perspectives on Triangular Co-operation 2025, https://doi.org/10.1787/f713f2ce-en.
Chaturvedi, S. and Piefer-Söyler, N. (2021), "Triangular co-operation with India: Working with civil society organisations", OECD Development Co-operation Working Papers, No. 89, OECD Publishing, Paris, https://doi.org/10.1787/285b1a9a-en.
OECD (2019), Enabling effective triangular co-operation, https://doi.org/10.1787/5fc4501e-en.
OECD (2018), Toolkit for identifying, monitoring and evaluating the value added of triangular co-operation, https://www.effectivecooperation.org/system/files/2019-06/TOOLKIT_TrC_August_2018.pdf.
OECD, Triangular co-operation, https://www.oecd.org/en/topics/sub-issues/development-co-operation-in-practice/triangular-co-operation.html.
To learn more about Japan’s development co-operation see:
OECD (2026), "Japan", Development Co-operation Profiles, OECD Publishing, Paris, https://www.oecd.org/en/publications/development-co-operation-profiles_04b376d7-en/japan_705ac350-en.html#section-d1e835.
More In practice examples from Japan are available on Development Co-operation TIPs • Tools Insights Practices.
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