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South-South Cooperation: Why Women Must Be at the Centre of the Global South’s Next Power Shift

By Blossom Ukoha The Global South is gaining economic weight. But who gets to shape the power that comes with it? In 2026, only 28 countries have a woman serving as Head of State or Government. Women hold just 22.4 per cent of cabinet positions and approximately 27.5 per cent of parliamentary seats worldwide, according to the latest data from UN Women and the Inter-Parliamentary Union. The figures arrive at a consequential moment for the Global South. Countries across Africa, Asia, Latin America and the Caribbean are becoming increasingly connected through new trade relationships, investment partnerships, technology exchanges and development initiatives. South-South cooperation is no longer a secondary feature of global development; it is becoming an important part of how emerging economies build collective economic strength. The scale is already significant. According to the United Nations, South-South trade reached US$6.8 trillion in 2025, while more than half of developing countries’ exports went to other…