The Road to the SDGs

PURPOSE X Low FDI, intra-OIC trade and technology diffusion, coupled with rising trade deficit and global markets volatility, are all factors that call for repositioning MCs as an alternative potential market. There is considerable diversity among IsDB MCs in terms of location, per-capita income, size and nature of the national economies. X Reverse Linkage (RL) is a scaled-up technical cooperation mechanism that is primarily used for capacity development based on MC-to-MC cooperation (including Muslim communities in non-MCs). It can easily be adopted to undertake any development intervention if there is willingness from at least two MCs, and/ or Muslim communities in non-MCs, to engage in such a cooperation. METHOD X In 2017, IsDB approved the RL Policy, which is a manifestation of its commitment to expand support to result-oriented interventions and to promote connectivity under South-South cooperation (SSC) among MCs. Ultimately, its aim is to help realise the SDGs. X RL can involve both soft and hard components, including training, provision of expertise, construction and provision of equipment. X IsDB's RL Policy adopts the internationally recognised SSC principles, which include respect of national sovereignty, national ownership and independence, equality, non-conditionality, non-interference in domestic affairs, and mutual benefit. X The operational elements of IsDB's RL interventions are as follows: – Identification of demand — RL interventions should be demand-driven and clearly address the needs of the recipient MC – Selection of resource centres — Selected by the recipient country, these are institutions in a MC with proven knowledge, expertise, technology and resources. They are the providers of solutions under RL interventions – Formulation of RL interventions — Standalone RL projects and embedded RL components are designed through a peer-to-peer consultation process with the full involvement of both the recipient and provider MCs, in addition to IsDB – Procurement of goods, works and services — All services that can be provided directly by the selected provider resource centre will be directly procured by it. Any service that cannot Reverse Linkage Policy I sDB is the only multilateral development institution whose membership is drawn entirely from the developing South It has been promoting the principles of South-South cooperation since its inception Reverse Linkage underlines IsDB’s role as a facilitator and coordinator, working with all partners in a collaborative manner [ 76 ] SDGs