A/RES/72/237 South-South cooperation several areas of sustainable development such as poverty eradication and gender equality and the empowerment of women and girls; 22. Welcomes the support provided by developing countries to South-South and triangular initiatives aimed at improving nutrition and food security, and invites the replication of this approach in other relevant areas, drawing on the technical expertise of various United Nations organizations; 23. Recognizes the contribution of South-South cooperation in promoting gender equality and the empowerment of women and girls in sustainable development, and encourages further efforts to mainstream gender perspectives in South-South and triangular cooperation; 24. Notes that, in response to the growing demand for support to South -South cooperation at the regional and subregional levels, the regional commissions have advanced South-South cooperation by undertaking policy research and analysis on issues of importance to their member States, convening high-level policy dialogues, forging strategic partnerships and promoting specific capacity development and other initiatives, and in this regard invites the regional commissions to support developing countries, upon request, in integrating the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development into their nationally owned sustainable development strategies, in areas such as regional development planning and fiscal frameworks, and to help to promote policy coherence and coordination and the enhancement of the data and statistical capacities of member States for the implementation of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development; 25. Reaffirms that South-South cooperation has a role to play as a strategic link between regions and embraces a multi-stakeholder approach, including non-governmental organizations, the private sector, civil society, academia and other actors that contribute to meeting development challenges and objectives in line with national development strategies and plans; 26. Urges the United Nations system to continue its support to regional and subregional organizations, enabling their member countries to build more partnerships and cross-border frameworks, with a view to promoting and scaling up best practices with the potential to benefit a large number of developing countries; 27. Welcomes the growing number of forums convened for Governments and other policymakers to discuss, in a participatory and inclusive manner, South -South cooperation initiatives and their contribution towards the implementation of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, including addressing challenges, lessons learned and good practices in key areas; 28. Requests the Secretary-General to present, as part of his comprehensive report to the High-level Committee on South-South Cooperation at its twentieth session, in consultation with all States, the United Nations Office for South -South Cooperation and the United Nations Development Programme, recommendations and an update on the concrete steps taken to strengthen the United Nations Office for South-South Cooperation, taking into account the need to enhance the role and improve the impact of the Office under the auspices of the United Nations Development Programme, including in the areas of financial, human and budgetary resources and through the potential appointment of a Special Representative of the Secretary-General on South-South Cooperation, as well as to clarify the management relationships, reporting lines and functions and to improve transparency, accountability and efficiency, taking into account matters covered in the report of the High-level Committee on South-South Cooperation on its nineteenth session, 14 __________________ 14 6/7 Official Records of the General Assembly, Seventy-first Session, Supplement No. 39 (A/71/39). 17-23315