The World Bank Group and the international development community consider that knowledge sharing is an effective catalyst for accelerating development processes.

Learning from peers is often far more convincing and powerful than learning from books or theoretical experts. It provides decision-makers with practical insights about approaches that work, and pitfalls to avoid. At the political level, peer-learning inspires leaders to implement reforms, while at the technical level it allows for exchanging practical ‘how-to’ knowledge for solving problems. Knowledge sharing is an important building block towards achieving the Agenda 2030 for Sustainable Development.

Launched in October 2008 as a multi-donor trust fund, the South-South Experience Exchange Facility (South-South Facility or SSF) enables the sharing of development experiences and knowledge among World Bank Group client countries by funding knowledge exchange activities. The South-South Facility funds these knowledge exchanges based on demand expressed by the knowledge-recipient countries. They are designed with a focus on achieving results.