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This second high-level United Nations Conference took place in Buenos Aires from 20 to 22 March 2019 on the 40th anniversary of the adoption of the Buenos Aires Plan of Action (BAPA) in 1978 for promoting and  implementating technical cooperation among developing countries. More than 3,800 representatives of state institutions, private sectors, international organisations and civil societies took part in the conference. 160 countries were represented and 6 heads of states participated in the opening ceremony alongside the General Secretary of the United Nations, M. António Gutierres. 14 millions persons followed the conference throughout the world. A document calling for a greater south-south cooperation in order to achieve the UN Sustainable Development Goals resulted from the discussions. 

A specific side-event on south-south cooperation in biosphere reserves took place on 21 March 2019 and was attended by several public figures, including the Regional Director of the African Development Bank (AfDB), Mr. Ousmane Doré. In his intervention, Mr. Doré praised the excellent partnership developped between his organisation and UNESCO in the implementation of the BIOPALT project, which he considers to be an exemplary project of multidisciplinary south-south cooperation: "The AfDB is particuliarly pleased in the unique expertise of UNESCO on biosphere reserves and world heritage mobilised through the BIOPALT project to strengthen the resilience capacities of the local communities against climate change, to restore ecosystems and to promote income-generating activities based on green economy."

Ms. Enny Sumarnowati, Chairperson of the International Coordination Council of the MAB Programme and Chair of the Indonesian MAB National Committee advocated afterwards for the development of international community initiatives promoting the value chains and the brands associated with biosphere reserves. Experts from Argentina and Brazil concluded by highlighting succesful examples of cooperation and twinning between biosphere reserves in Latin America involving the private sector. Through this cooperation, indicators on sustainable development were set up in biosphere reserves.  

After the meeting, two projects of cooperation were launched by UNESCO in biosphere reserves in Gambia and Togo in the presence of the UN Special Envoy for south-south cooperation, Mr. Jorge Chediek, of the Ambassador of India to the UN, of the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Gambia, and of the Director of International Cooperation of Togo. These projects will benefit from the support of the India-UN Development Partnership Fund.