The Centre works on a wide range of issues relevant to the countries of the South and the global community in general.  This work aims to achive its objectives in accordance with the mandate of the South Centre as an independent, intergovernmental think-tank of developing countries.  A major milestone in the elaboration of a medium term work programme was achieved in February 2006 when the South Centre Board approved a Strategic Work Programme (SWP). The SWP attempts to articulate a coherent approach to address several clusters of issues identified by developing countries as deserving priority in an integrated manner. 

The SWP is divided into seven major areas of work.  The South Intellectual Platform (SIP) seeks to develop new paradigms for South-South and North-South relations that will provide the conceptual underpinnings for South Centre work. Three areas where the Centre has developed substantial knowledge base are Global Governance for Development, Trade for Development, and Innovation and Access to Knowledge. The remaining three areas include Financing for Development, Environment for Development, and Social Issues and Human Rights. The Centre occasionally works on these issues as well and the SWP aims to build this work into full programmes in the medium term.

The SWP is designed to provide quality technical analysis based on a political message of South-South solidarity and a justice-based ideology with a view to offering alternative options in fora such as the WTO and WIPO, as well as alternatives to the current development paradigm.  It will be implemented in collaboration with partners both from the South and the North.