For far too long, the term Global South has been boxed into narratives of underdevelopment, crisis, and dependency. The prevailing worldview often assumes that global influence, innovation, and leadership must flow from the Global North—the wealthier, industrialized countries of Europe, North America, and parts of Asia. In contrast, countries in Africa, Latin America, Southeast Asia, and other parts of the Global South are viewed as passive recipients: of aid, ideas, and technologies.

But this perspective is increasingly outdated and inaccurate. The Global South is no longer merely reacting to global challenges—it is actively shaping global solutions. Whether it’s innovation in mobile money, climate justice activism, health diplomacy, or faith-based global movements, the Global South has shown that it is not just relevant but essential to global progress.

What is the Global South, really?

The terms "Global North" and "Global South" do not refer strictly to geography. Instead, they describe disparities in wealth, industrialization, technological advancement, and geopolitical power. The Global North typically includes countries like the United States, Canada, most of Europe, Japan, and Australia—nations with advanced economies and high standards of living.

In contrast, the Global South encompasses most of Africa, Latin America, the Caribbean, Asia, and parts of the Middle East. These regions have long histories of colonization, exploitation, and marginalization. Yet they are also home to vibrant cultures, immense natural resources, youthful populations, and growing centers of innovation.

The question is no longer whether the Global South can participate in global processes—the evidence shows it already does. The real question is whether the rest of the world is willing to listen, recognize, and engage with the South as an equal.

Powerful contributions from the Global South

Across sectors, countries in the Global South are redefining what it means to be global leaders.

Technology and Innovation

Kenya’s M-PESA is one of the most cited examples of how innovation can come from—and succeed in—the Global South. Developed to meet the needs of the unbanked population, M-PESA became a transformative mobile money solution that now inspires financial systems worldwide.

India’s low-cost space exploration—including its Mars Orbiter Mission—stunned the world by achieving what others couldn’t, and at a fraction of the cost. Brazil’s agricultural science has led the way in tropical farming innovations, now applied globally. These aren’t fringe achievements. They’re global breakthroughs, born out of necessity, resilience, and local genius.

Global programs rooted in the Global South

Many global institutions that are driving change around the world have their origins or headquarters in the Global South:

  • ICIPE (International Centre of Insect Physiology and Ecology) in Kenya.

  • Couples for Christ (CFC) in the Philippines.

  • The Global Green Growth Institute (GGGI) in South Korea.

  • Good Neighbors International in South Korea.

  • The Three Cairns Climate Program for the Global South at Yale University.

  • Centre for the Fourth Industrial Revolution (C4IR) in Rwanda, Malaysia, and the UAE.

  • Founder Institute in countries like Nigeria, Kenya, and the Philippines.

These examples prove that the Global South isn’t a periphery to global progress. It is a hub of action, ideas, and leadership.

Activism and social change

From Fridays for Future climate activism in Uganda to the #EndSARS protests in Nigeria and the feminist wave in Latin America, social movements from the Global South are now shaping international conversations. These movements highlight the resilience, creativity, and moral clarity that often emerge from communities facing entrenched inequality.

Global South feminists, for example, have challenged Eurocentric models of gender equality by centering lived experience, community organizing, and intersectionality.

Not about capacity, but rather about recognition

The real challenge is not the Global South’s ability to be global—it's the lack of recognition. Ideas from the South are often only validated when repackaged or endorsed by the North.

This imbalance isn’t just unfair—it's dangerous. Global crises like pandemics, climate change, and inequality require inclusive leadership and a diversity of perspectives. No single region holds all the answers.

Time for a paradigm shift

We must reimagine what global leadership looks like. It doesn’t only wear suits in Geneva or hold degrees from Ivy League universities. It also walks through the informal settlements of Kibera with data collection tools, it delivers healthcare on motorbikes in remote Bangladesh, and it negotiates peace in local dialects in Colombia.

The Global South is already global—in its thinking, in its solutions, and in its vision for a just world.

To move forward, the world must:

  • Recognize and elevate Global South leadership.

  • Invest in ideas and innovations from the South.

  • Partner as equals — not donors vs. recipients.

Conclusion: catch up, don’t catch pity

The Global South does not need pity. It needs a platform. It needs equity in voice, not charity in tone. From community-based climate solutions to entrepreneurial innovation and faith-driven global movements, the Global South is already transforming the world—quietly, consistently, and boldly.

It’s time the world recognized that something truly global not only can come from the Global South—it already has.

Let us not ask whether the Global South is capable. Let us ask whether the world is ready to listen.