The first objective of the South-South Oil and Gas Development Project was to organize a high-level meeting to facilitate the sharing of experiences between new and existing oil- and gas-producing States in the South. Beyond the conference, the project promotes the establishment of a network to assist these States in identifying and addressing hydrocarbon management challenges and institutional shortfalls, with the overarching goal of assisting developing countries to promote proper management of oil and gas revenues to assist them not only in reducing poverty but also in achieving the Millennium Development Goals.

The High-level Meeting, held on 8-10 September 2007, brought together senior government officials and senior executives from current and prospective oil and gas producers as well as selected recognized specialists. The meeting organizers also invited key personalities from other institutions, including the Canadian International Development Agency (CIDA), OFID, the United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Western Asia (UNESCWA), the United Nations Economic Commission for Africa (UNECA) and UNEP. In-kind support was mobilized from CIDA, UNECA, UNEP, and the UNDP country offices. The main topics discussed, along with country case studies, included: macro-economic concerns and challenges, institutional capacity and forward planning, the management and allocation of oil and gas revenues, legal and regulatory frameworks, publicprivate collaboration and contractual issues, environmental safeguards, and global warming and its challenges for oil and gas producers.

The Special Unit successfully convened the High-level Meeting on Oil and Gas in Doha, Qatar, in 2007, with traditional and prospective oil- and gas-producing countries coming together to learn from one another for the first time. The event was well attended, with over 120 senior-level government officials present. Some 42 countries participated, each sending two or more participants, with five countries sending more than four participants under their own funding. The meeting was also attended by the President of the High-level Committee on South-South Cooperation, the Director General of OFID, the Executive Secretary of UNESCWA and the representatives of the UNDP Administrator and the UNEP Executive Director. Emerging oil- and gas-producing countries were very enthusiastic and recommended that similar meetings be held in the future to exchange information. Several countries indicated a willingness to host such a meeting next year. Specific activities were recommended for follow-up, such as a South-South network of centres of excellence in hydrocarbon management. The network would promote South-South cooperation and facilitate strategic planning and institutional capacity-building, including study tours, joint assessments and other activities.