Given the shared nature of contemporary development challenges such as climate change and COVID-19, the role of South-South Cooperation (SSC) is increasingly rising in importance. Against this backdrop, this study asserts that there are four key elements to consider when assessing data on SSC: institutionalisation, documentation of good practices, facts and figures, and processes. Taking this into consideration, this paper examines southern efforts to assess SSC effectiveness by applying the four principles of the Global Partnership for Effective Development Co-operation (GPEDC), namely country ownership, focus on results, inclusive partnerships, and transparency and mutual accountability.