Monitoring and Evaluation: The Need for Standardised Principles

The author contends that South-South Cooperation (SSC) lacks a universal definition and monitoring framework due to its distinct principles from Northern Official Development Assistance (ODA) and concerns that monetising contributions underestimates the value of Southern resources. To move beyond a reactionary stance against exploitative North-South relations, the document argues that the South must proactively create standardised principles and language to foster inclusive development and good governance.

• The absence of a universal definition and monitoring and evaluation framework for South-South Cooperation (SSC) stems from diverse contexts and a desire to distinguish SSC from Northern Official Development Assistance (ODA), which is viewed as reactionary compared to SSC's focus on capacity-building and self-reliance.
• Some nations resist measuring SSC because using monetary metrics may underestimate their actual contributions, as the costs for personnel and goods in the South are lower than in developed nations.
• To replace the destructive and exploitative history of North-South relations, the South should establish standardised principles and a common language for SSC to ensure commitment to good governance and inclusive development.

APA

South African Institute of International Affairs (2019). Monitoring and Evaluation: The Need for Standardised Principles. https://saiia.org.za/research/monitoring-and-evaluation-the-need-for-standardised-principles/

Chicago

South African Institute of International Affairs. Monitoring and Evaluation: The Need for Standardised Principles. 2019. https://saiia.org.za/research/monitoring-and-evaluation-the-need-for-standardised-principles/.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |author=South African Institute of International Affairs |title=Monitoring and Evaluation: The Need for Standardised Principles |date=25 April 2019 |url=https://saiia.org.za/research/monitoring-and-evaluation-the-need-for-standardised-principles/ |access-date=17 August 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{southafricaninstituteofinternationalaffairs2019monitoring, author = {{South African Institute of International Affairs}}, title = {{Monitoring and Evaluation: The Need for Standardised Principles}}, institution = {South African Institute of International Affairs}, year = {2019}, month = apr, url = {https://saiia.org.za/research/monitoring-and-evaluation-the-need-for-standardised-principles/}, urldate = {2026-08-17}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }