Draft Report of Launch Meeting

The report details the first meeting of the NeST South Africa reference group, which aimed to unpack South Africa's approach to South-South co-operation (SSC). Key discussions focused on the need for a uniquely South African definition of development co-operation that moves beyond the narrow OECD-DAC Official Development Assistance (ODA) criteria, as much of South Africa's support—including peacekeeping and infrastructure loans—falls outside those definitions. The document identifies significant challenges, including fragmented coordination across government departments, weak monitoring and evaluation (M&E) systems, and the tension between promoting human rights and adhering to Southern principles of non-interference. It emphasizes that South Africa views itself as a 'development partner' rather than a 'donor', guided by the philosophy of 'ubuntu'.

• South Africa's development co-operation is characterized by a 'development partner' rather than 'donor' paradigm, guided by the 'diplomacy of ubuntu' and principles of mutual benefit, demand-driven assistance, and sustainability.
• A significant gap exists between South Africa's actual development activities and the OECD-DAC definition of Official Development Assistance (ODA), meaning much of its support is not captured in official international records.
• South Africa's development efforts are often fragmented and lack a central strategic direction, partly because the South African Development Partnership Agency (SADPA) has faced long delays in its establishment.
• There is a critical lack of coordination and information management regarding outgoing aid, with nearly half of all government departments engaged in development activities without a central reporting mechanism.
• South Africa faces a diplomatic tension between its constitutional commitment to a rights-based approach and the Southern principles of non-interference and respect for state sovereignty.
• South Africa's development co-operation is heavily concentrated in the SADC region, accounting for approximately 70% of its activities, rising to 96% when Southern African Customs Union (SACU) transfers are included.
• The South African government's engagement with the private sector and civil society in development co-operation is viewed as weak, with a tendency to avoid business partnerships to prevent the appearance of pursuing commercial interests.
• South Africa's comparative advantage in Africa stems from its geopolitical proximity and shared experiences, though it must manage perceptions of being a 'big brother' or regional hegemon.

APA

Besharati, N., Khunou, K., & Moilwa, M. (2015). Draft Report of Launch Meeting. South African Institute of International Affairs. https://saiia.org.za/wp-content/uploads/2015/04/2015-01-28-NeST-South-Africa_Report-of-Launch_final.pdf

Chicago

Besharati, Neissan, Kelebogile Khunou, and Matshidiso Moilwa. Draft Report of Launch Meeting. South African Institute of International Affairs, 2015. https://saiia.org.za/wp-content/uploads/2015/04/2015-01-28-NeST-South-Africa_Report-of-Launch_final.pdf.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |last1=Besharati |first1=Neissan |last2=Khunou |first2=Kelebogile |last3=Moilwa |first3=Matshidiso |title=Draft Report of Launch Meeting |publisher=South African Institute of International Affairs |date=28 March 2015 |url=https://saiia.org.za/wp-content/uploads/2015/04/2015-01-28-NeST-South-Africa_Report-of-Launch_final.pdf |access-date=17 August 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{besharati2015draft, author = {Besharati, Neissan and Khunou, Kelebogile and Moilwa, Matshidiso}, title = {{Draft Report of Launch Meeting}}, institution = {South African Institute of International Affairs}, year = {2015}, month = mar, url = {https://saiia.org.za/wp-content/uploads/2015/04/2015-01-28-NeST-South-Africa_Report-of-Launch_final.pdf}, urldate = {2026-08-17}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }