EMERGING PARTNERS IN AFRICA’S DEVELOPMENT: Measuring the Impact of South–South Co-operation

The report documents a 2015 policy dialogue hosted by SAIIA and Oxfam to explore the dynamics of South–South Co-operation (SSC) in Africa. It examines the roles of emerging partners like China, Brazil, and India, contrasting their non-conditional approaches with traditional North–South models. The discussions highlight the tension between the need for monitoring and evaluation (M&E) to ensure accountability and the desire of Southern nations to maintain a distinct, solidarity-based framework that avoids Northern-led conditionality. Key conclusions emphasize the need for an African-led strategy to engage emerging partners and the development of a tailored M&E framework that respects national sovereignty while improving transparency.

• China's development assistance to Africa is bifurcated into official channels, which focus on socio-economic development and mutual benefit, and commercial channels, which are primarily motivated by economic profits.
• Brazil significantly expanded its presence in Africa during the Lula administration, increasing development co-operation resources from US$ 158.1 million in 2005 to US$ 923 million in 2010 and doubling its number of embassies in the region from 18 to 37 since 2003.
• While emerging partners offer new opportunities, they often utilize 'tied aid' through export-import (EXIM) banks, requiring that a percentage of resources be spent on products from the donor country, which risks creating unsustainable debt levels for African recipients.
• There is a significant debate regarding Monitoring and Evaluation (M&E) in SSC; some argue it is an OECD-led agenda that imposes Northern frameworks, while others maintain that SSC must establish its own accountability mechanisms to ensure a positive impact on communities.
• African countries are categorized into four distinct blocks regarding development: those with successful structural transformation without mineral resources, resource-rich countries with high inequality, least developed countries dependent on foreign aid, and conflict-ridden countries.
• South Africa maintains a dual position, engaging with the Global Partnership for Effective Development Co-operation (GPEDC) due to its commitment to multilateralism, while simultaneously advocating for the distinct principles of South–South Co-operation.
• The African Union's NEPAD Agency suggests a three-pronged strategy for Africa: leveraging competition between partners, developing a domestic code of conduct to manage natural resource rents, and targeting emerging economies to fill productive gaps in industry.
• A lack of standardized, high-quality descriptive data in the South makes sophisticated impact evaluations premature, suggesting that the region should start with basic project surveys to build capacity.

APA

Besharati, N., Khunou, K., & Moilwa, M. (2015). EMERGING PARTNERS IN AFRICA’S DEVELOPMENT: Measuring the Impact of South–South Co-operation. South African Institute of International Affairs. https://saiia.org.za/wp-content/uploads/2015/05/2015-03-05-NeST-Policy-Dialogue-Reportv2.pdf

Chicago

Besharati, Neissan, Kelebogile Khunou, and Matshidiso Moilwa. EMERGING PARTNERS IN AFRICA’S DEVELOPMENT: Measuring the Impact of South–South Co-operation. South African Institute of International Affairs, 2015. https://saiia.org.za/wp-content/uploads/2015/05/2015-03-05-NeST-Policy-Dialogue-Reportv2.pdf.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |last1=Besharati |first1=Neissan |last2=Khunou |first2=Kelebogile |last3=Moilwa |first3=Matshidiso |title=EMERGING PARTNERS IN AFRICA’S DEVELOPMENT: Measuring the Impact of South–South Co-operation |publisher=South African Institute of International Affairs |date=3 March 2015 |url=https://saiia.org.za/wp-content/uploads/2015/05/2015-03-05-NeST-Policy-Dialogue-Reportv2.pdf |access-date=17 August 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{besharati2015emerging, author = {Besharati, Neissan and Khunou, Kelebogile and Moilwa, Matshidiso}, title = {{EMERGING PARTNERS IN AFRICA’S DEVELOPMENT: Measuring the Impact of South–South Co-operation}}, institution = {South African Institute of International Affairs}, year = {2015}, month = mar, url = {https://saiia.org.za/wp-content/uploads/2015/05/2015-03-05-NeST-Policy-Dialogue-Reportv2.pdf}, urldate = {2026-08-17}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }