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

This report documents the proceedings of a multi-stakeholder policy dialogue hosted by the South African Institute of International Affairs (SAIIA) and Oxfam South Africa on March 3, 2015. The event focused on the impact, monitoring, and accountability of South–South Co-operation (SSC), specifically regarding emerging partners' engagement in Africa's development.

• China's development assistance to Africa is delivered through various channels, including grants, concessional loans, and interest-free loans. Official channels focus on socio-economic development and mutual benefit, while commercial channels are primarily motivated by economic profits and target economic sectors.
• 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. Its primary African partners are Angola, Mozambique, Libya, and South Africa, with a focus on construction, oil, and mining.
• Brazil's approach to development in Africa emphasizes social sectors such as health, education, and food and agriculture, often attempting to replicate Brazilian 'best practices' like the Bolsa Família conditional cash transfer programmes and agricultural research via Embrapa.
• From a recipient perspective, emerging partners have improved terms of trade and infrastructure in Africa, but have introduced risks such as 'tied aid' via EXIM banks, where loans require the use of donor-country products, potentially leading to unsustainable debt levels.
• There is a significant debate regarding the necessity and methodology of Monitoring and Evaluation (M&E) for SSC. Some argue that M&E is an OECD-led agenda that ignores the historical context of SSC, which is based on solidarity and non-interference rather than the conditionality framework of North-South Co-operation.
• Mexico faced substantial challenges when integrating Global Partnership for Effective Development Co-operation (GPEDC) principles into its national SSC monitoring systems, specifically citing weak information systems and a lack of adequate data to define baselines and targets.
• South Africa's position on international development co-operation is characterized by a tension between its continental responsibilities to Africa, its adherence to SSC principles, and its active engagement in the GPEDC based on a policy of multilateralism.
• The African Union NEPAD Agency identifies a need for an African strategy to engage emerging partners, suggesting a three-pronged approach: leveraging competition between partners, developing an African code of conduct to manage natural resource rents, and targeting emerging economies to fill productive gaps.
• The document identifies four distinct country blocks in Africa regarding development: those that succeeded in structural transformation without mineral resources; resource-rich countries with high inequality; least developed countries dependent on foreign aid; and conflict-ridden countries relying on regional bodies for stability.

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} }