2015-09-23-final-draft-ssc-framework-rev_20151127-8ed5ec521209ac44.pdf

This working document, compiled by the Network of Southern Think Tanks (NeST), proposes a conceptual framework to define, account for, and measure the quality and impact of South-South co-operation (SSC). It seeks to establish a common narrative and methodological approach for Southern partners to track development co-operation independently of the OECD-DAC's Official Development Assistance (ODA) standards.

• The document distinguishes between South-South co-operation (SSC) and South-South development co-operation (SSDC), defining SSDC as a subset of SSC. While SSC encompasses all relations between Southern countries (including arms trade or cultural exchange), SSDC specifically refers to activities aimed at promoting the economic and social welfare of developing countries.
• Southern partners argue that the OECD-DAC definition of Official Development Assistance (ODA) is too narrow and fails to capture the full scope of SSC. SSDC is broader than ODA, including elements such as peacekeeping, debt relief, student scholarships, humanitarian/refugee support, and potentially certain trade and investment promotion measures.
• Accounting for SSC is currently hindered by the lack of a common definition, fragmented institutional frameworks within countries, unreliable data, and the difficulty of assigning monetary value to intangible assets like technical co-operation and knowledge transfer.
• The report proposes the creation of a global information management platform to collect and analyze SSC data, suggesting that a UN agency (such as UNDP, UNCTAD, UNDESA, or UNOSSC) would provide the necessary political legitimacy to host such a hub.
• While Results-Based Management (RBM) is widely used, the document argues that for SSC, it must be adapted to a 'double-sided results chain.' Unlike North-South aid, where impact is measured on the recipient, SSC evaluation should measure the mutual benefits and impacts on both the provider and the recipient.
• The document emphasizes that 'national ownership' in SSC should privilege the interests and priorities of the poorer or smaller recipient country in cases of conflicting partner priorities.
• The report notes a historical weakness in civil society organisation (CSO) involvement in SSC, which has been largely state-driven. It advocates for 'multiple accountability,' where partners are accountable not only to each other but also to their domestic constituents and marginalized groups.
• NeST aims to expand its governance beyond the BRICS nations to include think tanks from lower-income countries in Africa, Latin America, and the Asia-Pacific region to increase representation and inclusivity.

APA

South African Institute of International Affairs (n.d.). 2015-09-23-final-draft-ssc-framework-rev_20151127-8ed5ec521209ac44.pdf. https://saiia.org.za/wp-content/uploads/2015/09/2015-09-23-Final-draft-SSC-Framework-rev_20151127.pdf

Chicago

South African Institute of International Affairs. 2015-09-23-final-draft-ssc-framework-rev_20151127-8ed5ec521209ac44.pdf. n.d. https://saiia.org.za/wp-content/uploads/2015/09/2015-09-23-Final-draft-SSC-Framework-rev_20151127.pdf.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |author=South African Institute of International Affairs |title=2015-09-23-final-draft-ssc-framework-rev_20151127-8ed5ec521209ac44.pdf |url=https://saiia.org.za/wp-content/uploads/2015/09/2015-09-23-Final-draft-SSC-Framework-rev_20151127.pdf |access-date=17 August 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{southafricaninstituteofinternationalaffairsnd20150923finaldraftsscframeworkrev201511278ed5ec521209ac44pdf, author = {{South African Institute of International Affairs}}, title = {{2015-09-23-final-draft-ssc-framework-rev\_20151127-8ed5ec521209ac44.pdf}}, institution = {South African Institute of International Affairs}, url = {https://saiia.org.za/wp-content/uploads/2015/09/2015-09-23-Final-draft-SSC-Framework-rev_20151127.pdf}, urldate = {2026-08-17}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }