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In March 2015 a group of 25 prominent academics and development co-operation experts from the Network of Southern Think Tanks (NeST) gathered in Midrand, South Africa to discuss a common analytical framework for South−South co-operation. Representatives from Brazil; China; Colombia; India; Kenya; Malawi; Mexico; Mozambique; Namibia; South Africa; Turkey; Uganda; and Zimbabwe; provided insights and discussed conceptual and methodological dimensions of measuring the quantum, quality and impact of South-South Co-operation within the arena of international development.
This was the first meeting in a series of Technical Working Groups tasked with developing a Southern analytical framework. As part of a wider consultation to provide inputs to NeST’s conceptual work, a multi-stakeholder policy dialogue on the topic ‘Emerging Partners in Africa’s Development’ was organised to discuss the rol and contribution of South−South co-operation to international development and appropriate monitoring and accountability frameworks for such. A subsequent Technical Working Group has since been held, in Johannesburg in early September to further develop the indicators to measure the quality of South-South partnerships and processes.
The working document titled; “Developing a Conceptual Framework for South-South Cooperation”, summaries the insights, consensus and divergences emerging from the various technical workshops of the Network of Southern Think Tanks. The working document covers areas such as: Defining South-South Co-operation; Information Management for South-South Co-operation; Evaluating the Impact of South-South Cooperation; Assessing the Quality of South-South Cooperation; along with updates from the various National and Regional chapters of NeST.
