Several South-South partnerships are perceived as more economical, effective and favourable compared to North-South aid relations.
Abstract
This research paper examines the imperative of a new conversation on development effectiveness “from the bottom up”. Four dimensions are addressed: conceptual concerns, emerging trends, political economy issues affecting the global and country levels, and issues related to the measurement of effectiveness.
COVID-19 has caught the development cooperation regime unaware and exposed its structural and operational weaknesses. The emerging situation is demanding inclusive reform of the scope, modalities and assessment framework, as well as its governance structure.
In the post-COVID-19 world, a “new conversation” for a “new game with new rules” concerning development cooperation and its effectiveness will gather momentum. For this momentum to ensure inclusive, transformative, and sustainable outcomes of international development cooperation, it will be all the more necessary to build the dialogue from the bottom up, based on new evidence and analysis.