Rethinking the future of development effectiveness

Southern Voice is planning a programme to produce new knowledge, opportunities for diverse dialogues and agreements, on the future of development effectiveness. Southern Voice will approach the question of the future of development effectiveness through its unique added value: bringing together scholars based on the Global South, to bring perspectives grounded on the local and national realities of development effectiveness.

Why the need for a new approach to development effectiveness?

Effectiveness of international development cooperation has gained significance in global debates. It is acknowledged that aid – a limited resource – can catalyze change. It depends on a variety of policy variables, from both the donor and the receipt countries, such as trade and investment policies. Due to the adoption of the 2030 Agenda, the challenge to define, measure and assess effectiveness has grown. It has opened up a unique opportunity to rethink development effectiveness, particularly from the perspective of the Global South.

The main reasons for a new approach are:

First: the areas of development cooperation have increased. They now include a variety of dimensions on social, environmental and economic targets and indicators summarized in the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Poverty alleviation (as summarized in Goal 1) is still critical for the agenda. Success will require the world to perform better in a variety of issues that require action at the local, national and global scale.

Second: as developing economies grow, aid represents a declining proportion of these countries’ income. This requires additional creativity and partnerships to achieve results. Driven by this reality, a growing number of instruments are being used. This means that also other actors may be involved in development programmes, such as the private sector or civil society.

Third: emerging economies such as China and Brazil, have become new actors. They engage actively in international cooperation. As South-South Cooperation gains relevance globally, more coordination and coherence among different actors becomes critical for success.  

In the following months, Southern Voice will carry out a consultative process with its members and experts worldwide on this new initiative. Regular updates on the topic will be published on the SV website.

This programme will be in partnership with the Centre for Policy Dialogue (CPD) and with support from the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation.