The United Nations’ (UN) 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development acknowledges that countries across the African continent require more focussed and scaled-up assistance to ensure that they are supported in protecting the most vulnerable and reaching more universal achievement of the new Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
Both Brazil and the United Kingdom have – in very different ways – been providing cooperation and development assistance to countries across the continent for many years. Given the different approaches to cooperation taken by the UK and Brazil – that of a traditional Development Assistance Committee member and a South-South, horizontal partner respectively, what value and impact could be achieved by a more collaborative and integrated style of cooperation provision for countries in Sub-Saharan Africa through a united partnership?
It is crucial that assistance of any kind is well thought out and supported by enabling conditions on the ground in order to facilitate sustainable, inclusive and sustained socioeconomic development. There will no doubt be a greater say for the Global South in the rules-based international system and a strengthened participation in international decision making and global economic governance, so development cooperation needs to reflect this changing landscape.
How could a blended, modern approach to socially responsible, inclusive and sustainable development best combine the perspectives of upper middle income countries, developed countries and the important voices of the recipients of aid and assistance? What new strategies, policies and partnership could evolve between Brazil and the UK that might deliver additional and more effective development impacts for African countries?
