No.24 Development Cooperation by Emerging Countries: Rising Importance, Yet an Inclusive Architecture Remains Elusive

  • #Literature Reviews
  • Existing studies show that as the conventional international development architecture centered on traditional development partners—particularly the OECD Development Assistance Committee (DAC)—faces a turning point, the importance of South–South Cooperation (SSC) by emerging development partners is increasing.
  • SSC invokes principles such as equality, mutual benefit, non-interference in domestic affairs, non-binding arrangements, and ownership. It includes dimensions that cannot be fully captured by the DAC framework and norms for Official Development Assistance (ODA), although its practices are highly diverse.
  • Future global development architecture needs to operate in a multilayered manner. Rather than pursuing integration or convergence toward a single set of norms, an objective that previous efforts have not succeeded in achieving, it should be premised on the coexistence and interconnection of diverse architectures. In particular, this points to the need for a framework characterized by non-binding and voluntary arrangements, respect for diversity, and due consideration of the experiences of emerging development partners.
  • In this context, Japan should accumulate practical experience in collaboration and mutual learning with emerging development partners through Triangular Cooperation (TrC) and related bilateral cooperation. Japan should build on the concept of knowledge co-creation, which is linked to the characteristics of SSC, to contribute to an inclusive global development architecture premised on the coexistence and interconnection of diverse architectures.

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Author
AKUTSU Kentaro
Date of issuance
October 2026
Language
English
Number of pages
16
Topics
  • #Japan's Development Cooperation
  • #Emerging Donors
Research area
Development Cooperation Strategies
Research project