Emerging economies and the development aid discourse
CIVICUS provides an analysis on the rise of southern development actors from a civil society perspective.
In an increasingly multi-polar and rapidly changing world, new identities and alliances are being forged between governments, businesses and civil society.
As the centre of global geo-politics continues to shift, much attention is being focused on the BRICS (Brazil, Russia, India, China, South Africa) group of emerging economies and the IBSA (India, Brazil and South Africa) group of emerging democracies as their heft in global political and economic affairs increases by the day.
Although there is an overlap in membership in these two alliances, there are also significant differences between them.
The BRICS alliance is driven primarily by trade and commerce with a focus on cooperation between five rapidly expanding economies who see themselves as a bulwark against the entrenched hegemony of the twentieth century global economic order. BRICS constituents position their developmental agenda and world view as being clearly aligned with the global ‘south,’ challenging the control of international financial institutions and global trading systems by a handful of traditionally rich countries.
The IBSA trilateral on other hand positions itself as a coordinating mechanism between three “multi-ethnic and multi-cultural democracies” bringing their voices together on global issues and deepening their ties in multiple areas of common interest. Although IBSA is focusing on multi-sectoral cooperation, the trilateral has also been formulating joint positions at multilateral forums, including at the UN Human Rights Council. There is a joint IBSA civil society fund that seeks to promote development and achievement of the Millennium Development Goals in southern countries. All three IBSA countries also proudly underscore their democratic credentials at various forums.
Implications for global civil society and development cooperation
A key question therefore is about the implications of the growing power of BRICS and IBSA countries both individually and collectively for global civil society and development cooperation. Although, the constituents of these alliances provide overseas development assistance (ODA) to other countries in varying degrees, one thing is definite - the extent of their ODA is likely to grow at an exceptionally rapid pace in the coming years.
For global civil society, it is vital that these emerging donors hold fast to principles agreed to in the 3rd High Level Forum on Aid Effectiveness at Accra in 2008, including the recognition of civil society as independent actors in their own right with a legitimate stake in the processes that determine the prioritisation and disbursement of aid.
Civil society must be involved
A key area of concern from civil society’s point of view is that while aid is offered to other developing countries by BRICS countries, there is an overall lack of information about the quantum and basis on which aid is given by them. Civil society is notably absent from BRICS meetings and summits. Additionally, there is the question of BRICS countries’ limited participation in ongoing multi-lateral processes to ensure harmonisation and transparency of aid. Traditional donor countries are involved in multiple processes and discussions to reduce aid overlap, faulty prioritisation and wastage.
One such process is the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) working party on Aid Effectiveness wherein donor and recipient governments, the public and private sectors as well as civil society regularly meet to chalk out strategies and challenges related to aid. It is incumbent that traditional donors that lead the process reach out to the newly emergent BRICS countries to ensure utilisation and prioritisation of aid money.
Civil society is notably absent from BRICS meetings and summits.
Moreover, no meaningful discussion on aid effectiveness can take place without acknowledging the lack lustre achievement on Millennium Development Goals targets, which are currently off track. Among the many reasons for the sad state of affairs are widespread official nepotism and corruption, as well as political and social upheavals in many aid recipient countries. This reiterates once again the importance of addressing the democratic deficit in governance through greater civil society involvement in development processes.
Greater south-south cooperation
One way to achieve the above could be through greater south-south cooperation led by the democratic trio of IBSA countries. Their correspondingly vibrant civil societies are also exceptionally well placed to connect with their peers in the developing world to promote sustainable development underpinned by democratic values. But this will require some key foreign policy shifts for which civil society needs to lobby hard. In the past, IBSA governments perhaps mindful of their own inadequacies have taken a more nuanced approach towards promoting democratic freedoms in other southern jurisdictions. Nevertheless, the time for them to start owning the global human rights and development agenda - hitherto led by western democracies - is now.
At present, all eyes are on the 4th High Level Forum on Aid Effectiveness to later this year. Representatives from most UN member states will be present to discuss strategies on how to ensure effective utilisation of aid for meaningful development. CIVICUS and allied civil society groups are hoping that substantial progress will be made by decision makers to guarantee the effectiveness of development aid by including all stakeholders – governments, parliaments, local communities, the private sector and importantly, civil society. The quest to finding solutions to pressing issues which are reversing the effectiveness of aid such as political fragility, conflict and climate change needs to take centre stage.
Notably, the spotlight will also be on emerging economies as they straddle the twin realities of being recipients of aid in the past and present as well as large providers of aid in the future. It is vital that in bilateral and multi-lateral aid transfers that they commit to upholding international principles on aid and development effectiveness agreed at previous high level forums. At stake is the creation of stable, just and equitable societies.
Without doubt, emerging economies have a key role to play in Busan. What remains to be seen is the process and the extent to which this happens.
Written by Mandeep S. Tiwana, Policy Manager, CIVICUS: World Alliance for Citizen Participation.
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