The Agenda 2030 for sustainable development is one of today`s most globally recognized sustainability agreements and plays a significant role in anchoring international development cooperation among countries in the 21st Century. It is a plan of action for people, planet and prosperity recognizing that eradicating poverty in all its forms and dimensions is an indispensable requirement for sustainable development (UN, 2015). The question that arises with the implementation of the agenda is how global sustainable development can be achieved under a backdrop of inequalities and poverty among the nations of the world.
Rio+20 Secretary-General Sha Zukang, in an article on sustainable development, was quoted stating, “Partnerships and development cooperation among countries will play a key role in accelerating sustainable development.” The author agrees with this statement further adding that sustainable partnership and development cooperation between developed and developing countries is the answer to achieving global sustainable development.
While it may seem as though the case for partnerships and development cooperation particularly with African countries is based solely on humanitarian aid, history reveals otherwise. Many developed countries have a long history of development cooperation with developing African nations. There are two ways in which this cooperation is rolled out namely humanitarian aid (emergency relief) and long-term development cooperation. Long-term development cooperation is the more comprehensive of the two but international media and other public information platforms have always placed an unfair emphasis on the humanitarian aid aspect. This naturally overshadows the long term strategic partnerships that are signed with African countries and only serves to entrench the image that Africa is simply a receiver and not an equal partner in these agreements.
In order to clearly demonstrate that cooperation goes far beyond humanitarian aid and is beneficial to all parties involved, let us look at two examples: the Joint Africa-EU Strategy and the Case of China.
Continental cooperation for mutual benefits: Joint Africa- EU Strategy (JAES)
“To take the Africa-EU relationship to a new strategic level with a strengthened political partnership and enhanced cooperation at all levels.”
Cooperation at a continental level between the Africa Union (AU) and the European Union (EU) is guided by a strategic partnership, which is based on shared values and common interests. In 2007, the Joint Africa-EU Strategy (JAES) was adopted by both partners for a number of reasons namely to forge stronger links between the continents in key areas of cooperation; to deepen the political dialogue and to provide a concrete road map for future joint work (EU, 2018).
One would ask, why would the EU be interested in partnering with African nations?
One would ask, why would the EU be interested in partnering with African nations?
Well, because JAES reflects a bold, ambitious and innovative response to new geopolitical realities such as the emergence of new global players (read China) and major economic changes in Europe and Africa. It is meant to provide an “overarching long-term framework for Africa-EU relations”.
To date, a decade later, JAES has survived the test of time. The end of last year (2017) saw the two continental unions hold the 5th African Union - EU Summit in which the successes and failures of JAES were discussed. According to the official AU- EU Summit press release, it was important to acknowledge that the issues addressed were of equal importance to both Africa and Europe. The summit focused on the challenges that affect both continents such as peace and security, and on their common interests of sustainable, inclusive development that creates economic opportunities for all. The conclusion of the summit was that both unions stood to benefit from the partnership and were still committed to proceed with the relations under an adaptive framework.
Africa is changing China as much as China is changing Africa
"Africa is changing China as much as China is changing Africa" was the title of an interesting piece by a Chinese reporter for Quartz Africa, Lily Kuo. In her article, she pointed out that Chinese people who had traveled to Africa temporarily for work or visit had begun to see it in a new light contrary to previous representations. "They say they can’t go home, because being in Africa has changed them." She stated. It is even more intriguing to see how African presence in China has begun to influence racial undertones in the country. A museum last year was forced to pull down its racist exhibition after African students in China protested to their university deans and petitioned their embassies to raise an outcry. The exhibition was pulled down and official apologies made to their 'African friends'.
Chinese leaders’ have in the past claimed that their cooperation with African countries is selfless and altruistic. The reality however is that Chinese development policy toward Africa is more pragmatic than humanitarian. Aid has been a useful policy instrument for further deals with African countries over resources and cheap labour. During the Cold War, China used humanitarian aid to gain diplomatic recognition in Africa thereby gaining some ground to compete with the United States and the Soviet Union for Africa’s support. It was an important political tool in this period. The Cultural Revolution in the 1960s saw China attempt to spread more influence in Africa by providing large amounts of foreign aid to Africa despite its own domestic economic difficulties. These efforts gave China an economic doorway into Africa and today the country is the leading foreign trade partner on the continent.
Some of China’s biggest companies who had their first overseas ventures in Africa learned lessons that still shape how they operate in other parts of the world today. Tencent, one of China`s largest internet companies is now partly owned by Naspers, a South African company with 33% shareholding. Clearly, African players are not just receivers in these partnership but mutually beneficial partners.
Chinese leaders’ have in the past claimed that their cooperation with African countries is selfless and altruistic. The reality however is that Chinese development policy toward Africa is more pragmatic than humanitarian. Aid has been a useful policy instrument for further deals with African countries over resources and cheap labour. During the Cold War, China used humanitarian aid to gain diplomatic recognition in Africa thereby gaining some ground to compete with the United States and the Soviet Union for Africa’s support. It was an important political tool in this period. The Cultural Revolution in the 1960s saw China attempt to spread more influence in Africa by providing large amounts of foreign aid to Africa despite its own domestic economic difficulties. These efforts gave China an economic doorway into Africa and today the country is the leading foreign trade partner on the continent.
Some of China’s biggest companies who had their first overseas ventures in Africa learned lessons that still shape how they operate in other parts of the world today. Tencent, one of China`s largest internet companies is now partly owned by Naspers, a South African company with 33% shareholding. Clearly, African players are not just receivers in these partnership but mutually beneficial partners.
Conclusion
The author reflects that regardless of where one stands opinion-wise, it is important to note that all countries that cooperate with each other have mutual interests. Providing a higher emphasis on the humanitarian aspects serves to create a moral image for the donor countries which is not an error in itself. The error is the over-emphasis on the humanitarian aspects of cooperation which paints the developing nations as receivers-only who do not contribute to the contractual deals. Development cooperation is mutually beneficial to developed and developing countries and the challenges that exist therein are mutually experienced. Let all nations interested in future partnerships with Africa acknowledge these realities as it is a more honest and sustainable way of development cooperation. All in all, Africa is ready to partner with the world.