The publication, “Filling the Knowledge Gap in South-South Cooperation: An Evaluation Framework and Its Application in China-Tanzania Cooperation” presents a comprehensive evaluation framework for South-South cooperation (SSC) through an analysis of the China-Tanzania cases. This paper develops a comprehensive alternative evaluation framework taking China’s SSC with Tanzania as an example and attempts to conduct an evaluation of SSC from 5 areas: investment cooperation; agricultural technology transfer; health; infrastructure and poverty reduction. Moreover, it delves beyond the five principles of aid effectiveness and includes economic, political, social, environmental and learning dimensions and their linkages with historical experience.
By reviewing the historical evolution of South-South cooperation, it is proposed that new SSC led by emerging economies like China, Brazil, India and South-Africa are reshaping the global development landscape by providing new mechanisms, resources and knowledge. The paper welcomes diversification of evaluation framework to sustain the unique features of SSC and argues that the purpose of SSC evaluation should not be to make international comparisons but to enhance mutual learning and experience sharing.
