Articles

17 March 2012

The Danish Institute for International Studies recently published the policy brief 'Cooperating with China in Africa'. The policy brief looks at early experiences of OECD donors of cooperating with China in Africa. There is quite some buzz about this so-called trilateral cooperation. The report however states that 'existing activities remain small-scale and largely bilateral, with little African ownership.  

From the policy brief: 

OECD donors, international organisations and non-governmental organisations are increasingly cooperating with China in Africa.This policy brief offers recommendations for policy- makers on how to lay the groundwork for cooperating with China in Africa, but also stresses that the involvement of African partners is critical in fully realizing the benefits such coopera- tion can provide for sustainable development.

The policy recommendations are:

1. Cooperating with China in Africa requires concurrent action in Africa, China and at home.

2. Recognise the diversity of China’s Africa engagement beyond aid.

3. Approach African partners on both cooperation and coordination with China to work to improve sustainable mutual benefits of China’s wider development cooperation along with OECD donor engagement.

4. Build on and adapt previous and existing relations with Chinese institutions in China to establish cooperation efforts on development in Africa.

5. There may be tangible benefits to working with more technically-orientated line ministries, government administrations, independent confederations and Chinese embassies in Africa, rather than with China’s Department of Foreign Aid.

6. Thoroughly consider comparative advantages in Africa and investigate whether such best practices can offer benefits to China, within African development priorities.

7. Start small and apolitical in cooperating with China in Africa, to build the mutual trust and understanding needed for scaling up to larger projects in the future.

Download the policy brief 'Cooperating with China in Africa'