THE INFLUENCE OF SOUTH-SOUTH COOPERATION ON OTHER FORMS OF COOPERATION

THE CASE OF IPC-IG COLLABORATION IN THE ELABORATION OF A CASH TRANSFER PROGRAMME FOR CAPE VERDE

Abstract

This paper presents a strategy for implementing a cash transfer program (CTP) in Cape Verde. It is based on a project that was demanded by the country’s government, together with the country office of the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP Cape Verde). The project was executed by the International Policy Center for Inclusive Growth (IPC-IG), with the support from local government agents, civil society workers and other international institutions. Despite the fact that this relationship does not qualify as a South-South Cooperation (seen as it was not a direct cooperation between two countries), this project serves as evidence of the positive contribution that South-South Cooperation generates among other areas of international partnerships for development. Thus, we argue that IPC-IG’s contribution followed procedural characteristics common to South-South Cooperation.The article begins with a literature review from the international relations and political science context of South-South Cooperation and policy transfers. We then provide a brief overview of the emergence of international organizations dedicated to promoting models of cooperation and development strongly influenced by the recent experience of emerging countries like Brazil, China and India. Specifically, the text emphasizes the complementary characteristics of South-South Cooperation between Brazil and Cape Verde, and that of the partnership for development that was executed by IPC-IG. Apart from contributing to the debate about different forms of international cooperation, this article offers a perspective about practical aspects related to the elaboration of a CTP in Cape Verde.