South-South Cooperation: How Does Gender Equality Factor in the

Emerging Multilateralism?Presentation by Dr. Frannie Léautier

ACBF Executive Secretary at the

North-South Institute Conference Ottawa, Canada

20 – 21 June, 2011

IntroductionGlobal south is emerging as a large market which is attracting investors

globally

Better linkages amongst countries in the south also have a gender dimension in the exchange of resources, technology, and knowledge across countries

A number of issues relating to gender need specific attention including access to education by girls and women; risks of trafficking of women and children;Gender, trade and regional integration; poverty levels among women; democracy, human rights, and gender; intellectual property rights, indigenous knowledge and the role of women etc

Data and analysis are critical to deal with these issues and there is a role for capacity development to be targeted to these issues

African Capacity Building Foundation can make a contribution in addressing issues of capacity gaps and the many facets of capacity challenges that the African continent is currently grappling with

There is an opportunity to draw on the the experiences of the African Women’s Development Fund (AWDF)j –based in Ghana yet operating continentally

Introduction• Global south is emerging as a large market which is attracting investors

globally

• Better linkages amongst countries in the south also have a gender dimension in the exchange of resources, technology and knowledge across countries

• A number of issues relating to gender need specific attention including access to education by girls and women; risks of trafficking of women and children; Gender, trade and regional integration; poverty levels among women; democracy, human rights and gender; intellectual property rights, indigenous knowledge and the role of women, etc

• Data and analysis are critical to deal with these issues and there is a role for capacity development to be targeted to these issues

• African Capacity Building Foundation (ACBF) can make a contribution in addressing issues of capacity gaps and the many facets of capacity challenges that the African continent is currently grappling with

• There is opportunity to draw on the experiences of the African Women’s Development Fund (AWDF) – based in Ghana yet operating continentally

South-South Cooperation - Perspective• South-South Cooperation conceived as an expression

of solidarity amongst developing countries• Way to coordinate and collaborate outside of traditional approaches including north-

south cooperation

• Knowledge exchange between emerging and developing countries

• Similarity of interests and challenges• Narrower gap in development

• Shift in international balance of power• Economic• Political

• Opportunity to leapfrog development• No need to re-invent the wheel• Share success stories

South-South CooperationDeveloping

Country Developing

Country •Trade•Regional Integration•Knowledge Exchange•Sharing success stories

EmergingCountry

DevelopingCountry

•Trade•Regional Integration•Transfer of knowledge and expertise•Development partnership•Capacity development

Forms of South-South Cooperation•Economic integration

•Technical cooperation

•Capacity development

•Negotiating blocs

•Trade

•Humanitarian assistance

•Military cooperation

The Changing Aid Environment and Effect of New Entrants in Aid

Benefits of Aid and Level of Aid Effect of New Aid Entrants

Aid, trade, foreign and security policy

New players

Benefits

LevelK^/N K*/N

K^ = benefit maximizing level of aidK* = socially optimal level of aid

ODA level

1970-79 1980-89 1990-99 2000-09

10+8.9

+1.1

+4.9

PortugalSpain

GreeceKorea

China

Aid levels in US$ billionsOECD DAC Countries

Data on Aid from OECD-DAC

Drivers for South-South Cooperation•Strengthening Economic ties

•Technological transfers

•Mutual benefit

•Philosophy of non-interference

•Mutual respect and Trust

•Demand driven

•Sense of shared destiny

•Similar challenges

Shortcomings of South-South Cooperation• Limited mutual benefit for countries in similar situation

• Big brother syndrome still prevalent

• Insufficient transparency and accountability

• International conventions can be set aside• Human rights• Gender equality• Work ethics

• Dependency syndrome

Gender Inequality - Consequences

• Human trafficking

• Low literacy and education

• High unemployment

• Majority poor

Adult literacy improving but still distance to go on the attainment levels by women: literacy rate (%)

Source: Calculated using data from World Bank Datafinder

Female employment by sector (%)Source: World Bank Datafinder

Gender and South-South Cooperation:Sharing experiences – what works and what does not

• Affirmative action for Gender equality• Education• Trade • Regional Integration• Property rights including Intellectual property rights• Control of resources• Political and democratic process

• Millennium Development Goal (MDG) No. 3

• Inclusion in the development process• Participatory development

• Partnerships for learning

Capacity: Innovation, Learning, and Gender

Economic Prosperity,High Productivity

Social Equality, Tolerance, Environmental Sustainability

Polity representswill of the citizens

High AdministrativeCapability

1800

1900

2000

Source: Adapted from Lant Pritchett, 2010 and Carl Dahlman, 2007

Capacity: Where to start?• Build capacity– for new and emerging challenges

– Universities need to be relevant for Africa’s emerging and future problems

• Utilize existing capacity – where it exists to deliver on key objectives

– Higher education institutions have talented people who can be leveraged in critical areas of capacity

• Develop new capacity – where what exists is not sufficient for enhanced performance

– Universities can provide the space for re-skilling, retooling and continuous learning to bridge the performance gap in the public and private sector

Capacity is Development – Role of Education in augmenting capacity

• Education provides the foundation for strategic thinking and development initiatives– Basic knowledge and skills for strategic thinking– Capacity to formulate policies and programs for development– Capacity to implement development programs– Skills and knowledge for follow through

• Education provides ground for research and innovation– Generation of new ideas (research, development, piloting)– Testing of ideas (assessment, evaluation, benchmarking)– Sharing of ideas (libraries, workshops, seminars, conferences,

publications)

Citizens engaged in decision-making: Progress in level of dialogue and inclusion in Africa has improved because women have been engaged in dialogue on development

Source: ACI, 2010

Level of dialogue and inclusion at country level (%)

Innovations that transform sectors employing women: From farm to fork

• Agriculture value added as share of GDP (%) higher in countries that tap into science and technology, regional markets and use entrepreneurial skills for farming

• Most countries still need to define agricultural policies and implement them

Country 1980 1990 2000Mozambique 37.1% 37.1% 24.0%South Africa 6.20% 4.6% 3.3%

0 20 40 60

Most countries still need to define agricultural policies and implement them (% with such capacity in 2010 according to ACI)

Quality of Education and Gender (repeaters, primary, female (% female enrollment)

Source: World Bank Datafinder

Big improvement7%

Small improvement43%

Decline30%

No change20%

Innovations that unlock potential of women and girls and raise productivity: Case of

Water• From head carrying to Yoke

carrying Rolling water using the Q-Drum

Conclusions• Borderless global world

• Deepening policy interdependency

• South-South Cooperation – key tool for capacity development

• Need for innovative strategies to enhance role of gender in south-south cooperation

• South-south cooperation catalyzing debate around aid effectiveness

• Meaningful participation of non-state actors crucial for accountability

• It is critical to capture innovations and create a platform for countries to learn from each other to speed up implementation

• Triangular Cooperation• South-South Cooperation Thank you for Listening…

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