What is the Economic Engagement Footprint of Rising Powers in Africa?

Abstract

The role of rising powers has become increasingly important in international development. Some of these countries base their development assistance strategy on the ‘South–South Cooperation’ framework, centred on a notion of equal partner relationships and extending cooperation beyond aid flows. Our research shows that rising powers’ economic engagement with countries in sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) is not that different to that of OECD countries in relation to sector and country allocations of aid, trade and Foreign Direct Investment (FDI). As such, the ‘South–South’ cooperation framework does not yet appear to be distinctive when looking at aggregate economic flows.