Emerging Actors in International Development

Abstract

Under the leadership of former President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva (2003-2010) and his successor, Dilma Rousseff (2011- ), Brazil has emerged as an important donor within the international development system. Within this context, Africa has stood out as a meaningful partner for Brazil’s development initiatives. This paper analyses the dynamics of Brazilian Cooperation for International Development (COBRADI) with Portuguese-speaking countries in Africa (PALOP) between 2003 and 2014. It examines both the implementation of initiatives, pondering over the relative importance of the PALOP within Brazil’s development assistance to Africa, as well as the dynamics of solidarity and interests that shape Brazilian cooperation with Africa. The analysis of discourse and practice suggests that the PALOP clearly stand out as prominent partners to COBRADI; beyond that, it suggests that self-interest and solidarity are not excluding dynamics in Brazil’s development cooperation.

Keywords

• Brazil-Africa development cooperation
• Brazil-Africa relations
• COBRADI
• emerging donors
• international development
• PALOP