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Home»GSDRC Publications»Benefits of South South Cooperation

Benefits of South South Cooperation

Helpdesk Report
  • Iffat Idris
March 2026

Question

What are the benefits of South-South cooperation (SSC), and what are the different approaches to this?

Summary

This K4DD Rapid Evidence Review explores the benefits of South-South cooperation, and the different approaches to cooperation.

South-South cooperation (SSC) entails a wide range of collaboration among countries of the Global South, promoting collective action in relation to (among others) the economy, politics and the environment, and based on principles such as equality, national sovereignty and mutual benefit. It is much wider in scope than official development assistance (ODA), but this review focuses on SSC for development cooperation.

SSC has gained in prominence in recent decades, and represents a very different approach to ‘traditional’ North-South international development cooperation. Successful examples of SSC highlight its benefits, including cost-effectiveness, self-reliance and sustainability.

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Suggested citation

Idris, I. (2025). Benefits of South-South Cooperation. K4DD Rapid Evidence Review 315. Brighton, UK: Institute of Development Studies. DOI: 10.19088/K4DD.2025.119

University of Birmingham

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Outputs supported by DFID are © DFID Crown Copyright 2026; outputs supported by the Australian Government are © Australian Government 2026; and outputs supported by the European Commission are © European Union 2026

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