Latin America and Caribbean Regional Summary

Bogotá, September 2011

TT-SSC Analytical Work

Alejandra S. KernLara Weisstaub

Numbers and diversity

15 case studies, 25 case stories southern universities, northern research centre,

individual experts and a regional organization. Case studies involve more than 47 actors

(countries, cities, international organization and NGOs).

SSC is an heterogeneous world… different sizes of bilateral, triangular and

regional intergovernmental projects interregional, decentralized, cross-border and

non governmental initiatives.

LAC particularities

The region shows a rich history of technical, political and economic

cooperation, as well as networking experiences and regional institutions

building. SSC appears as an spontaneous and

multidimensional process.

Main findings regarding Accra Mandate

Ownership is a constitutive factor. It has been mainly verified in political dialogue, policy implementation, practitioner’s testimonies and the local use of knowledge after a project..

“Mutual accountability” follows flexible implementation schemas. Responsibilities could vary according to context changes and partners strengths. SSC needs a flexible result framewor k.

Deficit regarding the information systems. Informal mechanisms. In the context of limited resources IS should avoid overburden practitioners and focus on country-led learning. The use of IT proved to facilitate project management and may also help systematization.

Main findings regarding Accra Mandate

Development challenges. Identification is contingent. Possible solutions to similar problems are usually identified in a process of interaction and dialogue between stakeholders. “Lived experience” is highly value

Practitioners’ behavior have been noted as a relevant factor. Institutions should provide encouraging environment, opening space for participation and setting recognition mechanisms

Building Horizontal Partnerships for Development Cooperation

Actors’ perception and mechanisms that allow establishing more equitable relations. Identity, confidence building, long term relations, coordination and responsibility schemas

Ensuring an effective role of practitioners and promote practice-policy alliances

Empathy, expert knowledge, personal compromise are key elements. Also social awareness encourages their dedication and effort to carry out their tasks. Professional abilities should be complemented by strong communication skills.links between technicians and politicians around values and objectives shearing

Key outcomes

Developing Capacities of South-South partners

Capacity development is a multidimensional process: South partners should strength the ability to design and link different dimensions It is also a two way process:  Both partners improve their abilities in seeking cooperation. Partners learn “in the making”

Key outcomes

Complementing strengths and establishing win-win-win models through triangular cooperation

•Diversity: TC arises in different ways; Arrangements and implementation modalities also differ.

•Several factors affect the way that triangulation is developed: the previous relations between the actors, the way in which each parner satisfies their own interests in the process, the coordination models and the way the strengths of each actor converge.

•Symbolic factors add value

•Overlap of information schemas: it is necessary to define an specific and integrated mechanism among the three partners

Key outcomes

Scaling up knowledge sharing

SS knowledge sharing goes far beyond the notion of "transfer" and involves a complex learning dynamic

SSC enables successful experiences from leading countries to be share. Interactions between partners and institutional local capacity are key for successful.

Networks and regional frameworks are existing mechanisms that promotes knowledge shearing.

Key outcomes

Additional Issues

Key outcomes

•Although attempts were don a new lexicon is needed

•Politics constitute a relevant factor that guides SSC in the region

•Contextual factors (elite´s political arrangements, social structure, economic performance, etc.) differ from country to country .These variations seem to be better addressed, the more flexible the agreements are and the more space to informal exchange and adaptation mechanisms is given.

•The wide diversity of cases that qualify as SSC turns necessary developing typologies and characterizations that permit ordering the field.

Thank you!

Alejandra Kern

Alejandra.kern@gmail.com