Date
20-Mar-2021 to 21-Mar-2021 		Location
India International Centre		 Format
National

On March 20 and 21, 2021, the Forum for India’s Development Cooperation (FIDC) brought together civil society, academia and policymakers to deliberate, share and disseminate experiences of India’s development cooperation internationally. The First Annual FIDC Symposium being called ‘Development Cooperation Dialogue (DCD) facilitated sharing of ideas and experiences among development practitioners, policymakers, academia, PhD and M.Phil. students engaged in research across the Indian universities. As Chair of the FIDC, PRIA's Founder-President Dr. Rajesh Tandon 

The main objectives were to provide space for highlighting innovative programmes of India’s development cooperation carried out by the government, business and civil society. Facilitate public visibility to FIDC, thereby inviting more inclusive participation of civil society, business, and academia and government agencies and; inform young scholars, students and practitioners about modalities, perspectives and trends in India’s development cooperation.



Summary Of The Sessions



Session 5: Young Scholars Forum

The session was chaired by Professor V. K. Malhotra (member Secretary ICSSR) & moderated by Dr. Jayanta Choudhury (Associate Professor, NIRDPR-NERC, Guwahati)

The panellists were:

Final remarks and the summarised points made by young researchers were presented by Professor Jyoti Chandiramani (Director, Symbiosis School of Economics, Symbiosis International University).

The session focussed on research ideas in development cooperation emanating from Indian university systems – contributions from PhD and M.Phil. students. In addition, it focussed on South-South academic cooperation in light of SDGs.

The young scholars focussed on the following points:

  1. Energy And Water Cooperation In The South Asia Region

    Even though the sources of fossil fuels are limited in the countries and high demand there is immense potential for new and renewable energy cooperation in the South Asia region. In South Asia, there is huge scope for energy and water cooperation. Also, there are several measures and energy-related projects that have been taken in the region for expanding energy cooperation in region.

  2. Economic Cooperation

    Trade cost is the biggest concern for BRICS countries. WTO e-commerce moratorium on developing countries, which bans countries from applying custom duties on electronic transmissions, developing countries are fast losing revenues. Thus, economic cooperation/ engagement is an important factor for South-South cooperation and its further promotion. Besides, investment in the border areas is crucial for promoting

  3. South-South Trade & Cooperation Amongst The BRICS Nations

    Development Finance institutions, new development finance and sources are emerging in the South. It is being seen in this light that South-South Cooperation has the potential in contributing towards balancing global growth and reducing inequalities of income.


Finally, it is equally important to bring young minds into South-South cooperation and promoting research from young scholars.




Session 6: Impact Assessment

The session was chaired by Mr. Prabodh Saxena, Additional Chief Secretary, and Government of Himachal Pradesh and co-chaired by Dr. K. Seeta Prabhu, Professor, TISS.

The panellists were:

In this session, the values, principles, models and methods of assessing impacts of India’s development cooperation, through a unique south-south perspective were deliberated.

The important points which came up in the deliberations are as follows:

  1. Analysis shows that the number of projects has increased in Africa but the volume of development finance is higher in Asia. Development cooperation from DPA and EXIM bank is diverse from low-income countries to middle level developing countries.
  2. Impact assessment has shown how development cooperation /projects impact different social groups --- ethnic or caste.
  3. An impact assessment should not be conducted at the end of the project but should be part of the project itself.
  4. The desired features or characteristics of assessment of template should include the theory of change, theory of action and their interaction. South-South cooperation is concerned about increasing the size of the cake and also its distribution.
  5. In the development cooperation ecosystem – Triangular cooperation –hybrid model is coming up but the concept and modalities are not clear.



Session 7: Revisiting Indian philosophy Of Partnership
A Grassroots Perspective

This session was chaired by Mr Seshadri Chari, Chairman, China Study Centre, MAHE, Manipal, Karnataka.

The panellists were:

This session discussed the world-views of the local community and tribal leaders who are committed to a shared and cooperative vision of being and living in harmony with natural and human environs. Also how these ideas can become the beacon for humanity, through the ideals of “Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam”.

The focal points of the discussion are as follows:

India should not be considered as an emerging donor, as often referred to in the global development cooperation lexicon. However, development cooperation is not new for us and it started before our independence. India was a leading partner in the Afro-Asian conference in 1946.

Aid Fatigue in developed countries has resulted in relooking the process of global development aid. Therefore, people are now looking towards India and Brazil. It can also be said that they are not emerging donors but should be understood as the emergence of the new development programme.

 

Update prepared by Amit Bhatt, Program Manager, PRIA. Image Credits: Sachin Chaturvedi; Rajesh Tandon; FIDC.