Resisting South–South Cooperation? Mozambican Civil Society and Brazilian Agricultural Technical Cooperation

Abstract

This chapter offers an insightful and innovative analysis of Brazil’s South–South cooperation policy by focusing in civil society’s perspective and role vis-à-vis the emergent donor practices and motivations. Brazilian development cooperation is framed under a solidarity and mutual benefit narrative, which capitalizes on Brazil’s development experience and knowledge. On the basis of the prosavana Programme in Mozambique, a Japanese–Brazilian initiative to transform the Northern Mozambique agricultural landscape, the chapter explores how Mozambican civil society, accompanied by its Brazilian and Japanese partners have exerted control while demanding accountability and transparency. The authors show that SSC is not exempt from criticism, especially when there are unclear linkages with private interests at the expense of local communities; questioning the win–win, solidarity, and knowledge-transfer principles and practices found in SSC. As Prosavana advances and the civil society opposition consolidate, the debate about the democratization of international cooperation and foreign policy in Brazil and of rural development in Mozambique heats up.

The authors thank Isaline Bergamaschi and Phoebe Moore for their comments on earlier drafts of the chapter.