South Africa

South Africa often refers to itself as a “development partner” due to its dual role as an aid donor and an aid recipient. Despite the growth of its economy – in 2010 its gross national income (GNI) was US$305 billion (higher than Finland’s) – it still has a plethora of domestic issues such as high HIV/AIDS rates, significant levels of under-five child mortality and low life expectancy. In 2011 it was ranked 123 out of 187 countries in the Human Development Index. While South Africa receives relatively low levels of humanitarian aid (its highest amount was US$7.5 million in 2008), it still receives substantial levels of official development assistance (ODA). In 2009 it received US$1.1 billion, ranking it the 22nd largest recipient for that year.

South Africa’s history as a development partner dates back to the apartheid era, when it extended support to African countries such as Lesotho, Gabon, Côte d’Ivoire and Equatorial Guinea. Its transition into democracy in the mid-1990s helped shape its foreign policy, with development assistance primarily targeting other African nations. After the country’s first democratic elections in 1994, aid became untied and by 2000 South Africa’s Development Assistance Program was replaced by the African Renaissance and International Co-operation Fund, or African Renaissance Fund (ARF). The African Renaissance and International Co-operation Fund Act (Act No. 51 of 2000) was adopted on 22 January 2001, and stated that South Africa’s development cooperation would focus predominantly on African countries and would emphasise the promotion of democracy, humanitarian aid, prevention and resolution of conflict and good governance.

Aid is currently administered through the ARF, which is managed by the Department of International Relations and Cooperation (DIRCO). In 2011 it was announced that the South African Development Partnership Agency would be launched, acting as South Africa’s first development aid agency; however, this is still pending.