Political Foundations: Development Cooperation between State and Society

Development cooperation today, and in the post-2015 period, faces different challenges compared to those in the past. The developing world is more diversified - from powerful emerging economies, to those heavily dependent on non-renewable resources, through to least developed countries dependent on aid and fragile states lacking governmental structures or basic security. These diverse processes of development take place in a world ever more integrated by global markets and instantaneous communication. Development cooperation tries to promote human development but faces significant obstacles and conflicting interests in recipient and donor countries, whose
policies towards the developing world lack coherence or overwhelming public support. This paper will argue that in a rapidly changing world with often threatened, weak or non-existing democracies, Political Foundations fill a gap between public policies, globalized markets and civil society efforts by offering services which transcend the borders between states and between public and private actors. Political Foundations have access to parties, communities and institutions that can raise awareness on development issues, articulate human
needs and build sustainable advocacy for socioeconomic and ecological development. They provide transnational networks linking societal and political groups with different values and identities, thus enabling dialogue that is indispensable for finding common approaches and resolving conflicts of interest. They can enhance the effectiveness of development cooperation by improving coherence and giving a voice to people whose security, welfare and dignity development cooperation wants to improve.