Abstract: India’s increasing economic and political clout has prompted a spurt in the volume and complexity of its overseas development assistance. Looking ahead, the largest incremental capital for global development and infrastructure beyond what exists today will also come from India as the value of its economy grows from $2 trillion to roughly $7 trillion by 2030. However, the DPA – India’s development cooperation agency – is yet to assume an authoritative role in steering the country’s development partnerships. This paper explores the mechanisms to create an institutional framework that is: (a) well aligned with India’s interests; (b) employs accountable and fair processes for allocation, dispersion, and delivery; and (c) ensures the delivery of development priorities of partner states. It examines the models and mechanisms used by a selection of old and new donors, to mine lessons for suitable interventions for India. The paper argues that the success of the Indian development agency will depend on traditional factors like size, role, clarity of mandate, and the staff’s level of specialisation, as well as the readiness among leadership to adapt to new environments and structures.
Post description
- Publication year: 2017
- Content type: Research paper
- Form of cooperation: Comprehensive (lines of credit, grants and loans, and technical assistance).
- Cooperation context: Multilateral
- Recipient country: Multiple countries
- Sector: Multisectoral
- Institution (publication): Observer Research Foundation
- Author (and co-authors): Urvashi Aneja & Tanoubi Ngangom
- Keywords: India’s development institutional architecture; Development Partnership Administration (DPA); cultural diplomacy; UK department for international development (DfID); German agency for international development (GIZ); Japanese international cooperation agency (JICA); South Korean international cooperation agency (KOICA); China’s department of foreign aid at the Ministry of Commerce (MOFCOM)
- Link: ORF site