Lessons learned from the EU-LAC Programme for Triangular Cooperation (ADELANTE) and the OECD Toolkit

Assessing the value added of working in triangular cooperation

Triangular cooperation complements South-South and North-South cooperation by drawing on the best experiences of both modalities, pooling resources and using complementary expertise to co-create innovative development solutions. In triangular cooperation, there is often a tendency either to focus on the development results in the beneficiary country, which neglects the process of joint and mutual learning among all partners, or to emphasize the strong partnership between the pivotal partner and the facilitator, which may give the impression that the beneficiary partner plays a weaker role. 

To make best use of triangular cooperation, it is crucial to consider both dimensions—development and partnership results—as they are mutually reinforcing. Against this backdrop, the European Union (EU) ADELANTE Programme set out to assess the value added of working in triangular cooperation. EU ADELANTE joined forces with the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) in piloting the ‘Toolkit for identifying, monitoring and evaluating the value added of triangular cooperation’. Using the Toolkit, project partners can better assess the results of the partnership, in addition to the envisioned development results. The eight ADELANTE projects, each with its own triangular dynamics, used the OECD Toolkit to assess the value added of triangular cooperation based on their experiences. They provided valuable insights and recommendations for the next phase of the EU ADELANTE Programme. Teams from the EU Commission and OECD supported the process by providing advice and organizing workshops and follow-up calls.  

For example, the Chilean Agency for International Cooperation for Development coordinated a project that has been implemented in Cuba to increase the availability of safe food of animal origin and promote animal health in order to improve food security for the population and achieve SDG 2 on hunger. In addition, the Presidential Agency for International Cooperation of Colombia coordinated a project to support entrepreneurs in developing and strengthening business ideas and to help small- and medium-sized enterprises increase their capacity for innovation. The project has been implemented in Belize, Colombia, Costa Rica, the Dominican Republic, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Nicaragua and Panama to achieve SDG 1 on poverty. Each project has its own dynamics and contributes to the achievement of several SDGs. The OECD Toolkit provides three tools that aim to support projects in designing, implementing and evaluating triangular cooperation.  

The first tool identifies the value added of triangular cooperation using a checklist of six areas in which it may typically add value from a partnership perspective. It is derived from the work of the Global Partnership Initiative (GPI) on Effective Triangular Cooperation and broad international consultation. The six areas are: ownership and trust; complementarity and increasing coordination in development cooperation; sharing knowledge and learning jointly; co-creating solutions and flexibility; enhancing volume, scope and sustainability; and achieving global and regional development goals through strengthened partnerships for sustainable development. 

The second tool provides guidance on developing results chains and indicators to account for the value added of triangular cooperation.  

In working with the Toolkit, OECD learned valuable lessons on the importance of consciously designing projects with a triangular cooperation mindset. Planning projects to capture the value added of triangular cooperation will help to employ this modality more strategically and for greater impact. After all, triangular cooperation is a means to achieving the SDGs and national and regional development goals, not an end in itself. Based on this and future pilot exercises, the OECD Toolkit will be revised and adapted to best fit current demands, with the ultimate goal of supporting partners to engage more effectively in triangular cooperation projects and programmes. 

Furthermore, the project reinforced the partnership between OECD and the EU Commission, as well as with the ADELANTE project representatives that contributed to this exercise. They found it to be insightful, enriching and inspiring. They also confirmed that the OECD Toolkit provided useful support in incorporating partnership objectives into project design, monitoring and evaluation. The results of this joint exercise could be replicated and scaled up to other regions, especially as the European Commission is stepping up its engagement in triangular cooperation around the world. A community of practice on triangular cooperation is forming through international meetings on triangular cooperation in Lisbon and the work of the GPI. Sharing these experiences will be useful for further partners worldwide and may change the way in which the international community discusses, plans and implements triangular cooperation on a global scale.