ABSTRACT
The international development cooperation regime has undergone rapid changes in the early 21st century. The general focus of development cooperation for poverty reduction has shifted from modernisation towards broader sustainable development goals, with the “beyond aid agenda” emphasising the importance of economic growth.
Political and contextual changes in both aid-donating and aid-receiving countries are behind such changes in cooperation. Many aid-donating countries have abandoned altruistic one-way economic or material aid to less-developed countries and their regions. The argument is that past approaches to international development aid have not contributed sufficiently to sustainable economic and social transformation and economic growth in the less-developed countries and their communities.
In the contemporary context, it is expected that reciprocal bilateral and multilateral projects and programs contribute to economic and social development of both aid-donating and receiving countries. Special emphasis is placed on result-oriented partnerships between the private sector, entrepreneurial individuals and innovations. However, the participation in such actions is uneven.
