Roundtable in Delhi explores India's development cooperation in a changing global environment

On 6^th March Saferworld and Indian partner organisation, the Observer Research Foundation (ORF) hosted a roundtable in Delhi on “India's development cooperation in a changing global environment ” with a special focus on conflict affected states.

The keynote address was delivered by India’s top development official P.S. Raghavan; with other presentations by eminent Indian foreign policy analysts, the Head of DFID India, and speakers from South Africa, Brazil, and Myanmar. The roundtable highlighted the need to understand India’s own development tradition of South-South Cooperation, while interrogating India’s ‘demand-driven’ approach to development – whose demands does it respond to? Participants affirmed the fact that development is a political process – which means that development cooperation is inevitably political too. There was a particular focus upon the challenges of engaging in conflict-affected states, drawing upon the cases of Myanmar, Angola and South Sudan. Key points raised included the need for external actors to understand the conflict context; the importance of consulting with local stakeholders; and avoiding the displacement of local communities wherever possible

“Given India’s growing role in overseas development, this event provided an unprecedented opportunity for members of India’s policy community to discuss the challenges of engaging in conflict affected states, and to consider the experiences of other international actors” said Ivan Campbell, Saferworld Senior Conflict & Security Adviser

Saferworld is researching the impact rising powers, such as China and India, have on peace and security in conflict-affected states; and using this evidence to inform policy dialogue in the West and in rising powers themselves.

The Delhi roundtable was the culmination of a nine-month process of consultation with Indian stakeholders. Saferworld and ORF will be publishing a joint Issue Brief on the key themes and ways forward emerging from the roundtable.

For further information about the round-table please read the report the Observer Research Foundation, New Delhi, first published on the Observer Research Foundation website.

Read more about Saferworld's work on Rising Powers.

“This event provided an unprecedented opportunity for members of India’s policy community to discuss the challenges of engaging in conflict affected states”

Ivan Campbell