Paper short abstract:

This paper draws on empirical evidence from Zambia to demonstrate the geopolitical and economic ambitions that underlie TDC projects. It discusses the implications of these findings on the changing geographies of global power and recommendations for enhancing sustainable development outcomes in TDC.

Paper long abstract:

Trilateral development cooperation development (TDC) has emerged as one of the key modalities for facilitating South-South-North partnerships, knowledge exchange and technology transfers. Most policy-oriented studies on TDC tend to concentrate on the technical aspects of its administration and the best approach to ensuring coordination. However, there are multiple layers of power, politics and interests driving the institutions and countries engaging in TDC, which have potential to constrain the development effectiveness of each project. This paper draws on empirical evidence from Zambia to demonstrate the geopolitical and economic ambitions that underlie TDC projects at the institutional, national and global scale. It discusses the implications of these findings on the changing geographies of global power in light of the Covid-19 pandemic, and makes recommendations for enhancing sustainable development outcomes in TDC projects.