La cooperación Sur-Sur como instrumento de política exterior en Colombia (2011-2024)

Context/objective: The debate on the effectiveness of development aid challenges the political and institutional practices that have shaped the field for over five decades. The transformation of the international development cooperation architecture has generated new dynamics and interactions, reflecting a diversity of actors, goals, and capacities. In this context, South-South Cooperation (SSC) has taken on a strategic role in the relationships among countries of the Global South and, in particular, in Colombia’s foreign policy. Methodology: Given the diversity of countries involved in SSC, this article presents a single descriptive and analytical case study focused on Colombia, aiming to understand the link between SSC and foreign policy. Drawing on a social constructivist perspective, the analysis is structured around two main factors: (i) the evolution of organizational structures and (ii) the contexts and roles adopted by Colombia as both provider and recipient. Conclusions: The article offers methodological tools and conceptual foundations for further exploring the connection between SSC and foreign policy in other Global South countries. It shows how SSC has become an instrument in Colombia’s international agenda and highlights the importance of political leadership and institutional history in its development, as well as the main challenges for measuring effectiveness and achieving inter-institutional coordination. Originality: This study positions SSC as an analytical lens that, from a social perspective, helps explain how practices and ideas are incorporated into international agendas and foreign policy. It also demonstrates that SSC remains an underexplored field within Colombian foreign policy analysis, opening the door to new comparative and analytical approaches.