The Agência Brasileira de Cooperação (ABC), part of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MFA), negotiates, coordinates, implements and monitors programs and technical cooperation projects in Brazil, performed on the basis of agreements signed by Brazil with other countries and international organizations.
To fulfill its mission, the ABC foreign policy is guided by the ERM and the national development priorities as defined in sectoral plans and programs of government.

TECHNICAL COOPERATION

Concept
The international technical cooperation is an important development tool, helping a country to promote structural changes in their production systems as a way to overcome constraints that hinder its natural growth. The programs implemented under its aegis allow the transfer of knowledge, experience success and sophisticated equipment, thus helping to train human resources and strengthening institutions in the recipient.

Brazil and the International Technical Cooperation
Brazil has been working in partnership with friendly countries and international organizations for nearly four decades. The technical cooperation projects are producing benefits in key sectors such as transport, energy, mining, environment, agriculture, education and health, which led to building stronger institutions, able to perform their duties at a higher level of excellence.
The concept of "partnership for development", adopted by Brazil, consolidates the idea of the cooperative relationship result, to both sides, sharing efforts and benefits. The proposed initiatives are assessed in light of the impact and scope of the recipient communities. This procedure involves improving the mechanisms of negotiation, evaluation and management of projects in order to fit them to national priorities.
International technical cooperation arouses great interest a broad segment of society, including government agencies, NGOs and the general public by allowing a faster access to technologies, knowledge, information and training. 


Types of International Technical Cooperation
The technical cooperation in Brazil is developed along two dimensions: horizontal cooperation and the cooperation received from abroad.

Horizontal Cooperation:
Horizontal cooperation refers to technical cooperation implemented by Brazil with other developing countries, through which it promotes the deepening of their relations and strengthening their political and economic ties.
Horizontal cooperation has gradually been higher in the Brazilian diplomatic agenda. This fact can be proved by the growing number of international acts signed between Brazil and African countries during the past years and, consequently, the number of technical cooperation projects that have been implemented. The Brazilian government signed a Basic Technical Cooperation agreement, document providing the legal framework for the implementation of cooperation actions, with Botswana, Sudan, Burkina Faso, Benin, Gambia and Equatorial Guinea in 2005; with Zambia and Tanzania in 2006; with the African union and Rwanda in 2007; with Swaziland and Sierra Leone in 2009; and with Lesotho in 2010.

Technical cooperation agreements are currently under negotiation with Ethiopia, Comoros, Mauritania, Djibouti, Burundi, Liberia, Uganda and Chad. in 2009, ABC signed an unprecedented agreement with the government of Egypt on the implementation of projects to be carried out by both governments in benefit of third countries. The activities conducted have in 2009 have increased by more than 250% as compared to 2008.

In 2010, more than 300 initiatives are expected to take place, encompassing projects and isolated activities, accounting for a total amount of 65 million dollars, implementation of which is planned to be take place during three years and in 37 countries. These countries are: South Africa, Angola, Algeria, Benin, Burkina Faso, Botswana, Cape Verde, Comoros, Egypt, Gabon, Cameroon, Ghana, Equatorial Guinea, Chad, guinea Bissau, Gambia, Liberia, Lesotho, Malawi, Mozambique, Morocco, Nigeria, Namibia, Kenya, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, the republic of Congo, São Tomé and Principe, Senegal, Sierra Leone, Sudan, Tanzania, Togo, Tunisia, Uganda, Zambia, and Zimbabwe.
Despite needs for cooperation being centered around agriculture, health, education, and vocational training, ABC’s portfolio of projects is quite vast and includes initiatives on e-government, public administration, the environment, it, entrepreneurship, handicrafts, cooperatives, workplace injury prevention, urban development and basic sanitation, biofuels, air transportation, tourism, justice, culture, foreign trade, human rights and sports. The Brazilian cooperation front-line in Africa involves Portuguese-speaking countries.


The Cooperation Received from Abroad:
The cooperation received from abroad to cover bilateral and multilateral technical cooperation, seeks the internalization of expertise provided by international agencies (multilateral cooperation) and more developed countries (bilateral), from the viewpoint of accelerating the process of national development.