Dilemma? What graduation dilemma? Colombia and the future of development cooperation

The ‘rise of the South’ has received growing attention, but the focus has been limited to some unique emerging countries. Understanding international transformation from the viewpoint of rising middle-income countries requires considering a broader range of experiences. With this aim, this paper presents the case study of Colombia and its development cooperation graduation process based on process tracing through archival research, content analysis of policy documents, and interviews. The case presents a unique blend of characteristics: an upper-middle-income country that has been a member of the OECD since 2020, yet it remains the region’s largest recipient of cooperation. Colombia’s experience shows how, after thirty years since starting the graduation process, a country can increase received cooperation while gaining recognition through modest South-South cooperation investment and strategic diplomacy.