A/HRC/21/44 the requirements of the Brazilian Constitution on non-intervention, respect for sovereignty and self-determination. 30. The head of the Brazilian Cooperation Agency (ABC) described Brazilian cooperation as an exchange between equals, rather than an interaction between donor and recipient. Brazilian cooperation is in the image of the Brazilian people, a nation with mixed societies that live in peace. They are in many ways idealistic, and despite the poverty, a strong feeling of solidarity, rather than pity, prevails. Cooperation should be seen as more than solving problems; it is a dialogue between nations and peoples to address problems together. 31. An important feature of Brazilian technical cooperation is that both partners learn from each other in the exchange of experiences and knowledge, affirming ―reciprocal solidarity‖ among peoples. It is a participatory engagement in which partner countries are not passive recipients but are actively involved right from the stage of negotiation, ensuring that cooperation methodology is appropriate to the context of the local reality. B. Structure and scope 32. The Brazilian Cooperation Agency, which is affiliated to the Ministry of External Relations, is the agency mandated to negotiate, coordinate, implement and monitor technical cooperation programmes in which Brazil participates. ABC provides guidance to other Brazilian agencies regarding cooperation opportunities involving Brazil, supporting the preparation of projects, coordinating negotiations between the parties involved, monitoring and evaluating project implementation, and publicizing information on project development and results. This has made it possible to propagate technical knowledge from Brazilian institutions to their counterparts in more than 80 developing countries. It therefore requires a commitment to cooperation on the part of public agencies and entities, private universities and civil society organizations involved in the partnership. 33. Brazilian international technical cooperation is a demand-driven process based on solidarity between developing countries, with the aim of helping partner countries to strengthen their institutions and human resources. Thus the main goal of Brazilian SouthSouth technical cooperation is capacity development. Partner countries benefit from an effective transfer of knowledge, and from the exchange of experiences previously developed under similar socio-economic realities. 34. Technical cooperation, scholarships for foreigners, international humanitarian cooperation, and contribution to international organizations are the main modalities of what Brazil defines as ―Brazilian cooperation for international development.‖ Agriculture, food security and nutrition, health, education and vocational training are the key areas of cooperation. Brazilian cooperation in Africa also aims to strengthen relations with African Portuguese-speaking countries (PALOPs): Angola, Cape Verde, Guinea Bissau, Mozambique, and São Tomé and Príncipe. The key focus for Asian cooperation projects is in East Timor, with an emphasis on agriculture and food security, education, the judicial system, vocational training and public administration. Brazil has recently initiated relations with four Asian countries that belong to the group of Least Developed Countries (LDC): Afghanistan, Cambodia, Laos and Myanmar. 35. South-South cooperation contributes to consolidating the relations of Brazil with partner countries as it enhances general interchange; generates, disseminates and applies technical knowledge; builds human resource capacity; and, mainly, strengthens institutions in all nations involved while at the same time reinforcing public policies in Brazil. Brazilian cooperation agreements are in place with 30 developing countries in South, Central and 7