Chapter 5 | Page 196 expenditure that is important for development processes’.40 Technical cooperation provides partners with ‘advice and know-how, thus helping to develop sustainable capacities for managing the development processes.’41 In the OECD definition, technical co-operation includes free-standing technical co-operation aimed at transferring technical and managerial skills and technology for capacity building at the national level as well as investmentrelated technical co-operation in services related to specific projects.42 While the benefits of such activities are significant, a common criticism is that they lack sustainability, particularly when technical advice is provided by experts from the donor countries.43 This ‘supply orientation’ of technical co-operation does not help to create local capacity or make use of locally available knowledge and solutions. Exclusive procurement of expertise from donor countries can reduce the overall flow of benefits to the recipient State. 5.2.2 Comparing modes of delivery: Bilateral, multilateral and regional co-operation mechanisms Given the diversity of actors and structures, international assistance and cooperation programmes are delivered through multiple modes, including multilateral, bilateral and regional arrangements. All these modes of delivery have advantages and disadvantages. From an ESC rights perspective, the multilateral system has a number of advantages, particularly in relation to incorporating human rights objectives into aid programmes and pooling best practices from around the world. The potential efficiency gains in management and delivery are also likely to improve the utilisation of these resources.44 This view is supported by research 40 Klingebiel, above n 3, 56. 41 Ibid. 42 Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development, Glossary of Statistical Terms: Technical Co-operation Grants <http://stats.oecd.org/glossary/detail.asp?ID=6022>. 43 Klingebiel, above n 3. 44 Ibid., 28.