Recently, there has been a concerted effort by the Brazilian government to project their country as a “serious” power on the international stage. After many years of what might be considered a failure to realize potential, Brazil is finally beginning to understand its value as a major contributor to world affairs. Given its strategic position as the second most important country in the Western Hemisphere, and arguably the most important country in the Southern Hemisphere, Brazil is poised to become an international power the likes of which South America has never seen. To take full advantage of the opportunities that will present Brazil in the coming years, it is imperative that the Dilma regime strengthens its reputation through increased international cooperation efforts with emerging markets. The arrival of the World Cup and the Olympics will act as a catalyst for Brazil to get the recognition it desires. As enjoyable and profitable as these years of international exposure may be, they will ultimately be short-lived and have a fleeting long-term impact, unless the Brazilian government uses the platform granted to it to set long-term plans to establish the “Brazil Brand” in foreign markets. Nowhere is this opportunity more easily accessible to the Brazilian government and private sector than on the African continent. The long-standing ties between the people of Brazil and the west coast of Africa, through the slave trade and natural migrations, form an organic connection between the two entities found in no other region of the world. With a majority Afro-descendant population and the largest concentration of individuals of African descent outside of Nigeria, Brazil is a unique situation... in the middle of the paper... well-intentioned ideas, have ended up damaging the the continent's prospects for development in ways that cannot easily be reversed. In many ways, Brazil has a great opportunity to demonstrate that its “South-South” approach is more sustainable for long-term growth and integration. At the same time, Brazil has the opportunity to introduce new models in the development arena, which remains dominated by OECD countries. Given that only ten years ago Brazil was an aid recipient and had not yet begun to provide aid to other countries in a systematic way, its progress has been remarkable. This shift in power dynamics has changed how Brazil is perceived abroad and how the country sees itself. Brazil's aid strategy therefore underlines, more than anything else, Brazil's ambition to play a greater role in international affairs and to project global influence, but particularly in Africa..