India’s engagement with the African countries is guided under the ethos of South – South Cooperation. This cooperation is rooted in ideas of equality, freedom, shared history of colonialism and struggle, partnership and capacity building. The experience of development and empowerment as a requirement has to be felt on both sides by the African and Indian peoples. The pertinent question emerges is there in real terms South-South cooperation in process or a mere rhetoric reinforced at summits or bilateral platforms. This paper attempts to analyse the importance of such engagements and their relevance to enhance the goal of development and empowerment of countries on both sides and most importantly the impact realized by the African and Indian populace. The paper also attempts to examines the scope of engagement by the civil society groups on issues impacting both the regions; and the need to create a more just and equitable system at the national and international levels for sustainable growth for all.