In today’s world the international development assistance is gaining value as one of the crucial elements of foreign policy, helps to maintain the donor countries’ image abroad, provides domestic support for their actions in the international field, as well as activity of national business in foreign states, especially its expansion towards fast-growing emerging markets. Those countries with efficient development policies do have better chances to improve their status abroad and raise their profile in international relations. This study is focused upon comparing the development assistance policies carried out by both new and traditional donor countries, especially in the post-Soviet space, which is a priority recipient region for Russian aid. The analysis is addressed to researchers, political and economic observers, high-school teachers, post-graduate scholars and all those interested in modern developmentalism.