This study examines the patterns of relationships in North-South higher education partnerships, emphasizing the experiences and perspectives of the Southern partner. Employing a comparative case study design, the research explores two cases of partnerships between universities in Ethiopia and Norway, involving interviews with 40 participants as well as a review of relevant documents. The analysis maps out how the partnerships are formed and functioning, comparing the two cases in terms of the positioning and agency of the Southern partners. The findings indicate that North-South higher education partnerships are shaped not only by structural factors but also by context-specific elements embedded in the local environments. These context-embedded factors are found to be crucial for challenging the problematic consequences of inherent asymmetries in the partnerships and, thus, for paving the way for more mutual collaborations.