Reimagining Development: The Future of Global Cooperation in a Post-Aid World
As traditional aid structures shift and institutions like USAID scale down, the global development sector faces a pivotal moment. This session will explore how we can move beyond donor-recipient dynamics toward true partnership models, centering local leadership, governance, and innovative funding mechanisms. How can social enterprises and new financing models, such as Global Public Investment, reshape international development? What if local organizations defined their own solutions and invited funders to join them, flipping the script on traditional proposal writing? How do we reimagine philanthropy and global collaborations to ensure equitable decision-making and resource distribution?
Through an open discussion, we’ll examine how integrating governance perspectives into development can lead to more systemic and sustainable solutions. Participants will explore strategies for re-centering global governance, leveraging local expertise, and fostering international cooperation in a way that prioritizes equity, shared responsibility, and long-term resilience.
Key Questions:
How can the shift away from traditional aid structures create opportunities for more equitable global partnerships?
What role do local leaders—especially women—play in shaping the future of development?
How can innovative funding models, like Global Public Investment and reverse proposals, redistribute power and resources in international development?
How can governance and development be more effectively integrated to address systemic global challenges?
What strategies can philanthropy and global collaborations adopt to meet this moment and drive sustainable, community-led impact?
This discussion will bring together diverse perspectives to reimagine the future of development—one that is locally driven, globally collaborative, and structurally transformative.
Session Co-Leaders:
Beth Atherton – Chief Operating Officer at Nuru, working to break cycles of unjust poverty and build resilience in marginalized communities.
Nadait Gebremedhen – CEO of Hagush, leading efforts to build a just and inclusive economy through social enterprise.
Surya Campbell – Trust Fundraiser at Karuna, connecting donor passions with impactful projects across South Asia in education, gender equality, and climate resilience.
Wanjiru Kanyiha – Network Coordinator at Global Public Investment Network, a lawyer and social justice advocate championing Global South perspectives in governance, social accountability, and financial development.