How Philanthropy and Bilateral Donors Can Prioritize Cost-Effective Development Together

​Aid budgets are shrinking. The evidence on what works has never been richer. So what would it take to finally close the gap between great evidence and actual funding decisions?

​Join Norway's development agency Norad and the Smart Buys Alliance for a frank, practitioner-level conversation on what it actually takes to move money to the most cost-effective development programs — and how philanthropy and bilateral donors can do it together.

​We'll hear from leaders at Norad, the Center for Global Development, GitLab Foundation, Livelihood Impact Fund, and Elevate Philanthropy on the internal structures, co-financing models, and cross-domain approaches that are actually moving the needle.

​This session is designed to be action-oriented: alongside the panel, we'll close with a structured 10-minute peer exchange so you can turn conversation into concrete next steps — whether that's a co-financing idea, a new institutional contact, or a shared commitment to the evidence agenda.

• ​Format: 50-minute panel discussion and 10-minute peer exchange

• ​Organizers: Norwegian Agency for Development Cooperation (Norad) & Smart Buys Alliance 

• ​Participants: Mats Boesen, Policy Director Blended Finance at Norad · Ellie Bertani, CEO, GitLab Foundation · Markus Goldstein, Vice President and Senior Fellow, Center for Global Development · Jana Kinsey, Chief Strategy Officer and Head of Portfolio, Livelihood Impact Fund  · Joey Savoie, CEO/Co-Founder, Elevate Philanthropy   

• ​Moderation: Habiba Banu, nonprofit leader and development cooperation expert