Online discussions on the future of aid
UK aid: where do we go from here?
After more than a decade of Conservative leadership many were looking to Labour for a fresh direction for UK international development. But the announcement of a dramatic cut to aid signals the end of the UK as a development superpower.
- Was this something the development community should have foreseen?
- What can realistically be done to limit the damage?
- What will UK aid really look like against this new budget?
- And is there a chance for anything good to come out of this new approach to international development?
This event is in partnership with the International Development Department, at the University of Birmingham. Date: 29 April 2025. 12 noon UK.
Panellists: Tamsyn Barton, Trustee IDS, CGD; and Expert Panel member for the InterAmerican Development Bank; Jimm Chick Fomunjong, West Africa Civil Society Institute, Romilly Greenhill, Bond; Russell Hargrave, Politico; Chris Lyon, University of Birmingham. Moderator: David Hudson, University of Birmingham.
Resources relevant to the discussion:
- Ken Opalo’s ‘From an Africanist Perspective’ on Substack has several insightful entries on how African countries can use this ‘crisitunity’
- From Bond: Four ways the UK government can manage the planned aid cuts to limit their damage
- To keep up with new data around public opinion and engagement with international cooperation and poverty reduction, subscribe to the Development Engagement Lab newsletter
- IGDC York hosted a discussion on: What do aid cuts mean for the world’s most vulnerable?
What next for a broken aid system?
Recent upheavals in aid programmes have had devastating consequences for vulnerable populations worldwide. As well as attracting widespread denunciation, such disruptions have prompted critical reflections on the aid system as a whole. While some critics point towards inefficiencies within aid agencies, others question the geopolitical motivations that drive and shape foreign aid provision. So, at a time when scholars and practitioners are actively debating the effectiveness and equity of aid delivery, could these dramatic changes serve as a catalyst for reform? In the long term, how can we move beyond an international aid system controlled by global North states? This panel discussion will explore whether the current crisis presents an opportunity to build a more resilient, just, and sustainable aid system – one that is less susceptible to political shifts and funding volatility.
This event is in partnership with the Global Development Institute, at the University of Manchester. Date: 8 April 2025.
Panellists: Nicola Banks, Global Development Institute; Divine Fuh, University of Cape Town; Nick Jepson, Global Development Institute; Sue Roberts, University of Kentucky; Bright Simons, ODI. Moderator: Peter Sutoris, University of Leeds.