Featured image for “Why water security is everybody’s problem – and nobody’s problem”

Why water security is everybody’s problem – and nobody’s problem

March 31, 2025
The growing water crisis for billions threatens global progress on everything from poverty to hunger to green growth. Yet no one is stepping up to deliver and coordinate the funding needed to avoid a catastrophic future. Jo Trevor sets out the urgent need for smart water financing – which is the focus of an Oxfam event at this week’s Marmalade Festival in Oxford.
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Featured image for “Why the UK must take a bold stance against global attacks on women’s rights”

Why the UK must take a bold stance against global attacks on women’s rights

March 19, 2025
Amid a worldwide backlash against women’s rights, and after its own aid cuts that further threaten those rights, it has never been more urgent for the UK government to speak up loudly for global gender equality, says the Gender and Development Network.
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Anatomy of a fall: what the rise and fall of the UK aid budget tells us about making change happen

March 13, 2025
What are the lessons for activists from the cut in the UK development budget? Did big agencies get their messaging all wrong? How much damage did the closure of DFID do? Or the departure of David Cameron as PM? Katy Chakrabortty unpacks the implosion of UK aid…
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The future of aid and what next-gen aid jobs might look like

March 12, 2025
Thinking about a career in international development? Duncan Green explores the future of the aid sector and the prospects for those who want to work in it…  This post is adapted from his shiny new blog about activism, influencing and change, hosted by the LSE.
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Featured image for “Leadership in a global aid meltdown – top tips from 25 people who know”

Leadership in a global aid meltdown – top tips from 25 people who know

March 6, 2025
FP2P’s Duncan Green has a shiny new blog about activism, influencing and change, hosted by the LSE, which we’ll be sharing highlights from here. You can also subscribe here. In this post from the new blog, he shares some advice from humanitarian leaders in this bleak time for the sector – including talk more often to staff and partners, “watch the fog closely” and “don’t blabber” – and offers a couple of thoughts of his own.
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Featured image for “The world looks set to miss its 2025 targets on nutrition: how should the Paris summit respond?”

The world looks set to miss its 2025 targets on nutrition: how should the Paris summit respond?

February 28, 2025
Each Olympic/Paralympic games is now followed by a major global nutrition summit in the host city. Sunit Bagree of Results UK sets out what campaigners will be looking for this time, including billions in extra funding, giving grants not loans and supporting the most cost-effective interventions.
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Featured image for “Aid is often given for all the wrong reasons: but Trump’s aid cuts won’t solve the problem.”

Aid is often given for all the wrong reasons: but Trump’s aid cuts won’t solve the problem.

February 13, 2025
If you want to be rid of aid that advances US interests, don’t celebrate now: that aid isn’t going anywhere, says Terence Wood.
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Featured image for “Two lessons from Trump’s attack on Aid”

Two lessons from Trump’s attack on Aid

February 4, 2025
Whatever finally emerges from the Trump Administration’s assault on USAID (and other governments such as Switzerland jumping on the bandwagon), surely the status quo ante is unlikely to return. What to do? Yes we can keep making the case for aid, hoping that the political tide will turn, but the political consensus around aid had been under assault since long
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Featured image for “Where is UK development policy headed under the new government?”

Where is UK development policy headed under the new government?

November 18, 2024
The recent £1.5 billion cut in the aid budget heralds an era of “less money, more policy”, with any return to spending 0.7% of GDP a long way away, says Andy Sumner of King’s College London. As we await three reviews of development policy, early signs suggest climate change and diplomatic interests will drive priorities – and there is little chance DFID will be reborn.
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Featured image for “A question from Lebanon to international humanitarians…”

A question from Lebanon to international humanitarians…

November 1, 2024
As organisations race to respond to the unfolding crisis in Lebanon, Nadine Saba – representing hundreds of Lebanese and Global South NGOs – spoke at the recent Grand Bargain humanitarian gathering in Geneva. Here, we share an edited transcript of her powerful address…
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Featured image for “Talking to aid economists about localization”

Talking to aid economists about localization

October 16, 2024
Sat on a panel on localization last week in a meeting of aid economists (no more detail, sorry – Chatham House Rule). It was definitely a different tone to the usual conversation on localization, which concentrates on issues of power, equity, decolonization etc. Here, there was a striking focus on efficiency/value for money, which is of course what floats economists’
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Featured image for “Book Review: Politics on the Edge, by Rory Stewart”

Book Review: Politics on the Edge, by Rory Stewart

September 24, 2024
As he climbs the greasy pole He fears for losing his soul It all ends in tears Betrayed by his peers Now Rory reflects on his role Think that’s my first limerick executive summary – hope you like it. I was a bit late to Politics on the Edge (my copy came via the local Oxfam shop), but was hooked
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