This week we reflect on the 78th World Health Assembly, which Devex covered on the ground in Geneva. From the historic agreement of the Pandemic Treaty to the World Health Organization's strategies for addressing its persistent funding gap, we analyze the key takeaways from the conference.

We also discuss the U.S.- and Israeli-backed Gaza Humanitarian Foundation’s aid delivery mechanism, which is facing internal collapse and accusations of violating humanitarian norms. The organization’s now-former executive director, Jake Wood, resigned on Sunday, just one day before the private humanitarian organization’s food aid distribution plan for Gaza launched, saying that it was “not possible” to implement the initiative “while also strictly adhering to humanitarian principles.”

This week’s episode also looks ahead to the topics we will be following at the Fourth International Conference on Financing for Development starting next month in Seville, Spain.

Digging into these stories and others, Devex Business Editor David Ainsworth sits down with Senior Editor Rumbi Chakamba and Global Development Reporter Jesse Chase-Lubitz to bring you This Week in Global Development.

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Explosive growth in the middle class, rapid urbanization, digitization and automation, the energy transition, and evolving geopolitics — these all present unique challenges for today’s businesses, said Jonathan Fantini-Porter, senior vice president of social impact in the Americas at Mastercard Center for Inclusive Growth.

It’s against this backdrop that public and private sector leaders are grappling with questions of longevity, opportunity, and continued growth. With this in mind, Mastercard Center for Inclusive Growth and Devex convened over 400 practitioners from the fields of tech, policy, and finance last month in Washington, D.C., for the Global Inclusive Growth Summit. The sessions and conversation centered on what it takes to create and lead economic growth, how to future-proof an organization’s mission, and the role of innovative leadership in shaping a better future.

“The key is the shared urgency around how we future-proof inclusive growth … and the importance of cross-sector collaboration at scale,” said Fantini-Porter. “Siloed solutions just aren't enough in this context that we're living through at this point.”

Taking that conversation beyond the summit, Fantini-Porter talks to Raj Kumar, Devex’s president and editor-in-chief, in a special podcast episode about how businesses — especially small businesses in rural areas — can create resilience in their communities and support economic opportunities for all.

This special episode of This week in Global Development was sponsored by the Mastercard Center for Inclusive Growth.

With the 78th World Health Assembly in full swing, we dig into the main talking point of the conference: the Pandemic Agreement.

The landmark treaty was adopted during this year’s edition of the annual summit. The agreement is designed to create a world better prepared for pandemics, ensuring a more equitable distribution of lifesaving medical interventions — a key challenge highlighted by the COVID-19 response. We delve into what this means for pandemic preparedness and chart the essential next steps.

During the conversation, we also discuss the funding challenges faced by the World Health Organization and possible solutions that are being explored to ensure its sustainable future.

For this special episode of our podcast series recorded live on the sidelines of the World Health Assembly, Devex Senior Editor Rumbi Chakamba sits down with Helen Clark, the former Prime Minister of New Zealand, and Dr. Ngashi Ngongo, the principal adviser to the director-general on program management and the continental incident manager for mpox at the Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention.

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Next week, the global health community will convene in Geneva for the World Health Organization's annual decision-making summit, the World Health Assembly. We preview the pivotal discussions expected to shape the coming year, including the implications of recent leadership changes and cost-saving initiatives at WHO, as well as the evolving role of philanthropic organizations in funding global health.

We also discuss U.S. President Donald Trump’s self-described “big, beautiful bill,” which made its way through a key congressional tax-writing committee on Wednesday. The 389-page plan would increase taxes on private foundations, place a 5% tax on remittances for non-U.S. citizens, and allow the government to revoke the tax-exempt status of organizations it says support terrorists.

To analyze these stories, and others, Devex Senior Reporter Adva Saldinger sits down with Managing Editor Anna Gawel and senior global health reporter Jenny Lei Ravelo for the latest episode of our podcast series.

Join our global health reporting team in person or online in Geneva from May 19 to 22 as we host a series of events and roundtables on the sidelines of the 78th World Health Assembly. This journalist-led summit will bring sector leaders to discuss and explore solutions to some of the most pressing issues in global health.

Check out the lineup of programs and register here:

https://pages.devex.com/devex-checkup-at-wha-78.html

For this special episode of our weekly podcast series, we sit down with outgoing UNDP Administrator Achim Steiner. He reflects on his two terms, navigating the agency through transitions and current disruptions. Steiner candidly discusses the significant impact of Trump administration program cuts, detailing how they disrupted vital partnerships and supply chains in crisis-hit countries. Hear his take on these impactful cancellations within the larger context of UNDP's work.

Steiner also addresses the concerning trend of declining development finance for much of the developing world, despite overall ODA figures. He confronts the growing skepticism around multilateral institutions and the critical need for internal reflection. Looking ahead, Steiner highlights UNDP's adaptation through new partnerships and financing, urging a global shift towards innovative funding solutions, especially for the most vulnerable nations. Tune in for this crucial discussion on the changing face of development.

This week, we learned that billionaire philanthropist Bill Gates will commit most of his fortune to the Gates Foundation, which will close in 2045. Before this date, the foundation will double its philanthropy, spending $200 billion over the next two decades. The announcement comes as the organization, which has given away $100 billion since 2000, marks its 25th anniversary.

Meanwhile, at the end of last week, U.S. President Donald Trump’s budget proposed an unprecedented slashing of U.S. foreign assistance, making huge cuts to global health, humanitarian aid, and core economic and development work. We discuss the details of Trump’s budget proposal for fiscal year 2026, and its potential impact on the global development sector.

As the future of foreign aid remains in limbo, 400,000 boxes of food for malnourished children remain stuck in the United States.

To explore these stories and others, Senior Editor Rumbi Chakamba sits down with reporters Sara Jerving and Elissa Miolene for the latest episode of our weekly podcast series.

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This week marked the first 100 days of the second Trump presidency. From the cutting of foreign aid programs to the laying off of government staff, we reflect on the second Trump administration's impact on the global development sector.

On the topic of the U.S. government, the Department of Government Efficiency is also planning to shut down the Millennium Challenge Corporation. However, efforts are underway to try and save the agency, which has enjoyed bipartisan support and is seen as a key tool to countering China's geopolitical influence.

We also look back at the key takeaways from the Global Inclusive Growth Summit hosted by the Mastercard Center for Inclusive Growth, where Devex was a media partner.

To dig into these stories, and others, Devex Editor Rumbi Chakamba sits down with Devex President and Editor-in-Chief Raj Kumar and Senior Reporter Adva Saldinger for the latest episode of our weekly podcast series.

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Special episode: What’s at stake in the race for critical raw materials? by Devex

Summary

Award-winning journalist Roger Thurow reveals how conventional farming practices are simultaneously depleting resources and failing millions of farmers worldwide. His investigation finds that many receiving food aid are actually food producers, highlighting a fundamental flaw in global agricultural systems. Drawing from field research across multiple continents, Thurow highlights promising indigenous and regenerative farming approaches that could transform global food systems while addressing climate challenges.

Chapters

00:00 The Collision of Nourishment and Planetary Health

02:30 The Journey into Agriculture and Food Security

05:42 Unintended Consequences of Agricultural Practices

10:25 Lessons from Farmers: Regret and Resilience

14:26 The Debate: Regenerative vs. Modern Agriculture

20:08 Indigenous Knowledge and Innovation in Agriculture

25:15 The Role of Farmers in Global Agriculture

27:54 The Importance of Listening to Farmers

Want to stay updated on the latest news in global development? Subscribe to Devex’s Newswire: https://www.devex.com/newsletters/newswire

With the World Bank and International Monetary Fund Spring Meetings in full swing, we are recording live from the conference. From the United States’ approach to the institutions to how to create more jobs in the global workforce, we take a look at the key discussion points at the summit.

On the topic of the U.S., we chew over the possibility that the uncertainty surrounding potential tariffs imposed by President Donald Trump’s administration may be more damaging than the tariffs themselves, drying up liquidity and forcing painful choices on indebted nations.

During the conversation, we also get into our scoop on the Department of Government Efficiency’s targeting of the Millennium Challenge Corporation. In the coming weeks, the agency is expected to face a reduction in both staff and programming.

To explore these stories, Business Editor David Ainsworth sits down with reporters Adva Saldinger and Jesse Chase-Lubitz, who are covering the Spring Meetings this week, for the latest episode of our weekly podcast series.

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