This Week in Global Development

By Devex | Global DevelopmentNews

This Week in Global Development episodes

July 05, 2024 What do the elections across Europe mean for global development?
This week British voters head to the polls to elect the country’s new prime minister, with the Labour Party set to end 14 years of Conservative rule. While Keir Starmer’s government is not planning to immediately restore development spending to 0.7% of gross national income, nor reestablish The Department for International Development, we discuss whether a change in leadership will affect the country’s aid and migration policy.

The United Kingdom is not the only country cutting its aid budget. During the European elections we saw citizens across the continent elect right-wing leaders, who are opting to prioritize European interests. We also take a look at what we expect from the European Commission's development policy, which is set to emphasize an increased focus on lending and private capital mobilization.

For the latest episode of our weekly podcast series, Devex’s Managing Editor Anna Gawel sits down with U.K. Correspondent Rob Merrick to discuss what elections across Europe mean for the global development sector.

Sign up to the Devex Newswire and our other newsletters.
23 min
June 27, 2024 A look at WHO Foundation's work, and Gavi’s new replenishment target
This week we look back at an article we wrote earlier this month on the WHO Foundation, which has funneled $24 million to the World Health Organization since its launch in 2020. We examine the foundation’s strategy, including its plans to ensure that donor funding to WHO is seamless and aligned with its priorities.

Also on the topic of global health, Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance launched its $9 billion replenishment target. We examine the key takeaways from the organization’s next five-year strategy and highlight the pledges made so far.

We also reflected on the main talking points from last week’s Forecasting Healthy Futures summit, which took place in Baku, Azerbaijan. With the city also set to host the United Nations Climate Conference, COP 29, later this year, the event was an opportunity to bring global health to the forefront of discussions around climate change.

For the latest episode of the This Week in Global Development podcast,, Devex President & Editor-in-Chief Raj Kumar sits down with Anil Soni, CEO of the WHO Foundation, and Senior Reporter Sara Jerving, to dig into these stories and others.

Sign up to the Devex Newswire and our other newsletters.
36 min
June 20, 2024 What a Trump presidency would mean for U.S. foreign aid
This week we take a look at Republicans’ approach to foreign policy if Donald Trump were to win in the upcoming U.S. presidential elections in November. From implementing cuts to changing the United States’ foreign aid priorities, we dig into what a second Trump presidency would mean for the global development sector.

We also reported on new data from USAID which shows that just 9.6% of the agency’s eligible dollars were channeled toward local groups last year — rather than major international development contractors — down from 10.2% the year prior. With one year left before USAID’s ambitious 2025 deadline to channel 25% of its funding to local organizations, it seems very unlikely that the agency will hit its goal.

On the topic of USAID, we also discuss an opinion piece by the agency’s chief, Samantha Power, in which she outlines how USAID is planning to meet its localization targets.

To dig into these stories and others, Devex President and Editor-in-Chief Raj Kumar sits down with Managing Editor Anna Gawel and Reporter Elissa Miolene for the latest episode of the podcast series.

Sign up to the Devex Newswire and our other newsletters.
36 min
June 14, 2024 A look at the humanitarian crisis in Haiti and addressing malnutrition
This week we take a look at the humanitarian crisis in Haiti, where 578,000 have been displaced, mostly due to violence. We explore what is being done to address the hardships faced by the affected population, including bringing essential food supplies, as well as discuss what life is like on the ground.

On the topic of food insecurity, we also dig into a UNICEF report, which found that 181 million children under age 5 worldwide are experiencing severe food poverty — which can have lifelong consequences for their health and development. We stress the importance of having programs that prioritize the providing of a balanced diet to malnourished children.

On a more positive note, we also report on how CRISPR gene-editing technology could change the way we eat by making crops tastier, more nutritious, and more resilient to climate change. Nonetheless, questions remain on the extent to which the technology will be available to farmers who need them the most.

For the latest edition of the podcast series, Devex President and Editor-in-Chief Raj Kumar sits down with Jean-Martin Bauer, country director of the World Food Programme in Haiti, and Devex Global Reporter Elissa Miolene to discuss these stories and others.

Sign up to Devex Newswire and our other newsletters.
37 min
June 06, 2024 U.S. lawmakers spar over foreign aid, and debt relief for small island states
This week we reported on a House foreign affairs subcommittee hearing in which Republicans tried to paint the U.S. government’s entire approach to foreign assistance as wasteful and counterproductive — but they faced pushback from Democrats who argued that human rights grants are critical in the global contest between democracy and autocracy.

The hearing took place against the backdrop of a proposed House of Representatives budget bill that would impose an 11% cut across U.S. foreign affairs spending, which would be 19% less than what President Joe Biden requested. The proposed funding bill cuts “wasteful spending” and “continues reestablishing American leadership” where the Biden administration has been lacking.

We also look back at an event that took place in Washington D.C., during which U.S. National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan discussed tackling humanitarian crises, adapting to the rise of artificial intelligence, and partnering with other nations to drive development through debt relief and infrastructure "corridors" connecting regions.

Meanwhile, during the Fourth International Conference on Small Island Developing States, or SIDS, concerned countries called for debt relief and more concessional funding to deliver on a 10-year strategy to achieve Sustainable Development Goals and build resilient economies. We highlight how a lack of support could decimate local livelihoods and lead to climate-induced migration.

For the latest episode of the podcast series, Devex President and Editor-in-Chief Raj Kumar sits down with Liz Hume, executive director at the Alliance for Peacebuilding, as well as Devex Managing Editor Anna Gawel, to discuss this week’s top global development stories.

Sign up to the Devex Newswire and our other newsletters.
35 min
May 31, 2024 Devex @ World Health Assembly: WHO's progress in addressing sexual misconduct cases
In 2020, media reports and an independent investigation revealed one of the largest sexual misconduct scandals in U.N. history, in which more than 50 women accused ebola aid workers — including World Health Organization staffers — of sexual exploitation and abuse during the 10th Ebola outbreak in the Democratic of Congo.
At last year’s World Health Assembly, WHO’s Dr. Gaya Gamhewage spoke at length about the organization's new policies for addressing sexual misconduct allegations. Gamhewage was appointed to lead a new unit investigating such claims in 2021.
In the final podcast episode from WHA77, Devex Associate Editor Rumbi Chakamba is joined by Dr. Gamhewage to discuss the progress her department is making, the challenges faced, and the lessons other agencies and NGOs can learn from WHO.
24 min
May 30, 2024 An update from the 77th World Health Assembly
This week Devex’s editorial team was on the ground in Geneva, Switzerland, closely following the conversations taking place at the 77th World Health Assembly. As well as attending the summit itself, we also hosted Devex CheckUp @ WHA 77, our very own event happening on the sidelines of the main event.

From following the pandemic treaty negotiations to addressing global health issues, we provide an update from the conference that brings together health leaders from around the world.

We also discuss the World Health Organization’s announcement of a November fundraising event to usher in this finance. This is a new approach for the world’s leading public health agency as it hopes to raise $11.1 billion to fund its work over the next four years.

To look at the key stories from WHA 77, Devex President and Editor-in-Chief Raj Kumar sits down with Fatema Sumar, executive director of the Center for International Development at Harvard University, as well as Devex Senior Reporter Jenny Lei Ravelo for the latest episode of our This Week in Global Development podcast series.

Sign up to the Devex Newswire and our other newsletters.
29 min
May 28, 2024 Devex @ World Health Assembly: Strengthening Africa's health security
During the COVID-19 pandemic, the health of populations across Africa were put at risk because of dysfunctional global health systems. For example, African nations were at the back of the queue for medical countermeasures, including vaccines. In the wake of the pandemic, leaders across the continent have worked to build stronger health systems — but there are still barriers at the international level standing in the way.

At this week’s World Health Assembly in Geneva, health leaders from across the continent are calling for changes to global health systems. These include more equitable access to health innovations and financing that aligns with country priorities. “Those who can do more should agree to give in order for us to meet each other at a level where everyone will feel safe,” said Dr. Magda Robalo, President and co-founder of The Institute for Global Health and Development.

In this podcast episode, Devex global health reporter Sara Jerving speaks with Dr. Robalo and Dr. Githinji Gitahi, chief executive officer of Amref Health Africa, about changes needed at the international level.
17 min
May 27, 2024 Devex @ World Health Assembly: Can the pandemic treaty deliver on equity?
A two-year negotiation process for a pandemic treaty concluded on Friday without reaching a consensus, as countries remained divided on numerous provisions, including technology transfer and equitable access to medical products. This week, health officials at the 77th World Health Assembly in Geneva, Switzerland, will need to determine the next steps.

Before Friday’s decision, Devex Senior Reporter Jenny Lei Ravelo spoke with K.M. Gopakumar, legal adviser for the Third World Network, an independent international nonprofit network that advocates for the needs of people from the global south, about the contentious issues in the negotiations and how opposition to the pandemic treaty in some countries impacted the process.

For front-line and behind-the-scenes reporting on global health, sign up to the Devex CheckUp newsletter: https://www.devex.com/newsletters/devex-checkup
18 min
May 23, 2024 A historic visit to Washington, D.C., and the reauthorization of the farm bill
This week we report on Kenyan President William Ruto’s visit to Washington, D.C., the first by an African leader since 2008. We dig into what the occasion means for the relationship between Kenya and the wider African continent, including whether it will lead to closer economic ties between the United States and Africa as a whole. During the conversation, we also look back at our interview with Sen. Chris Coons about the visit, in which we discussed the African Growth and Opportunity Act, or AGOA, and the U.S. Africa policy.

We are also keeping a close eye on the farm bill — a $1.5 trillion piece of legislation that shapes food assistance both within the United States and abroad. While the legislation largely focuses on domestic policy, it also governs the operations of Food for Peace, a flagship food assistance program that distributes American-grown commodities across the globe.

However, it has been proposed that at least 50% of funds should go toward U.S.-grown commodities and ocean freight. As the reauthorization negotiations continue, we explore the importance of these funds for communities in the global south and contemplate what the potential outcomes of the discussions could be.

On the topic of food systems, we also look at a story that explores how Vanuatu is stepping up its efforts to enhance food security by combining traditional practices with modern technology.

For the latest episode of the podcast series, Devex Managing Editor Anna Gawel sits down with David Barth from Save the Children and Devex Senior Reporter Adva Saldinger to discuss these stories and others.

Sign up to the Devex Newswire and our other newsletters.
36 min

About This Week in Global Development

From the publisher's feed

Dive into the week's most critical global development news with the This Week in Global Development podcast.

In each episode, hosts Adva Saldinger, David Ainsworth, and Rumbi Chakamba…