Humanitarian cowboys, untied aid, and the future of Dutch aid

As the U.S. Millennium Challenge Corporation marks its 20th anniversary, we discuss our latest article on the agency. While MCC has invested $17 billion in 47 countries since its founding, we contemplate whether the agency has lived up to its founders’ lofty aims of holding countries accountable for good governance and rooting out corruption.Meanwhile, one of the biggest threats to aid workers isn't just war or disaster — it's workplace stress. From oppressive workloads to toxic cultures, we explore how humanitarian organizations are unintentionally burning out their own staff members and whether the sector has a staff retention problem. For the latest episode of our podcast series, Devex President and Editor-in-Chief Raj Kumar sits down with Managing Editor Anna Gawel and Senior Reporter Adva Saldinger to discuss these stories and others. 

This week we take an in-depth look at USAID’s localization report. While in certain countries the agency has already significantly surpassed its localization target, in others it is struggling to get close to it. We discuss why that might be and contemplate how USAID can get closer to channeling 25% of its eligible dollars to local levels by 2025.On the topic of USAID, we also dive into the findings of an investigation by the USAID Office of Inspector General that show the agency did not consistently use the proper mechanisms to oversee awards to the United Nations, the World Bank, and other multilateral agencies.We also explore how Humanity United is working to refine its approach to participatory grantmaking by aiming to provide money in a way that is more aligned with the priorities of grassroots organizations.To discuss these stories, and others, Devex President and Editor-in-Chief Raj Kumar sits down with David Ainsworth and Elissa Miolene for the latest episode of our weekly podcast series. Sign up to the Devex Newswire and our other newsletters.

This week we are at the Democratic National Convention in Chicago. We delve into what we are hearing on the sidelines of the event, particularly how U.S. vice president and Democratic presidential candidate Kamala Harris would approach foreign policy and assistance. In this week’s episode we also discussed our exit interview with outgoing British International Investment chief Nick O'Donohoe, who highlighted that his successor will have to find the balance between focusing on the lowest-income countries, as well as positioning BII as a climate finance leader.From the challenges of parenthood to entrenched traditional systems, we also elaborate on an article that digs into the challenges women face as they climb the global development career ladder.How would a Harris presidency be different from a Biden one? How can we elevate women leadership in global development? For the latest episode of our podcast series, Devex President and Editor-in-Chief Raj Kumar sits down with Managing Editor Anna Gawel and Global Development Reporter Elissa Miolene to dig into this week’s headlines in global development.Sign up to the Devex Newswire and our other newsletters.

In a world of growing humanitarian needs, the Aurora Humanitarian Initiative is shining a light on those who risk their own lives to save others.Founded in 2015 to commemorate the Armenian Genocide, the Aurora Prize awards $1 million annually to an individual whose actions have made a significant impact in preserving human life in the face of adversity.In this special episode sponsored by the Aurora Humanitarian Initiative, Raj Kumar is joined by Aurora co-founder Noubar Afeyan, Memory Matters' Alice Greenwald, and Yazidi activist and Aurora laureate Mirza Dinnayi.

This week the Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention and the World Health Organization both declared mpox as a public health emergency. This is the first time the Africa CDC declared a public health emergency as it aims to increase its autonomy. There have been more than 17,000 suspected cases across the African continent, more than the total number of cases reported in 2023.In the United Kingdom, the International Rescue Committee is set to shed 1 in 9 staff as it faces a funding crisis. We explore the wider issue of reduced funding in global development despite rising humanitarian needs. To discuss these stories, and others, Devex President and Editor-in-Chief Raj Kumar sits down with Managing Editor Anna Gawel and Business Editor David Ainsworth for the latest episode of the podcast series. Sign up to the Devex Newswire and our other newsletters. 

After U.S. President Joe Biden opted not to run for reelection, his vice president, Kamala Harris, seems poised to become the official nominee of the Democratic Party. We explore how she would approach U.S. foreign policy, as well as provide an update on Project 2025. We also discuss our exclusive story in which we reported that the Biden administration is to resume food aid delivery in Houthi-controlled territory in Yemen, even as it exchanges fire with the Iranian-backed rebel movement. As USAID continues to make progress on its localization agenda, we dig into what the biggest barriers, opportunities, and avenues are to make meaningful progress and help support local communities. Even though localization is a hot topic in global development, it appears as though some countries continue to mostly fund their own NGOs due to inflexible rules and regulations.To dig into these stories, Adva Saldinger sits down with Devex reporters Colum Lynch and Elissa Miolene for the latest episode of our weekly podcast series. Sign up to the Devex Newswire and our other newsletters.

As localization continues to be a hot topic in global development, nearly every international nongovernmental organization seems to be rethinking their role in the aid sector, and debating how, when, and if they should continue showing up. We discuss how INGOs are aiming to rebalance the equation between INGOs and local groups, and whether the reforms will help empower and give voice to local communities. This week we also published an interview with PEPFAR chief John Nkengasong, who warned that if the world fails to eliminate HIV as a public health threat by 2030, political leaders will lose interest in fighting the disease paving the way for its resurgence.Are INGOs working themselves out of a job? What is the future of PEPFAR, the U.S. global AIDS initiative?To dig into these stories, and others, Devex President and Editor-in-Chief Raj Kumar sits down with Business Editor David Ainsworth and Senior Reporter Adva Saldinger for the latest episode of the podcast series.Sign up to the Devex Newswire and our other newsletters. 

Is the era of the “humanitarian cowboy” over? This week, Devex contributor Lauren Evans wrote a piece analyzing what’s become of this common aid worker stereotype — often a charismatic, risk-taking white male who moves from one disaster or conflict zone to the next — and whether, in the era of localization, there’s still room for them in the humanitarian space. As part of Devex Pro week — a week of in-depth analyses and conversations for our Pro members — Devex Business Editor David Ainsworth is looking into the concept of “tied aid,” and the extent to which countries still principally fund their own NGOs. While some countries, like the United Kingdom, have made tied aid illegal, in many cases there are rules and regulations that continue to make it prohibitively difficult for global south organizations to access funding directly.The Netherlands has a new far-right minister for foreign trade and development cooperation, Reinette Klever, who is charged with overseeing aid cuts worth billions of euros in the next few years. Many worry this is part of a growing trend among global north countries as right-wing parties and rhetoric make their way into mainstream politics.Tune into the latest episode of our weekly podcast to hear David Ainsworth along with Devex President and Editor-in-Chief Raj Kumar and Nasra Ismail, U.S enterprise executive director at Alight, discuss these stories and more.

The Republican-led U.S. House of Representatives has proposed drastic cuts to foreign aid and United Nations funding in a 2025 budget bill that it passed last week, including ending funding to Ukraine. While the bill is unlikely to make it through the Democratic-led Senate, the House bill is something of a blueprint for the months ahead and how a new Donald Trump administration would approach foreign policy. On the topic of Republicans, we reported that Trump is distancing himself from the conservative Heritage Foundation's Project 2025. He has proposed a new platform — titled “America First: A Return to Common Sense” — that was approved during a vote of the Republican National Committee on Monday. While there was no mention of foreign aid, we ponder what his leadership would mean for it. Across the pond, Anneliese Dodds was appointed as the United Kingdom’s minister of state for development, as well as minister of state for women and equalities, following Labour’s victory in the United Kingdom general election. Her appointment raises a lot of questions about the future of U.K. aid as confusion remains over her job share.For the latest episode of our podcast series, Devex President and Editor-in-Chief Raj Kumar sits down with Managing Editor Anna Gawel and Global Development Reporter Elissa Miolene to discuss these stories, and others, from the past week.Sign up to the Devex Newswire and our other newsletters. 

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.