It’s official — sort of, depending on any lawsuits and recounts — Donald Trump is the U.S. president, again. Now begins the frenzied speculation about what that presidency will portend, including for global development. Of course, we won’t know for a while, but it’s clear a more transactional, scratch-my-back-and-I’ll-scratch-yours approach is a very real possibility …
Across the Atlantic, that approach is already spreading in Europe, at the expense of the lowest-income countries. So we’re going to give you a breather from U.S. politics and start in Europe today.
Also in today’s edition: We look at how Indigenous groups face challenges in protecting ecosystems.
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The European Commission’s new focus on global partnerships to serve its own interests has some foreign aid advocates raising eyebrows, as funding for the world’s least developed countries shrinks. The numbers speak volumes: since 1990, the commission’s aid to LDCs has dropped to a mere 19% from 52%, bucking the trend of other big donors, which have increased their support to LDCs ever so slightly.
Though the EU still leads in overall aid contributions to LDCs, its approach is shifting, my colleague Vince Chadwick writes. The plan now? To focus on large, green infrastructure projects through its “Global Gateway” initiative, Europe’s answer to China’s Belt and Road initiative. And while EU Development Committee Chair Barry Andrews worries the commission may lose sight of its core mission to reduce poverty, the new goal seems to be creating investment opportunities that are good for everyone — Europe included.
Outgoing development commissioner Jutta Urpilainen describes this approach as a “post-ODA era,” with aid evolving to leverage private investment, not just traditional grants. The shift’s effects are clear: Many LDCs face funding cuts up to 72%, with the EU favoring broader "investment envelopes” over direct aid. But Urpilainen insists LDCs are still a priority, just with fewer euros to go around.
As the EU heads into the U.N. Financing for Development conference next year, all eyes will be on its track record, especially as Bangladesh, the largest LDC, prepares to graduate from the list.
Also in Brussels today: Devex correspondent Rob Merrick is on the scene for the confirmation hearings of would-be EU Commissioner for International Partnerships Jozef Síkela. More coverage of that is coming this week.
Read: EU aid to least developed countries is trending way down (Pro)
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In an era of shrinking aid budgets, the International Fund for Agricultural Development stands out, securing $1.42 billion from member countries in its latest funding cycle — an all-time high. By focusing on small-scale farmers and using an investment-based model, this Rome-based U.N. agency has maintained steady growth, with core contributions up nearly 10% since 2021.
As global food security becomes a national priority for many countries, IFAD’s work with small farmers offers long-term solutions, according to IFAD President Alvaro Lario. Leveraging low-interest loans and reinvesting repaid funds, IFAD has continued to support food systems, even during crises such as the Ukraine war, which worsened food insecurity worldwide.
Unlike traditional grant-based aid, IFAD’s model promotes “local ownership,” my colleague Elissa Miolene writes. In Côte d’Ivoire, for instance, a mango cooperative of 1,000 women received support to process and export dried mangoes, creating new income streams and jobs.
With global donors gravitating toward targeted funds, IFAD’s niche appeal — serving rural communities and advancing food security — positions it well. Part of IFAD’s appeal is something “that’s tangible, concrete, and quite easy to explain,” Clemence Landers of the Center for Global Development notes.
Read more: As aid budgets shrink, how did support for this UN agency grow? (Pro)
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Indigenous communities, guardians of 80% of the world’s remaining biodiversity, face steep challenges as they protect these ecosystems, with climate funding rarely reaching their hands. From 2003 to 2016, less than 10% of global climate funds reached local groups, and Indigenous land management received less than 1% of development aid, according to reports from the International Institute for Environment and Development and Rainforest Foundation Norway.
Conservation work is not just tough — it’s dangerous. In 2023 alone, 196 land defenders were killed. The sector is gradually recognizing the need for localization, shifting control to national and local communities and leaders, but legacies of colonial exclusion still linger. Some conservation practices continue to displace Indigenous communities. For example, activists have raised concerns about the 30x30 pledge, aimed at protecting 30% of land and oceans by 2030, warning it could marginalize Indigenous people if not designed with their rights in mind.
At the COP16 U.N. biodiversity conference in Colombia, a breakthrough decision to include Indigenous voices in conservation planning was hailed as progress, my colleague Ayenat Mersie writes. But activists argue that supporting local groups must include dismantling colonial practices within conservation, where land access has historically excluded Indigenous communities.
Community-led conservation is a proven model: Namibia has seen elephant populations triple, and Madagascar’s fish counts have multiplied sevenfold due to these efforts. However, funding often remains limited and rigid, with local organizations citing restrictive grants and lack of flexibility. Furthermore, international NGOs sometimes keep a large share of funds for administration, adding to frustrations.
Signs of change are emerging. African philanthropists are beginning to see conservation as a priority, and with the creation of a new subsidiary body at COP16, there’s hope that Indigenous groups may receive more support. However, whether this will lead to substantial investment remains to be seen.
Read: Why localization is key to Indigenous-led nature conservation
A recent USAID-backed report from India reveals that while many households in marginalized communities are open to switching to cleaner cooking fuels, sustaining that switch is the real challenge. Though clean cooking options such as LPG cylinders are available, poverty, caste, and gender dynamics often hinder long-term adoption.
For women, who bear the brunt of household pollution, clean cooking could bring huge health gains, Devex contributor Disha Shetty writes. Yet, they rarely make the purchasing decisions as those are typically left to male family members. So convincing men to prioritize clean cooking is crucial, the report’s lead researcher Sanjay Patil says.
This transition is more than just about clean air. With clean cooking linked to reduced health risks, climate benefits, and gender equity, it's a "win-win-win solution for all," Bhushan Tuladhar of USAID’s clean air program says.
Read: Vulnerabilities are getting in the way of transition to clean cooking
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Key world leaders from the U.S., EU, and Brazil plan to skip the COP29 climate conference in Baku, Azerbaijan, this November. [Reuters]
Bird flu cases were detected at Yorkshire poultry farms on Tuesday, following the U.K. government's decision to raise the national threat level from medium to high. [Reuters]
A Nigerian court released 119 people, including minors, after the government dropped charges connected to the August economic demonstrations. [CNN]
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