Deep breath. We are now just two days away from a U.S. election that could have significant consequences, not just for those living in the United States but also around the world.
It was a subject of much discussion at last week’s Devex World summit. Development experts with ties to the candidates told us that if Donald Trump wins, we can expect to see the aid budget slashed, climate change programs eliminated, and resources shifted from multilateral agencies and INGOs to local and faith-based groups. A victory for Vice President Kamala Harris would mean more continuity with the approach of the previous administration, but she would also bring a focus on private sector investment, multilateral alliances, metrics, and accountability, the experts said.
Also on stage, David Beasley, former head of the World Food Programme and a Republican, said, “The rest of the world is looking for America to lead again,” when it comes to addressing global problems, and that even political conservatives can be persuaded of the case for aid through a national interest argument.