In recent years, many have declared that the international development system is in crisis. The Trump administration’s dismantling of USAID, alongside donor governments steadily walking back their commitments to official development assistance, has led some to claim the system is breaking down.
But what if the system isn’t broken at all? What if it’s working exactly as it was designed to — to uphold colonial power dynamics, advance donor governments’ national interests, and ensure that funding, decision-making, and accountability flow back to the global north, rather than to the people aid is meant to serve?
But now, the cracks are showing. And instead of reckoning with the root causes, or reimagining a more just system, we’re seeing a rush to “fill the gaps” with short-term solutions — that keep power exactly where it’s always been.
About the author
Maliha Khan@MalihaKhanWD
Dr. Maliha Khan has dedicated over 30 years to advancing gender equality, starting her career in Pakistan by advocating for girls’ and women's inclusion in male-dominated development projects. She has held leadership roles in program design, implementation, and evaluation at organizations such as Care and Oxfam, and was previously head of programs at Malala Fund before joining Women Deliver. Committed to addressing the sector’s colonial and racist legacies, Khan strives for systemic change. She holds a doctorate from the State University of New York and a master's degree from Quaid-i-Azam University, with a background in academia as a former associate professor. Her experiences reinforce her belief in the necessity of representing the most vulnerable girls and women to achieve meaningful global change.
