Conclusions

The Wilton Park dialogue brought together a wide range of voices and perspectives on the future of development cooperation.

In concluding, the group asked itself what choices we need to make now, in order to be ready for the challenges that will be forthcoming in ten years’ time. If we are clear in recognising and naming those challenges (e.g. pandemics, climate change impacts, drive for cleaner energy, participation in governance- or, writ large, e.g. health, education, climate, inclusive technological advances, humanitarian crises), then the principles identified can set out the means of cooperation through which we both work together to find solutions and put those solutions into action. Different issues will require different approaches, but the principles of cooperation can remain constant. We should home in on what we do best with greatest impact in countries of need, maximise combined resources and follow the principle that what can be driven and led from country level, should be.

This new cooperative approach needs to work geopolitically and bring together all levers we have for action (including finance, expertise, technology) so that international cooperation lands in a realistic place that achieves impact and bridges idealism and pragmatism. It must be grounded in political conversations and political will – in order to have an approach that will work in the face of changing geopolitical headwinds. Technological innovation has to be driven into solutions thinking and can be instrumental in coordination.

Re-imagining needs to start from within and changing our own behaviour. This means doing things differently as well as thinking differently. It means joining others’ initiatives and thought processes rather than inviting other people to join the prevalent ‘donor’ ones. It means listening to voices beyond the ordinary stakeholders, such as SMEs and youth, and integrating those perspectives- broadening who is at the table for the future. It is important to do what has most catalytic impact.

We need to heed calls for more join-up between wider sets of stakeholders, more voice for those who are directly at the forefront of international development, to create the right avenues for participation in setting the agenda, and to co-establish partnerships. The new narrative needs to work for everyone.

Many participants noted that different countries and coalitions are having similar and complementary conversations. There is an opportunity to bring these initiatives together, to build on thinking, and also potentially to come to a division of labour in rethinking what international cooperation needs to look like and how to get there. Integration and low ego will be essential to drive progress.

The challenge is not only to rethink development, but to reimagine cooperation in a way that changes power dynamics, puts the most affected in the foreground, and is brave in working through new coalitions. The UK with partners will now take forward this re-imagining to build out a Compact on International Cooperation as we work collectively towards the co-hosted conference in Spring 2026.

Juliette Prodhan, Annabel Gerry & Charlotte Biswas

Wilton Park | October 2025

In partnership with

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