Crises can often drive transformation and this is such a moment. However, the re-imagining of the development system will not have traction unless i) it can be undertaken with a broader set of countries and stakeholders; and ii) we use the opportunity to address some of the weaknesses that have detracted from the quality of cooperation to date. There is a choice now between embracing change and making some hard choices, or allowing managed decline and ultimately obsolescence. The clear sense of the discussion was that what is needed is re-imagining (into a new form), not re-building (of the existing system).
Changing the narrative: From ‘aid’ to ‘cooperation’
The old narrative of international development, dominated by aid spending and results, can change. The system has lost trust and credibility, and publics around the world increasingly question its efficiency. The recognised framing of international development needs to shift from charity to cooperation, and from donor–‘beneficiary’ dynamics to shared responsibility and mutual benefit. It needs to demonstrate value and real connection with people’s lives and experience in all countries, focused on outcomes such as jobs, security and self-reliance.
Development must also be communicated in a way that is more accessible and less technocratic. Its language should reflect partnership, agency and shared problem solving. Where it works on global challenges such as climate change, global health, migration and technological disruption, it should be open and explicit about mutual interests in cooperation. The practice of communicating development work though funding pledges needs to be replaced with communicating shared problems, knowledge and expertise, and solutions – between multiple and diverse stakeholders.
This is not about abandoning values such as solidarity and inclusion, but about embedding them in a modern framing that resonates with citizens and policymakers alike. The new narrative should be honest about power dynamics, realistic about constraints, and bold in articulating a vision of cooperation that is fair, inclusive and future-facing.
Mutual interests and power dynamics
International cooperation will only succeed if it reflects the reality that countries largely act in their own interests. Citizens everywhere want jobs, growth, security, and opportunity. This offers a pragmatic and compelling basis for collaboration. However, mutual interest is not a level playing field. The starting point is often an imbalance of money and power that shapes negotiations and outcomes. Without addressing these dynamics, partnerships risk reinforcing dependency rather than reducing it. Building in sustainability to cooperation in the face of geopolitical fluctuations is also critical.
To make mutual-interest partnerships viable, we should acknowledge asymmetries, and design mechanisms that give all partners a meaningful voice. Cooperation of the future can take place in a way that is more responsive to country contexts; empowers local leadership; draws from diverse capabilities and expertise and is provided more efficiently, in a way that does not undermine local and national systems. It can start from co-creating agreements, jointly defining priorities and respective benefits. It is important to be honest about trade-offs, as cooperation will involve reconciling self-interest with collective goals, especially on contested issues like climate, migration, and security. Embedding accountability and transparency is necessary to build trust and legitimacy in a multipolar world. In all but the poorest and most climate affected, mutual national interests could be the focus for international cooperation with other countries, as a matter of foreign policy.