The international development landscape has changed dramatically since the turn of the century.  In 2015, a new global development agenda was launched through the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), alongside international commitments on financing development and climate change. There is a growing set of policy objectives and the number of development actors continues to multiply. This two-day high-level conference examines what it means to be a relevant and resilient bilateral or multilateral development agency in the new era of development cooperation.

Opening session - Building resilient development agencies for the 21st century

The conference opens with a discussion on the future of development and global philanthropy. ODI presents the key trends shaping development cooperation up to 2030 and examine their implications for donor resilience. 

• Joe Cerrell - Managing Director of Global Policy and Advocacy, the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation
• Mikaela Gavas - Programme Leader: Development Agencies and EU, ODI
• Edward Hedger - Director: Finance and Economic Development, ODI

Session 1 - Making the right strategic choices

Agencies needs to rethink their comparative advantage in an increasingly competitive and crowded marketplace. 

• Philippe Orliange - Executive Director, Strategy, Partnerships and Communication, Agence Française Développement (AFD)
• Anna Wechsberg - Director of Strategy, UK Department for International Development (DFID)
• Xiaojing Mao - Division Chief, Institute of International Development Cooperation, Chinese Academy of International Trade and Economic Cooperation (CAITEC), Ministry of Commerce
• Rafee Yusoff - Director, Group Strategic Planning, Islamic Development Bank (IsDB)
• Nilima Gulrajani - Research Fellow, ODI

Session 2 - Beyond the agency: working across government

Whatever agencies prioritise, the need for a whole of government approach is becoming ever more critical. Cross-government mechanisms has to be robust enough to ensure real collaboration for a shared development cooperation strategy.  

• Nicole Giles - Director General, Global Affairs Canada
• Khalifa Al-Kuwari - Director General, Qatar Development Fund
• Nicola Brennan - Head of Policy, Development Cooperation Division, Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade, Ireland
• Christian Dennys - Conflict Adviser, Security and Justice, NSS Joint Programme Hub, UK Foreign and Commonwealth Office
• Jenny Baechler - Lecturer, Dalhousie University, Canada

Session 3 - Within the agency: making change happen

Agencies will need to grapple with how to organise and equip themselves internally to respond to a changing development landscape.  

• Androulla Kaminara - Principal Advisor, Head of Task Force, Knowledge, Performance and Results, Directorate-General for International Cooperation and Development (DG DEVCO), European Commission
• Steven Pierce - Director, Program Staff, Bureau for Policy, Planning and Learning, United States Agency for International Development (USAID)
• Barbara Nunberg - Professor of Professional Practice, School of International and Public Affairs, Columbia University
• Dan Honig - Assistant Professor, School of Advanced International Studies, Johns Hopkins University

Session 4 - Putting it all together: pathways to resilience

Building resilient development agencies will require clear choices on strategic direction, effective cross-government and international partnerships, and organisations that are agile and adaptive. 

• Tamsyn Barton - Representative of the European Investment Bank on the Resident Board of the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD)
• Priscilla Miranda - Director for International Development Cooperation and International Fora, Mexican Agency for International Development Cooperation (AMEXCID)
• Dineo Mathlako - Head of the African Renaissance and International Cooperation Fund Secretariat, Department of International Relations and Cooperation (DIRCO), South Africa
• Hajo Junge - Team Leader, Development Policy of the Future, Global Partnerships Division, Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ), Germany
• Liam Swiss - Assistant Professor, Memorial University, Canada

See the full programme below. 

Attendance at this event is by invitation only. If you are interested in attending, please email Elize Hefer ([email protected]).