Development is changing: the Millennium Development Goals have given way to the Sustainable Development Goals, which imply stronger commitment and actions by all countries to further sustainable development. The classification of developing and developed countries is losing its usefulness as a framing tool for the work of the Overseas Development Institute (ODI), and other organisations. Additionally, the dominance of traditional donors is fading as other funders gain prominence.

This working paper draws on ODI’s experience with several projects – the New Climate Economy, the Budget Strengthening Initiative and the UK Government's Department for International Development national climate finance studies – to identify a set of principles to guide the development of an effective country engagement strategy.