Posts in: International Cooperation

The field of international cooperation (aka development cooperation or development aid) is currently undergoing a major shake-up.

Even though it may not be easy to tell the difference from the outside, development and humanitarian aid are quite separate in terms of processes and key players.

As a result, interesting initiatives in the humanitarian field go largely unnoticed (at least in Germany) in the international development spave. One of them is the Grand Bargain . #FutureOfCooperation

The Grand Bargain is an agreement between major donors and aid organisations, launched at the 2016 World Humanitarian Summit and updated for 2023-2026.

It aims to improve the efficiency and effectiveness of humanitarian aid through measures such as increased multi-year and flexible funding, harmonised reporting and greater transparency.

A central pillar of the Grand Bargain is its focus on localisation, which aims to bring decision-making and financial resources closer to affected communities by committing to channel at least 25% of humanitarian funding “as directly as possible” to local and national responders.

This localisation effort aims to reduce transaction costs, strengthen local capacities and ensure that humanitarian action is both responsive and context-specific, embodying the principle of making aid “as local as possible and as international as necessary”.

This could be an excellent area for exaptation (radical repurposing) if the international cooperation sector is genuinely interested in a change of its own making. Otherwise, there is a considerable risk that it will continue to be subject to (radical?) transformation.

Big shifts are shaking up the international cooperation (aka development cooperation, development aid) sector. Recent actions, with the temporary low of dismantling USAID, have highlighted the fragility of aid dependency. #FutureOfCooperation

In Duncan Green ’s post, this is the first lesson he lays out. We have probably also reached “peak aid”. He recommends looking more to local sources (and the diaspora). I would also add impact investors.

The second lesson is interesting in terms of the necessary transformation of the sector: refocusing on empowering local actors rather than directly providing services. He suggests building capacity as a kind of “public service advocates”.

Looking at the bigger picture, I think this underlines the need to empower local actors to drive their own development by demanding or building better services. By focusing more on local needs and capacities, and less on getting help from outside as a first preference, communities can become stronger and more self-sufficient.

So it’s time to rethink our approach and prioritise sustainable, locally-led solutions. 🌍🤝

Read Duncan Green’s full post here: t1p.de/74kxk

tl;dr: The future of development cooperation isn’t more aid most probably — it’s more local power. 🚀🌍 Move beyond dependency and invest in stronger, self-driven communities. Time to rethink, empower, and transform! 💡🔥 #FutureOfCooperation

Seit langem gibt es eine kritische Diskussion über die Ausgestaltung der Internationalen Zusammenarbeit (auch Entwicklungszusammenarbeit oder Entwicklungshilfe genannt). Gerade in den letzten Wochen habe ich einige dieser Punkte unter #FutureOfCooperation selbst aufgegriffen.

Bis vor kurzem verlief diese Diskussion noch überwiegend konstruktiv, bezogen auf wesentliche Schwachstellen. Aber bewirkt hat sie - fast nichts. Zu einfach war es, in der bequemen Nische so weiterzumachen wie bisher.

Nun ist die Branche in vielen Ländern zu einer leichten Beute für Populisten geworden.

Was in diesen Tagen in den USA einen traurigen Tiefpunkt erreicht, hat auch in einigen europäischen Staaten schon zu teilweise drastischen Veränderungen geführt.

Dieser populistische Furor bringt die Industrie nun in eine Situation, in der sie um ihre Rolle kämpfen muss.

Was bleibt unter diesen Bedingungen? Wir werden wohl eine Verengung sehen auf Aktivitäten 1) mit klarem humanitärem Bezug und 2) auf die Verfolgung nationaler Interessen bzw. geopolitischer Themen. Für alles dazwischen und drumherum wird die Luft dünn.

Daher sollte es jetzt allen Verantwortlichen darum gehen, sich nun aktiv und mutig mit innovative Ansätze den Problemen in diesen beiden Bereichen zu stellen.

Jetzt ist es die sehr herausfordernde Aufgabe, auch unter diesen Rahmenbedingungen zügig

• sowohl ein besserer, weil echter Partner für die Menschen in unseren Partnerländern zu werden,
• als auch ein besserer, weil schnellerer, flexiblerer und wirksamerer Partner für die Regierungen, die weiterhin Mittel für dieses Politikfeld bereitstellen wollen.

Das alles ist schwierig. Es wäre einfacher gewesen, wenn es in ruhigeren Zeiten konsequent angegangen worden wäre. Aber es ist weiter möglich.

#FutureOfCooperation

There has long been a critical debate about international cooperation (also known as development cooperation or development aid). In recent weeks in particular, I have taken up some of these points myself under #FutureOfCooperation.

Until recently, this discussion has been largely constructive, focusing on key weaknesses. But it has achieved - almost nothing. It was too easy for the industry to continue in its comfortable niche.

This inactivity has now made the sector an easy prey for populists in many countries.

What is currently reaching a sad low point in the US has already led to some drastic changes in European countries.

This populist rage is now putting the industry in a situation in which it has to fight for its role.

What remains under these conditions? We are likely to see a narrowing down to 1) activities with a clear humanitarian focus and 2) the pursuit of national interests or geopolitical issues. The air will be thin for everything in between and around these two areas.

It should therefore be a matter of urgency for all those responsible to actively and courageously tackle the problems in these two fields with a fresh perspective.

So, under these difficult conditions, the challenge now is to become both

• a genuine partner for the people in our partner countries
• and a much better, meaning faster and more flexible partner for the governments that continue to fund this policy area.

That is difficult. It would have been much easier if we had done it consistently in calmer times. But it is still possible.

#FutureOfCooperation

Reflections on a decade working in Development and Aid: Zahir Shah’s insightful article is a must-read for anyone in the sector, or those considering to join.

His emphasis on the distinction between immediate humanitarian aid and long-term development work is also crucial in the search for interesting approaches to development aid. Shah’s call to decolonise aid by prioritising local ownership and aligning with government strategies resonates deeply. It’s a powerful reminder that real progress requires moving beyond bureaucratic inefficiency and neo-colonial tendencies, and fostering genuine partnerships with the communities we seek to support.

The #InternationalCooperation sector (also known as development cooperation) is ripe for change. But there is often scepticism because stakeholders do not see clear and tangible alternatives to the current system. But here’s the thing: the future only becomes visible when we start creating it.

Fortunately, innovative solutions already exist - solutions that show us how to do things differently. The problem? Unfortunately, they are largely overlooked by the aid mainstream. 🚀 #FutureOfCooperation

One standout example is Giveth, a platform for donation-funded projects built on Web3 technology. While this technology is still often met with scepticism, its potential is undeniable. Here’s what makes it stand out:

• No processing fees: Every cent of your donation goes directly to the project. No cuts, no hidden costs. 💯
• Streamlined efficiency: Automation handles the heavy lifting, reducing manual processes and increasing transparency. ⚙️
• Empowered communities: Features are designed to involve communities in meaningful ways, fostering ownership and collaboration. 🤝
• Quadratic funding in action: An innovative model that boosts projects supported by the wider community, already live and operational. 💡
• And much more!

Platforms like #Giveth demonstrate how transformative change is possible—not just in theory but in practice. These approaches aren’t just ideas; they’re live, working examples of what the future of development cooperation could look like. 🌟

🎯 tl;dr: Tired of business as usual in development? Check out Giveth. It’s a platform for international cooperation that shows what’s possible with innovative use of technology.

Have we reached ‘peak aid’? asks the article in Guardian by Nilima Gulrajani and Jessica Pudussery. Decades of focusing too much on increasing top-line results and less on the bottom-line of international cooperation, which should be #impact. #FutureOfCooperation

In International Cooperation, most structural challenges are complex. Unfortunately, the sector is not well prepared to work in the complex domain.🌀 #FutureOfCooperation

Read the full blog post on micro.blog, also on LinkedIn. Find all the posts of this series in one place, connect on LinkedIn

tl;dr: The SDGs are essential for global progress, but “SDG alignment” often masks flexible interpretations, strategic misalignment, and skewed power dynamics. Real impact demands transparency, accountability, and local engagement—not just SDG branding. ✨ #FutureOfCooperation

🌍 There is no doubt that a set of goals such as the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) is essential as a general globally shared understanding to eradicate poverty, protect our planet and ensure prosperity for all.

However, there are also issues with the claim of SDG alignment:

• Flexible interpretations: The abstract nature of the global goals allows for different interpretations, allowing projects to claim alignment with certain SDGs without substantive evidence.
• Complex impact chains: Some initiatives develop complex and creative theories of change to justify their link to SDGs. However, these may not represent the core impacts of the project, and other impacts that run counter to the spirit of the SDGs may remain obscured.
• Strategic misalignment: Organisations may use the language of the SDGs to gain legitimacy and attract funding, but lack the capacity or commitment to ensure that their work is truly aligned with the SDG goals. This practice risks ‘SDG branding’ without delivering real impact.
• Power dynamics: The SDGs often function as a top-down framework, imposed by donors or international bodies. Local actors, who are critical to project implementation, may feel excluded from target-setting and decision-making processes, resulting in initiatives that don’t fully address community needs.

Therefore, even if a project aligns its outcomes with the SDGs, it doesn’t automatically qualify as a ‘good’ project in terms of sustainable transformative impact. True alignment requires transparency, accountability and a deep understanding of the local context to ensure that initiatives contribute meaningfully to the overarching goals.

Development cooperation: lofty ambitions 🌍, but too often entangled in pitfalls gone unaddressed for too long. 🌀 #FutureOfCooperation

Read the full blog post on micro.blog, also on LinkedIn. Find all the posts of this series in one place, connect on LinkedIn