Global Aid Rethink

As traditional overseas aid drops to historic lows, is the growing reliance on private sector instruments a genuine solution or a geopolitical pivot? This episode investigates the increasing financialisation of development cooperation, exploring how aid is being channelled through development finance institutions (DFIs) to crowd in private capital, and what this structural shift means for accountability, transparency, and state capacity in the Global South.In the second of a three-part bonus series of Global Aid Rethink, hosts Ivica Petrikova (Associate Professor in Politics and International Relations, Royal Holloway, University of London) and Melita Lazell (Associate Professor in Political Economy and Development at the University of Portsmouth) return to examine the stark realities of a changing global aid landscape.Joining Ivica and Melita for this conversation are Paddy Carter, Head of Development Economics at British International Investment (BII), and Luis Mah, Assistant Professor in Development Studies at the University Institute of Lisbon. Together, they explore how major reductions in core capital injections are forcing institutions like the BII to become self-financing revolving funds, and why DFIs have increasingly become primary objects of analysis, replacing traditional development agencies and NGOs on the global stage. The conversation also highlights how financial instruments are being deployed as tools of geopolitical interest - such as the European Union’s Global Gateway initiative competing with China’s Belt and Road Initiative - whilst examining the stark findings of the Publish What You Fund transparency index. Concluding the episode, the panel reflects on the future of the aid landscape over the next decade, debating whether financial inclusion serves as a core component of development or simply a means to formalise economies and build state capacity.Read the transcript hereThis is a Research Podcasts production.Episode credits:Presenters: Ivica Petrikova, Royal Holloway, University of London and Melita Lazell, Portsmouth UniversityGuests: Paddy Carter and Luis MahProducer: Catherine McDonald, Research PodcastsMusic: MFCC via PixabayThis podcast was generously funded by the ESRC-funded Royal Holloway Social Science Impact Accelerator

Following the catastrophic funding drops of 2025, what does the immediate future hold for international development cooperation? This episode investigates the immediate impacts of deep aid cuts on the ground, addressing the driving forces behind fragile public support in donor nations, the severe consequences of funding withdrawals on health sectors, and how the current geopolitical environment is accelerating a shift away from traditional donor-recipient paradigms.In the first of a three-part bonus series of Global Aid Rethink, hosts Ivica Petrikova (Associate Professor in Politics and International Relations, Royal Holloway, University of London) and Melita Lazell (Associate Professor in Political Economy and Development at the University of Portsmouth) return to examine the stark realities of a changing global aid landscape.Joining Ivica and Melita for this conversation are Nilima Gulrajani, Principal Research Fellow at ODI Global, and Nafisa Bedri, Global Professor in Gender and Reproductive Health in Africa, currently based at the University of Portsmouth. Together, they explore the devastating real-world outcomes of recent bilateral cuts - particularly concerning maternal and child health in conflict environments like Sudan - and analyse new sovereignty movements like the 'Accra Reset'. The conversation also highlights the critical need to bypass traditional international bureaucracies to fund local organisations directly, cultivate transnational solidarity, and build a more transparent, investment-based model for global development.Read the transcript hereThis is a Research Podcasts production.Additional Resources:N. Gulrajani, "North Stars for Northern Donors: what should guide donors as dialogues turn to decisions?", ODI Global (22nd May 2026)H. Aly, N. Gulrajani and J. Pudussery, "Reimagining donorship: The Donors in a Post-Aid World dialogue series", ODI Global (11th May 2026)What now? Moving from dialogue to decisions, ODI Global (11th May 2026)N. Gulrajani, "From Peak Aid to a Post-Aid World", Current History (2026)N. Gulrajani and H. Aly, "Should a Northern donor exist in the 21st century? Introducing a new dialogue series", (11th Sep 2024)Episode credits:Presenters: Ivica Petrikova, Royal Holloway, University of London and Melita Lazell, Portsmouth UniversityGuests: Nilima Gulrajani and Nafisa BedriProducer: Catherine McDonald, Research PodcastsMusic: MFCC via PixabayThis podcast was generously funded by the ESRC-funded Royal Holloway Social Science Impact Accelerator

Beyond theoretical debates, what are the tangible, on-the-ground impacts of development projects, and what barriers do practitioners face when implementing them? This episode moves into the realities of aid in practice, exploring the immediate and long-term consequences of recent aid cuts, the intricate complexities of localisation, and the actual effectiveness of varying donor approaches.To examine these practical challenges at a time when global aid funding is at its lowest in decades and the Sustainable Development Goals are significantly off-track, hosts Ivica Petrikova (Associate Professor in Politics and International Relations, Royal Holloway, University of London) and Melita Lazell (Associate Professor in Political Economy and Development at the University of Portsmouth) continue the Global Aid Rethink series.Joining Ivica and Melita for this discussion are Tamsin Bradley, Professor in Development Studies at the University of Portsmouth, and Olusola Adeyemo, African Lead in Sustainable Farming, Distribution and Extension at AGRA. Drawing on their extensive field experience, they share insights into how aid projects are delivered, the barriers to achieving sustainable impact, and the unintended side effects that can arise. The conversation also addresses vital priorities for future funding amidst reduced Official Development Assistance (ODA) budgets, advocating for a critical focus on systems, education, youth, and local innovation.Read the transcript hereThis is a Research Podcasts production.Episode credits:Presenters: Ivica Petrikova, Royal Holloway, University of London and Melita Lazell, Portsmouth UniversityGuests: Tamsin Bradley and Olusola AdeyemoProducer: Catherine McDonald, Research PodcastsMusic: MFCC via PixabayThis podcast was generously funded by the ESRC-funded Royal Holloway Social Science Impact Accelerator

Does the growing reliance on private sector markets and financial logic in delivering international development assistance lead to capital being extracted from the Global South? This episode interrogates the critical and often overlooked dimension of aid as extraction, exploring whether the increasing financialisation of aid genuinely fosters sustainable development or simply prioritises profit generation over the needs of the most vulnerable.To dissect these complex mechanics at a time when global aid funding remains at its lowest in decades and the Sustainable Development Goals continue to be significantly off-track, hosts Ivica Petrikova (Associate Professor in Politics and International Relations, Royal Holloway, University of London) and Melita Lazell (Associate Professor in Political Economy and Development at the University of Portsmouth) continue the Global Aid Rethink series.Joining Ivica and Melita for this in-depth discussion is Professor Emma Mawdsley, Head of the Department of Geography at the University of Cambridge and an expert in the politics of global development. Together, they delve into real-world examples of financialised aid, examining the role of development finance institutions like British International Investment (BII). The conversation also addresses the stark lack of transparency in these models, the concentration of investments in middle-income countries, and the broader implications of aid being subordinated to geopolitical logics.Read the transcript hereThis is a Research Podcasts production.Episode credits:Presenters: Ivica Petrikova, Royal Holloway, University of London and Melita Lazell, Portsmouth UniversityGuests: Professor Emma MawdsleyProducer: Catherine McDonald, Research PodcastsMusic: MFCC via PixabayThis podcast was generously funded by the ESRC-funded Royal Holloway Social Science Impact Accelerator

Do contemporary development aid systems and institutions simply perpetuate old forms of colonial control and dependency? This episode critically examines one of the most contentious aspects of international assistance - aid as neocolonialism - exploring how the "aid industrial complex" can maintain existing power imbalances even in the absence of direct rule.To delve into these challenging questions at a time when global aid funding is at its lowest in decades and the Sustainable Development Goals are significantly off-track, hosts Ivica Petrikova (Associate Professor in Politics and International Relations, Royal Holloway, University of London) and Melita Lazell (Associate Professor in Political Economy and Development at the University of Portsmouth) continue the Global Aid Rethink series.Joining Ivica and Melita for this incisive discussion are Professor Sophia Price, Head of the School of Social Sciences at Birkbeck, University of London, and Aude Darnal, Research Analyst and Project Manager at the Stimson Center and Founder of the Global South in the World Order project. Together, they explore the historical context of neocolonialism, dissecting how issues like conditionality and the marginalisation of local actors enforce systemic inequalities. The conversation also addresses the potential for resistance and decolonisation within the aid system, questioning whether a truly decolonised approach to aid is achievable amidst current global shiftsRead the transcript hereThis is a Research Podcasts production.Episode credits:Presenters: Ivica Petrikova, Royal Holloway, University of London and Melita Lazell, Portsmouth UniversityGuests: Professor Sophia Price and Aude DarnalProducer: Catherine McDonald, Research PodcastsMusic: MFCC via PixabayThis podcast was generously funded by the ESRC-funded Royal Holloway Social Science Impact Accelerator

As international assistance is increasingly deployed to achieve foreign policy objectives, where does the line fall between humanitarian intent and strategic influence? This episode leads a crucial discussion on the complex concept of aid as soft power, exploring how global aid is used to persuade rather than coerce, and what these shifting motivations mean for recipient nations and the broader global development landscape.To unpack these intricate dynamics at a time when global aid funding faces historic lows and the Sustainable Development Goals face significant setbacks, hosts Ivica Petrikova (Associate Professor in Politics and International Relations, Royal Holloway, University of London) and Melita Lazell (Associate Professor in Political Economy and Development at the University of Portsmouth) continue the Global Aid Rethink series.They are joined by Stephen Brown, Professor at the School of Political Studies at the University of Ottawa (additionally affiliated with the School of International Development and Global Studies), and Rose Worden, a Senior Analyst and Public Affairs and Policy Advisor. Together, they explore the critical distinctions between soft power and hard power, examining the underlying political motivations behind international assistance and the long-term implications for global governance.Read the transcript hereThis is a Research Podcasts production.Episode credits:Presenters: Ivica Petrikova, Royal Holloway, University of London and Melita Lazell, Portsmouth UniversityGuests: Professor Stephen Brown and Rose Worden Producer: Catherine McDonald, Research PodcastsMusic: MFCC via PixabayThis podcast was generously funded by the ESRC-funded Royal Holloway Social Science Impact Accelerator

With global funding for development aid dropping to its lowest in decades, what do recent deep cuts mean for the future of international cooperation? This inaugural episode confronts the profound implications of the major aid cuts announced by the UK and US in 2025, delving into the immediate consequences for humanitarian efforts, multilateral institutions, and the rapidly changing landscape of foreign policy objectives.To break down these pressing and divisive shifts, hosts Ivica Petrikova (Associate Professor in Politics and International Relations, Royal Holloway, University of London) and Melita Lazell (Associate Professor in Political Economy and Development, University of Portsmouth) launch the Global Aid Rethink series.They are joined for this vital discussion by two leading voices in the field: Helen Stawski, Head of Policy at Oxfam GB, and Tamsyn Barton, former Chief Commissioner at the Independent Commission for Aid Impact (ICAI) and board member for both the Institute for Development Studies and the Centre for Global Development. Together, they dissect whether these developments truly signal a fundamental shift in global aid, examining the rising influence of non-traditional donors, the impact on local ecosystems, and the urgent imperative for global solidarity and mutual resilience.Read the transcript hereThis is a Research Podcasts production.Episode credits:Presenters: Ivica Petrikova, Royal Holloway, University of London and Melita Lazell, Portsmouth UniversityGuests: Helen Stawski and Tamsyn Barton Producer: Catherine McDonald, Research PodcastsMusic: MFCC via PixabayThis podcast was generously funded by the ESRC-funded Royal Holloway Social Science Impact Accelerator

Global Aid Rethink aims to rethink the current global aid landscape; politically, historically and ideologically.  With funding for development aid at its lowest for decades and the sustainable development goals related to aid significantly off-track, the question of whether we should give aid at all remains divisive as ever – and this podcast is not afraid to ask the difficult questions. Hosted by Ivica Petrikova, an Associate Professor in Politics and International Relations at Royal Holloway, University of London, and Melita Lazell, Associate Professor in Political Economy and Development at the University of Portsmouth, delivers in-depth conversations with policymakers, practitioners and academics.Key themes up for discussion in the series include recent developments in the UK and US, aid as soft power, as neocolonialism, as extraction and in practice.Global Aid Rethink publishes fortnightly, on Tuesdays, from 22nd April 2025 to 1st July.  Read the transcript hereThis is a Research Podcasts production. This podcast was generously funded by the ESRC-funded Royal Holloway Social Science Impact Accelerator