Devex

Curious what made the headlines? Dive into our top stories for a captivating weekend read: #1 🔥 “After a year of humanitarian free fall, 2025 ended in the great aid recession,” says Sam Vigersky of the Council on Foreign Relations, who was the former senior humanitarian adviser to the U.S. ambassador to the U.N. “We’re still in a recession, but there are green shoots emerging from the ashes of USAID.” From those ashes, we’re seeing the emergence of a fragile architecture of foreign aid that’s smaller and more transactional. Read Devex’s Elissa Miolene’s in-depth overview of what the last 18 months since USAID’s dismantling have been like. #2 💰AI wealth could create a new generation of philanthropists. How can the development sector prepare to start capitalizing on future AI giving? #3 ✂️The foreign aid cuts have done more than force organizations to tighten their belts. They have accelerated a wholesale rethink of what an international NGO looks like — and how it survives in a world where the old funding model may never return. #4 🎧In our podcast episode with Dr. Ebere Okereke, we discuss: Who should hold the power to shape global health?

Here are some of the top stories published on Devex over the past few days: #1 ✈️The U.S. Department of Agriculture is relocating over one-third of its union-eligible Foreign Agricultural Service — the team that’s tasked with taking over the country’s flagship hunger program, Food for Peace — to Kansas City, Missouri. It’s a move that staff across the agency feel will lead to widespread redundancies. #2 👁Can the EU pursue its geopolitical ambitions without losing sight of poverty reduction? Experts debate what the Commission's proposed long-term budget means for the future of European development cooperation. #3 ❌Noncommunicable diseases are absent from the list of U.S. global health priorities under the “America First Global Health Strategy” — a notable omission at a time when experts warn that broader cuts to foreign assistance could undermine years of progress integrating NCD care into HIV and primary health programs. #4 📜Jeffrey Graham, who leads the State Department’s global health work, took center stage in the International AIDS Conference in Rio de Janeiro, where he clarified details about the new bilateral health deals that the U.S. has signed with low- and middle-income countries.

Start your week with a recap of some of the top stories published on Devex over the past few days: #1 🇬🇧New U.K. Prime Minister Andy Burnham has announced his new foreign secretary, heavyweight climate advocate Ed Miliband, and minister for development and Africa, Scottish member of Parliament Kirsty McNeill. How will they handle aid? #2 🏥The Trump administration has tapped Dr. Erica Schwartz to take over the U.S. CDC, which has been without a director for all but 28 days since Trump took office. But as she launched her public campaign for Senate confirmation, there is uncertainty about whether Schwartz will push to restore CDC’s role in global health — or if she will even be approved. #3 💰The EU's proposed long-term budget would reshape how billions in development funding are spent, prioritizing strategic investment, European interests, and flexibility over traditional poverty-focused aid, critics warn. #4 ✂️The first large-scale survey of implementing partners of PEPFAR since the Trump administration took office last year found that over half of them had at least one of their awards terminated, and more than 80% were asked to restrict their work to comply with American policy restrictions as a condition to continue receiving funding.

Curious what made the headlines? Dive into our top stories for a captivating weekend read: #1 ❌Is the humanitarian sector doing enough to ensure sexual abuse doesn’t happen again during the current Ebola response? “It’s not like you’re going to forget what happened six years ago,” says Meghan Holohan, who was one of the leading officials at USAID pushing for accountability during the earlier outbreak. “No one is talking about this element of mistrust.” #2 🙌“Our sector has spent decades trying to stop crises, focusing on convincing people to care. And as funding falls short, the assumption is people have lost interest. Quite the opposite,” writes Jenifer Willig, CEO, partner, and co-founder of social impact agency WRTHY, in an opinion piece for Devex. In fact, the trust is already there — it’s more a matter of tapping into it, she writes. Read the op-ed. #3 🤖A St. Louis nonprofit is investing in AI to help the World Food Programme, FEWS NET, and other groups build and improve open-source tools for humanitarians to deliver food aid much more quickly and efficiently to people in need. #4 💧As governments race to write the rules for AI, nature and biodiversity are barely on the agenda — and those omissions could have profound consequences for land, water, agriculture, and the communities that steward them, activists warned at a briefing during the first United Nations dialogue on AI governance in Geneva.

Here are some of the top stories published on Devex over the past few days #1 🥣The number of people facing hunger worldwide fell for the third year in a row, with improvements on every continent. But around one-third of the world’s population can’t afford a healthy diet. #2 💉With the twice-yearly injectable form of HIV prevention now rolling out in 10 countries across sub-Saharan Africa, new evidence from clinical trials to be presented at the upcoming International AIDS Conference found that the medication, known as lenacapavir, retains its effectiveness over time. #3 💭Who are some of the most influential figures in the world of international development philanthropy? #4 ✉️Sascha van Beek, a member of Germany’s national parliament, recently wrote a letter to the Global Fund’s board officials, seeking clarification on the selection process for the executive director after reports emerged that three U.S. citizens are potential candidates for the position and that the nominating committee reportedly removed an applicant endorsed by the German government. #5 🤝The Global Fund and the Green Climate Fund are exploring an unprecedented partnership to jointly finance climate and health programs in vulnerable countries — a move that could create a new model for funding climate adaptation where it has long struggled to attract investment.

Start your week with a recap of some of the top stories published on Devex over the past few days: #1 🇬🇧The U.K. will cut bilateral aid to Malawi and Mozambique by around 90% and slash support to several other low-income and fragile states by 2029, according to long-awaited figures published by the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office. #2 💼The United Nations recently invited applications for the new executive director of the World Food Programme, formally opening the race for the top U.N. food job five months after Cindy McCain announced plans to step down, citing health concerns. #3 ⛰Behind closed doors in Azerbaijan’s mountains, a small group of climate negotiators will try to resolve the toughest issues shaping COP31 — before the world’s leaders arrive in Turkey. #4 ❓During a House Foreign Affairs Committee meeting on Wednesday, U.S. International Development Finance Corporation CEO Ben Black testified and faced questioning regarding the agency's priorities and ethics.

Curious what made the headlines? Dive into our top stories for a captivating weekend read: #1 ⚽️ How can NGOs use the FIFA World Cup to showcase their advocacy? #2 🛡More than 100 countries have introduced social protection measures — subsidies, cash transfers, tax breaks, and fuel discounts — to shield their citizens from the ripple effects of the U.S.-Israel war in Iran. But experts warn that while these are effective in the short term, countries need a less reactive and more planned response to better prepare for inevitable future shocks. #3 🤖The recently released Preliminary Report of the Independent International Scientific Panel on AI is an ambitious attempt to create a common scientific evidence base on AI’s opportunities and risks before countries negotiate how to govern the technology. #4 ⛪️Turns out the sisters really are doing it for themselves. For decades, religious sisters have quietly run hospitals, schools, and development projects in some of the world’s toughest places — often with little recognition and even less funding. Now, a platform called PeaceRoom owned by nonprofit Sisters Rising Worldwide is helping change that by connecting sisters directly with donors.

Here are some of the top stories published on Devex over the past few days: #1 💥Scoop: The Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria secretariat’s proposal to dissolve its independent evaluation function has sparked concerns from board members and insiders, who warn it could weaken independent oversight of the multibillion-dollar health financier. #2 💰 The United States announced two large food aid awards on Tuesday: the first for Catholic Relief Services — which will receive $235 million through the U.S. Department of Agriculture — and the second for Operation End Starvation, receiving $100 million through the U.S. Department of State. #3 💼FIND’s board chair, Dr. Ayoade Alakija, has stepped down from her position. #4 🎒The Transforming Education Summit +4 in Paris warns about a looming global education crisis, as aid shrinks, debt rises, shocks multiply, and disruptions such as AI threaten to derail learning gains.

Start your week with a recap of some of the top stories published on Devex over the past few days: #1 🇨🇭Switzerland is preparing its biggest aid overhaul in years, shifting middle-income countries to its economy ministry and prioritizing humanitarian response over long-term development partnerships. #2 🤖As AI for Good and the inaugural Global Dialogue on AI Governance brought governments, companies, researchers, and civil society together, several questions kept surfacing: Who will shape AI? Where will the wealth it creates flow? Can governance keep pace? And will LMICs help shape AI's future — or simply adapt to decisions made elsewhere? #3 🇬🇧The British Council will close its country offices in nine countries, including Mozambique and Tanzania, as part of its financial turnaround plan, amid warnings that a smaller overseas footprint could damage the United Kingdom’s ability to build trust and work with local partners. #4 🇸🇸The $166 million health financing agreement between South Sudan and the United States has raised concerns that the overall amount is too low and questions about whether Juba can actually deliver on its end of the bargain.

Curious what made the headlines? Dive into our top stories for a captivating weekend read: #1 💥Scoop: The U.S. isn’t placing conditions on its funding to the Global Fund when it comes to implementing the expanded global gag rule. #2 📜A reminder for July 11, African Anti-Corruption Day: anti-corruption efforts rarely succeed when they are owned by governments alone. Lasting reform depends on independent institutions, local governments, civil society, and citizens having real ownership of accountability. Presidential speeches matter less than stronger institutions, writes Aidan Eyakuze in an opinion piece for Devex. #3 💼We offer tips and guidelines for how to reposition your career narrative in a way that immediately signals you are qualified for a role. #4 🇯🇵In 2025, Japan retained its position as the fourth-largest donor. Dive inside Japan’s unique loan-heavy strategy, the top sectors, and the specific nations receiving the most funding.

Here are some of the top stories published on Devex over the past few days: #1 🇩🇪Leaked draft budget shows Germany falling short of its flagship €6 billion climate finance promise for a second straight year — deepening concerns over donor reliability as aid budgets tighten. #2 ✅The Inter-American Development Bank lifted its historic ban on nuclear energy financing, signaling a major shift in how Latin America may power its growing industrial and digital economy. #3 ✍️Can the rules of global development be rewritten? A new South-North Commission aims to tackle debt, trade, climate finance, and multilateral reform. #4 🌽The head of the world's largest agricultural research network argues that food systems must be treated as a central pillar of climate action, not a side issue folded into other agendas. #5 🚸 New research from the Center for Global Development found that seven MDBs approved 163 new projects with childcare components between 2021 and 2024.

Start your week with a recap of some of the top stories published on Devex over the past few days: #1 🤖As governments prepare to convene in Geneva, Switzerland, this week, the United Nations is defending its role in AI governance amid growing disagreement over global AI cooperation. They say the goal is not to slow innovation, but to create a more inclusive forum for countries to shape AI governance. #2 👥Five current and former staff at the U.S. Department of Agriculture — who all spoke on the condition of anonymity to protect their jobs — told Devex that today, only around 10 temporary employees are managing Food for Peace’s entire $1.2 billion portfolio. #3 🔍The United Kingdom’s climate finance numbers are facing fresh scrutiny after lawmakers heard that counting existing humanitarian aid as climate finance has damaged Britain’s credibility with developing countries. #4 📜Faced with a potential merger, UN Women and the United Nations Population Fund have identified areas to better align, collaborate, and potentially save costs as an alternative to being consolidated into one entity.

Curious what made the headlines? Dive into our top stories for a captivating weekend read: #1 💥Exclusive: A proposed merger of UNDP and UNOPS is exposing a battle over the future of U.N. development reform, with Alexander De Croo and Jorge Moreira da Silva pushing competing visions as U.N. chief António Guterres searches for savings. #2 💨The U.S. stopped publishing air quality data from more than 70 embassies and consulates worldwide — in many countries, the only publicly available reference-grade pollution data. Our latest reporting investigates what that loss means for scientists, policymakers, and anyone breathing the air. #3 🏥Two outbreaks — screwworm in the U.S. and Ebola in the Democratic Republic of Congo and Uganda — are moving faster than our fractured systems can keep up. This isn't a coincidence; it’s a pattern. By dismantling key global health programs, we’ve eroded the very defenses that once kept these threats at bay. Read this opinion piece by Daniele Nyirandutiye. #4 📖Check out our career guide that provides insights into how artificial intelligence is reshaping roles across the sector, what this means for hiring, and how job seekers can use these tools effectively throughout their job search.

Here are some of the top stories published on Devex over the past few days: #1 🇺🇸Jeremy Lewin, the controversial head of the State Department’s foreign assistance portfolio, is moving to the White House to serve on the National Security Council. #2 🇺🇸Andrew Veprek, a key State Department enforcer of Trump’s immigration crackdown, is expected to assume temporary leadership of U.S. foreign aid programs when Jeremy Lewin transitions to the White House. #3 🇸🇩International donors were repeatedly warned that mass atrocities were likely in Sudan before tens of thousands of civilians were killed in 2025, but did not act to stop them, according to a human rights investigator. #4 🏦Janine Ferretti, the head of the International Finance Corporation’s watchdog, resigned last week after the World Bank’s board rejected her office’s findings that IFC breached its environmental and social standards in a landmark Cambodia microfinance case.

Start your week with a recap of some of the top stories published on Devex over the past few days: #1 🇬🇧Andy Burnham, Keir Starmer’s anticipated successor as U.K. prime minister following the latter’s resignation as Labour Party leader last week, is unlikely to arrive in Downing Street with international development on his mind. But for U.K. aid advocates, his leadership — which could begin as soon as mid-July — could still mark a significant shift. Read more. #2 🇺🇸The tug of war over Food for Peace — the U.S. flagship emergency food aid program — took its latest turn this week, with lawmakers in the U.S. Senate dropping mention of the program’s permanent transfer from the USAID to the U.S. Department of Agriculture. Read here. #3 💸How much can you expect to earn from an education job in development? Find out. #4 🛡As funding for security, training, and support systems comes under pressure, aid workers — particularly local staff — are bearing increasing risks with fewer resources to protect them. Read more. #5 📜The health agreements that the United States has signed with over 30 countries are a cornerstone of the State Department’s new foreign assistance approach. They’ve also been a black box of information. But now, we have some enlightening details. Read here.

Curious what made the headlines? Dive into our top stories for a captivating weekend read: #1 📖For anyone starting as a consultant, there is a learning curve in figuring out how to market services, find clients, set rates, and balance current assignments with the need to generate future work. We’ve put together this guide to help those starting in their development consulting careers. Check it out. #2 💰How much do jobs at the Food and Agriculture Organization pay, and where is the org hiring the most? #3 🍚As gang violence in Haiti skyrockets, starving children are more vulnerable to gang recruitment. Can school meals save them? #4 💸U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio claimed that his country is still the largest provider of aid “by far” — but do the numbers support this claim?

Here are some of the top stories published on Devex over the past few days: #1 📜With a minimal team at the State Department now managing responsibilities previously handled by 10,000 employees at USAID, questions persist regarding the department's ability to effectively distribute billions in funding. Recently, the department has moved to restaff its foreign aid divisions by advertising dozens of positions within its disaster response, global health, and foreign assistance bureaus. #2 🏥Health ODA is projected to fall by 29%-46% from 2024 to 2026, or about $5 billion-$8 billion. The range reflects uncertainties in the share of official development assistance coming from the United States. #3 🏦The World Bank’s board has approved the creation of a single independent accountability mechanism, merging its three existing complaints bodies under one roof. #4 💼The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s foreign agricultural service lost 24% of its workforce last year. The agency, which recently took charge of the country’s flagship Food for Peace program, has just over 540 people working across nearly 100 offices in 180 countries.

🚨LAST CHANCE: Tomorrow, June 25, Devex Impact House will bring its signature live journalism to the center of London Climate Action Week. Join us in Shoreditch for a day of candid conversations with the policymakers, financiers, philanthropists, and innovators working to close the gap between climate ambition and delivery. Request to attend in person or register for on-demand content here: https://pages.devex.com/devex-at-london-climate-action-week.html

Start your week with a recap of some of the top stories published on Devex over the past few days: #1 🧑‍⚖️A U.N. appeals court says the $60 million UNOPS scandal cannot be pinned on one man alone. While upholding findings of misconduct against Vitaly Vanshelboim, judges pointed to broader failures inside the organization. #2 🇺🇳Tressa Rae Finerty is the newly appointed deputy U.N. high commissioner for refugees. She got the role after U.N. Secretary-General António Guterres and High Commissioner for Refugees Barham Salih passed over Washington’s preferred candidate, Simon Hankinson, a Heritage Foundation fellow and outspoken critic of international refugee policy. #3 💰According to the Office of Inspector General, USAID has already spent more than $360,000 storing family planning commodities and continues to accumulate over $24,000 a month while officials decide what to do next. #4 🌍After years of advocacy, the Africa CDC has been approved as a Pandemic Fund “implementing entity,” making it the first African Union institution to achieve this milestone.

Curious what made the headlines? Dive into our top stories for a captivating weekend read: #1 🇨🇲What happens when a key source of food and livelihood support disappears in the middle of a long-running conflict? Our latest reporting from Cameroon examines the ripple effects on displaced families, local businesses, and community stability. #2 💪They may have lost their jobs, but not their drive. Here’s how a trio of former USAID workers turned a spur-of-the-moment, skeletal operation to save USAID into a full-fledged organization to continue fighting for foreign assistance. #3 🩺Strengthening medical product regulation in Africa is slow, technical work. Though it’s not the most glamorous, it’s important. It’s also one of the Gates Foundation’s priorities because smoother regulatory processes can mean faster access to lifesaving medicines, vaccines, and other health products. #4 💭As global health institutions and donors embrace country-led development, experts are raising concerns that multiple reform efforts are moving forward in parallel with little alignment.