The international development sector in 2024: conclusions and the way forward | Experts’ Opinions

As 2024 comes to an end, it is the perfect time for a few moments of reflection. During the last 12 months, the international development sector has been shaped by a series of major events. From the presidential elections in the United States of America to economic challenges, natural disasters, and ongoing active military conflicts in Ukraine and the Middle East, the sector has been under much pressure. At the same time, international aid has changed a great deal due to unexpected events and has suffered criticism for its redirection to conflict alleviation rather than poverty reduction. With only five years left to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals, the pressure is even higher due to the unexpected challenges and future escalations that may arise. Based on the lessons learned and predictions, international experts have reached several conclusions about new objectives and to-do lists for 2025.

DevelopmentAid: What are the most significant global events or crisis in 2024 that had a direct impact on development aid strategies and priorities?

“In 2024, the global development landscape has been dramatically reshaped by interconnected crises. The Ukraine war and Middle East conflicts have forced a painful change of focus from long-term development to an urgent humanitarian response. Geopolitical tensions, especially surrounding China’s expansive aid strategies in the Global South, have created a complex diplomatic minefield. Unlike traditional aid models that focus on sustainable development, China’s approach has weaponized economic assistance, creating debt traps that extend geopolitical influence. The real game-changer has been social media’s role in undermining aid credibility. Public skepticism is rising, coinciding with democratic backsliding and increased defense spending. These dynamics challenge the fundamental premise of international development assistance, demanding a more transparent, adaptive approach that can rebuild trust and demonstrate tangible impact.”

“In 2024, multiple crises exposed the fragility of global systems. In Sudan, escalating violence displaced 6 million people, leaving 25 million in need of food, shelter, and healthcare. In Palestine, hostilities led to 18,000 deaths and nearly 2.2 million facing hunger as food and supply chains were shattered. Syria, enduring one of the largest humanitarian crises since 2011, has seen over 13 million affected by displacement, poverty, and violence. With the fall of the dictatorship by the end of 2024, humanitarian aid will shift towards development for these individuals. Ukraine’s war has led to 7 million refugees and disrupted global food supplies, especially affecting countries like Somalia, where 40% faced famine risk due to dependence on Ukrainian grain. Lebanon also saw 200% food inflation, and Yemen’s food security deteriorated, with 50% of its population affected. In Ethiopia, conflict, drought, and displacement have impacted over 20 million people. Climate-related disasters in Sudan, Kenya, and South Asia have displaced over 2 million. These overlapping crises demand integrated aid strategies that focus on conflict resolution, climate resilience, food security, regional cooperation, and sustainable investment in vulnerable communities. The interconnected nature of these challenges underscores the urgent need for coordinated, long-term solutions.”

“A number of international events that affected development aid occurred in the first few months of 2024. Global food and energy supplies were being stretched by the ongoing conflict in Ukraine, which compelled help to be redirected toward alleviating food shortages and humanitarian crises in the impacted areas. Increased funding for disaster relief and climate adaptation programs was required due to the effects of climate change, which were seen in many regions of the world as extreme weather events such as floods and droughts. Additionally, donor finances were squeezed by rising global inflation and economic instability, which forced tough decisions to be made about how to distribute help. Instead of concentrating only on pre-existing goals, these crises have forced a move towards more adaptive and integrated development plans that emphasize resilience-building and resolving interrelated difficulties.”

“In 2024, several global crises reshaped development aid strategies. The war in Ukraine and escalating conflicts in the Middle East demanded immediate humanitarian responses, diverting resources from long-term development priorities. These crises highlighted the need for adaptive and responsive aid systems. Global economic pressures, including high inflation and debt distress in low-income countries, put pressure on both donor contributions and recipient governments’ capacity to sustain essential services. Additionally, climate-related disasters such as intensified droughts, hurricanes, and floods underscored the urgency of integrating resilience into aid planning. These events collectively emphasized the importance of balancing short-term relief with sustainable development investments.”

DevelopmentAid: What are two or three lessons that have been learnt and based on these, what two or three key recommendations could be considered to improve the effectiveness of development aid in 2025?

“The turbulent year of 2024 has delivered critical lessons for development aid. Firstly, local partnerships are no longer optional — they are essential. Programs that genuinely engage community leaders have proven to be dramatically more effective and resilient. Secondly, we must get serious about combating misinformation. The narrative around aid matters as much as the aid itself. Key recommendations for 2025 are to prioritize local capacity-building with genuine power-sharing, not just tokenistic consultation, and develop targeted communication strategies that display real success stories. In addition, critically, move away from debt-driven models toward grant-based financing that empowers rather than entangles the recipient countries.”

“The world witnessed a convergence of crises with the urgent need to rethink how aid is delivered.

Lessons learned:

• Integration of Development and Humanitarian Aid: Crises like Sudan, Gaza, and Ukraine have shown that immediate humanitarian aid alone cannot address long-term needs. Development aid must be integrated from the start to transition communities from dependency to self-sufficiency.
• Building Resilience and Self-Sufficiency: The impact of climate change and conflict on food security in places like Somalia and Lebanon has revealed the need for early investment in resilience. Long-term solutions should focus on building local economies, infrastructure, and education, addressing vulnerabilities before they escalate.

Recommendations for 2025:

• Early integration of development programs: This should be part of the immediate response, aiming to strengthen infrastructure and local economies. This ensures a smoother transition from emergency aid to sustainable development, reducing future reliance on humanitarian support.
• Focus on long-term resilience: Aid should address the root causes of fragility, such as poor infrastructure and economic dependency. Investing in climate resilience, agriculture, and education will help communities to withstand future crises.
• Promote regional collaboration: Capacity-building to enable local communities to handle future challenges independently and reduce the need for external aid.”

“Lessons learned in 2024:

• Local ownership: it is crucial to include local people in the development process in order to guarantee sustainability and applicability.
• Flexibility: be aware that one-size-fits-all strategies might not work and that flexibility is essential for dealing with a range of situations and demands.
• Improved monitoring and assessment: put in place strong monitoring systems to keep tabs on developments, assess effects, and draw lessons from both achievements and setbacks.
• Collaboration and partnership: to achieve greater impact, cultivate solid collaborations among funders, governments, non-governmental organizations, and local communities.
• By putting an emphasis on local ownership, adaptability, improved monitoring, and cooperation, development assistance can become more efficient and sensitive to communities’ changing needs by 2025.”

“Lessons learned: 2024 taught us the importance of flexibility in aid systems to address crises swiftly. Local organizations demonstrated their ability to deliver impactful responses, reinforcing the need to prioritize local partnerships. Finally, overlapping crises magnified systemic inequalities, with vulnerable groups often being the hardest hit.

Recommendations: To enhance aid effectiveness in 2025, development actors should prioritize local engagement by increasing funding and decision-making power for local organizations. Strengthening early warning systems can enable quicker responses to emerging crises, mitigating the impacts. Additionally, designing inclusive recovery programs that explicitly target marginalized groups can help to ensure no one is left behind.”

DevelopmentAid: How has progress towards the SDGs evolved in 2024 and what should be the focus in the coming year to accelerate efforts? Are five years enough to achieve the necessary changes?

“The SDG trajectory in 2024 looks more like a rollercoaster than steady progress. Global conflicts and economic pressures have created significant headwinds, particularly for vulnerable populations in the Global South. While technological advances in renewable energy offer glimmers of hope, fundamental challenges in poverty, education, and gender equality remain stubbornly persistent. Five years isn’t enough for transformative change, but it is sufficient to lay critical groundwork. The path forward requires radical reimagining: prioritizing local-led initiatives, reforming international financial systems, and creating more equitable support mechanisms. Success won’t be perfect, but it can be meaningful if we remain adaptable and genuinely committed.”

“In 2024, progress towards the SDGs has stagnated, particularly in conflict-ridden and climate-impacted nations. Without clear frameworks for implementation, many developing countries struggle to align resources for both humanitarian aid and long-term development. Additionally, high-polluting nations have not fully embraced responsibility for their consumption footprint, limiting support for vulnerable countries. To accelerate progress in 2025, the focus should be on increased international cooperation, with developed nations taking greater responsibility for both production and consumption impacts. Support should include creating frameworks that promote social sustainable mobility, helping vulnerable communities to rise from poverty through SGD programs. Moreover, introducing economic incentives for countries meeting SDG targets could foster sustainable growth such as rewarding nations with tax rebates or grants. This approach would shift the conversation from aid dependency to mutually beneficial economic and climate cooperation, enabling countries to progress without compromising their development. Finally, in the next five years, development progress can be accelerated through firstly, holding developed nations accountable for their consumption footprints and linking them to climate finance and capacity-building support for vulnerable countries. Secondly, introducing economic incentives for nations that achieve SDG targets. Thirdly, developing collaborative frameworks that empower local actors to accomplish the SDGs and achieve long-term self-sufficiency and inclusive development.”

“As of 2024, different locations and targets have seen varying degrees of development toward the SDGs. Significant progress has been made on some goals, but others are still behind schedule. A targeted strategy is required to speed up progress in the forthcoming year. Increasing investment in vital sectors such as infrastructure, healthcare, and education, as well as encouraging innovation and technology improvement for sustainable solutions, could be important areas of focus. However, given the scope and complexity of the SDGs, it might be difficult to make all the required adjustments in just five years. It could be more reasonable to think of the SDGs as an ongoing journey that will continue after the 2030 deadline, even though great progress can be made within that time scale with committed efforts. Sustained dedication, cooperation, and creativity.”

“While progress toward the SDGs stalled in key areas such as poverty and education, advances in renewable energy and digital inclusion were bright spots. Achieving the SDGs by 2030 may be ambitious, but focusing on foundational goals like poverty alleviation, education, and health can lay the groundwork for broader progress. Climate action must also be integrated into all development activities, and improving data systems can enable more effective monitoring and adaptation. By concentrating on achievable targets, development efforts can still drive meaningful change in the remaining five years.”

DevelopmentAid: In light of global events in 2024, how can development aid better address systemic inequalities and ensure more inclusive, sustainable outcomes in 2025?

“Addressing systemic inequalities in 2025 will demand a bold, multi-dimensional strategy. The core principle must be genuine local empowerment – not just consultation, but true leadership. This means redesigning aid programs so they are fundamentally conceived and driven by communities themselves. We need targeted investments in education, vocational training, and entrepreneurship, with a laser focus on marginalized groups, especially women and youth. Equally crucial is reviving support for independent media and democratic institutions — the backbone of accountable governance. Climate adaptation cannot be an afterthought. We must develop financing mechanisms that support sustainable development without creating additional economic burdens. By addressing structural inequalities holistically, we can create development approaches that are both responsive and transformative.”

“To create more inclusive and sustainable outcomes in development aid, it is crucial to prioritize community-led development that is driven by professionals from countries that have faced similar challenges. Like conflict, displacement, and food insecurity, bring a deep understanding of the specific context to the communities in need. Rather than relying heavily on teams from countries with no direct experience of these crises, it is more effective to include professionals who have faced comparable hardships, by carrying the invaluable insights gained from navigating similar crises. Their unique perspective enables them to design and implement more relevant and culturally aligned solutions, ultimately leading to more inclusive and impactful development efforts. In parallel, international organizations should develop local leaders within their core teams, ensuring that decision-making reflects the lived experiences of the communities they serve. By shifting from token inclusion to genuine empowerment, development aid can address systemic inequalities and build sustainable, locally driven solutions. This change would lead to more efficient aid strategies and a deeper, lasting impact in vulnerable communities. Rather than placing these community members in symbolic, low-level roles, they should be given authority in decision-making, project implementation, and evaluation to foster true empowerment, self-sufficiency, and long-term resilience in the affected communities.”

“Development assistance must give priority to a number of crucial actions to address systemic injustices and guarantee inclusive, sustainable results by 2025.

• Community engagement: make sure aid programs are culturally appropriate and meet particular needs by actively including local people in the decision-making processes.
• Targeted funding: provide funds exclusively to underserved populations, such as women, minorities, and indigenous peoples, to guarantee their access to economic, medical, and educational opportunities.
• Capacity building: make investments in regional organizations to improve accountability, transparency, and governance, empowering local people to oversee their own development in a sustainable manner.
• Inclusive policies: support and advocate for laws that address the underlying causes of inequality while advancing equality and safeguarding human rights.
• Technology and innovation: make use of technology to improve data collecting and monitoring, guarantee transparency, and successfully modify solutions to changing problems.

By focusing on these strategies, development aid can contribute to reducing inequalities and fostering inclusive growth.”

“Development aid must tackle systemic inequalities by addressing the root causes, such as unequal access to education and healthcare, and focusing on gender equality. Empowering women and girls is particularly critical as they often face disproportionate challenges during crises. Programs that provide targeted support, such as skills training and access to finance, can create sustainable pathways out of poverty. Participatory development approaches, where marginalized groups are actively involved in decision-making, can ensure the solutions reflect diverse needs and lead to more inclusive and sustainable outcomes.”

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