In the final episode 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) engage in a comprehensive discussion on the future of aid.

With global aid funding at its lowest in decades and the Sustainable Development Goals significantly off-track, this concluding episode synthesises insights from across the series, reflecting on the profound shifts in the global aid landscape. It examines the implications of recent aid cuts in the UK and US, the evolving geopolitical context, and the challenges of rebuilding the moral and political case for international assistance.

Joining Ivica and Melita for this concluding conversation is Dr. Jack Taggart, a researcher in critical approaches to international political economy, the politics of international development, and the dynamics of global governance, based at Queen's University Belfast. They explore the historical precedents for aid retrenchment and revival, the rise of national self-interest and financialisation in aid agendas, and the potential for a more fragmented, unilateral future for aid provision. The discussion also addresses the barriers to implementing more effective, recipient-owned development approaches and the crucial need for improved public communication regarding aid's impact and purpose.

Global Aid Rethink publishes fortnightly, on Tuesdays, from 22nd April 2025 to 1st July.

• Read the transcript here

This is a Research Podcasts production.

Episode credits:

Presenters: Ivica Petrikova, Royal Holloway, University of London and Melita Lazell, Portsmouth University

Guests: Jack Taggart

Producer: Catherine McDonald, Research Podcasts

Music: MFCC via Pixabay

Artwork and Audiograms: Krissie Brighty-Glover and Lauren White, Research Podcasts

This podcast was generously funded by the ESRC-funded Royal Holloway Social Science Impact Accelerator

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In the fifth episode 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) explore the tangible realities of aid in practice.

With global aid funding at its lowest in decades and the Sustainable Development Goals significantly off-track, this episode moves beyond theoretical discussions to explore the on-the-ground impact of development projects and the challenges faced by practitioners. It examines the immediate and long-term consequences of recent aid cuts, the complexities of localisation, and the effectiveness of various donor approaches.

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 experience, they share insights into how aid projects are implemented, the barriers to achieving sustainable impact, and the unintended side effects that can arise. The conversation also addresses priorities for future funding amidst reduced Official Development Assistance (ODA) budgets, advocating for a focus on systems, education, youth, and local innovation.

Global Aid Rethink publishes fortnightly, on Tuesdays, from 22nd April 2025 to 1st July.

• Read the transcript here

This is a Research Podcasts production.

Episode credits:

Presenters: Ivica Petrikova, Royal Holloway, University of London and Melita Lazell, Portsmouth University

Guests: Tamsin Bradley and Olusola Adeyemo

Producer: Catherine McDonald, Research Podcasts

Music: MFCC via Pixabay

Artwork and Audiograms: Krissie Brighty-Glover and Lauren White, Research Podcasts

This podcast was generously funded by the ESRC-funded Royal Holloway Social Science Impact Accelerator

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In the fourth episode 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) turn their attention to a critical and often overlooked dimension of international assistance: aid as extraction.

As global aid funding remains at its lowest in decades and the Sustainable Development Goals continue to be significantly off-track, this episode interrogates the increasing financialisation of aid. It explores whether the growing reliance on private sector tools, markets, and financial logic in delivering international development assistance leads to a process where capital or resources are extracted from communities in the Global South, rather than genuinely fostering sustainable development.

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. They delve into real-world examples of financialised aid, examining the role of development finance institutions like British International Investment (BII), and questioning whether this trend prioritises profit generation over the needs of the most vulnerable. The conversation also addresses the lack of transparency, the concentration of investments in middle-income countries, and the broader implications of aid being subordinated to geopolitical logics.

Global Aid Rethink publishes fortnightly, on Tuesdays, from 22nd April 2025 to 1st July.

• Read the transcript here

This is a Research Podcasts production.

Episode credits:

Presenters: Ivica Petrikova, Royal Holloway, University of London and Melita Lazell, Portsmouth University

Guests: Professor Emma Mawdsley

Producer: Catherine McDonald, Research Podcasts

Music: MFCC via Pixabay

Artwork and Audiograms: Krissie Brighty-Glover and Lauren White, Research Podcasts

This podcast was generously funded by the ESRC-funded Royal Holloway Social Science Impact Accelerator

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.