CC BY-SA 2.0
22 May 13:00 - 15:00

The End of Development Aid as We Know It? Evolving Geopolitics, Changing World Order, and Declining Resources for Development

Bergen Global, Jekteviksbakken 31, Bergen

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    In 2024, development aid from members of the OECD Development Assistance Committee fell by 7.4 percent in real terms compared to 2023 – the first drop after five years of consecutive growth. In 2025, major donor countries announced further cuts in their aid budgets, partly to allow for increased military spending. Within shrinking aid budgets, increasing portions have been allocated as civilian aid to Ukraine and to cover the costs of hosting refugees from Ukraine in donor countries. In the US – accounting for nearly 30 percent of total global aid from the OECD – the Trump administration has suspended most aid and is withdrawing from major multilateral development organizations and initiatives. Global trade wars pose further challenges, constraining development prospects and making progress in meeting the UN Sustainable Development Goals by 2030, even less likely. This seminar will examine these evolving changes and discuss their implications for Norwegian development policies.

    Program:

    • 12:45: Coffee and snacks
    • 13:00: Introduction by Espen Villanger, Director at CMI
    • 13:05: Presentations and panel conversation:

      "On multilateral aid and the role of Norway", by Jon Lomøy

      "On how Norway and Norwegian development aid can help reduce global inequality, with some reflections on current challenges and opportunities", by Trine Østereng

      Remarks by Elling Tjønneland

      Moderator: Hilde Selbervik

    • Jon Lomøy, former Director of Norad and the OECD’s Development Cooperation Directorate. He has also served as Norway’s Ambassador to both Zambia and Tanzania. Currently, he is a Special Advisor at the think tank Langsikt, and since retiring from the foreign service, he has authored several studies and articles on Norwegian and global development aid, including a report published by CMI. In 2023, Lomøy was a member of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs’ Expert Committee on Development Policy (the Sending Committee).

    • Trine Østreng, International Advisor at the think tank Agenda, where she focuses on Norwegian foreign policy, development aid, and poverty reduction. Later this month, she will publish a book on economic inequality with Rex Publica

    • Elling Tjønneland, Senior Researcher at CMI with extensive publications on Norwegian development aid. He has a new academic article forthcoming in June, focusing on Ukraine, Africa, and Scandinavian aid. Later in 2025, he will publish a book on Chinese development aid to Africa, exploring the what, why, and how behind China's engagement on the continent.

    • Hilde Selbervik, U4 Director. Member of MFA’s 2023 Expert Committee on Development Policy (the Sending Committee). 

    • 13:50: Q&A - Open discussion
    • 14:45: About Elling Tjønneland’s work at CMI by Torunn Wimpelmann, Research Director

    Welcome to this event marking Elling Tjønneland’s career at CMI on the occasion of his retirement.

    Free and open to all. Not in Bergen? Join the event online via this link.