This week takes a look at an internal email seen by Devex, which outlines the U.S. Department of State’s priorities for the United Nations General Assembly. In addition to not mentioning the world “development,” the Trump administration is calling for a “fundamental rethink” of the international humanitarian system, and a decreased reliance on the country that was once the world’s largest donor.

We also discuss the dire humanitarian situation of refugees in Malawi, who are facing slashed food rations and shrinking health and protection services due to U.S. aid cuts. This crisis, particularly severe in the overcrowded Dzaleka refugee camp, is pushing a vulnerable population to the brink. With food assistance drastically reduced, many are resorting to desperate survival tactics, including sex work and child labor, to feed their families.

To dig into these stories and others, Senior Editor Rumbi Chakamba sits down with Managing Editor Anna Gawel and Global Development Reporter Ayenat Mersie for the latest episode of our podcast series. 

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This Week in Global Dev: #109: Trump’s plan for UNGA, and the impact of aid cuts on refugees in Malawi

This week, we take a look at the details of the latest United Nations reform, the UN80 Initiative, which is designed to make the organization more efficient. Unofficially, it’s also a move to convince the Trump administration not to cut U.N. funding even further. However, the initiative is unlikely to satisfy anyone. 

Meanwhile, China, the U.N.’s largest financial contributor, is pushing for a greater role at the organization, painting the U.S. as a threat to multilateralism. The country has been stepping up demands for more jobs at the institution for Chinese nationals.

We also discuss how emerging donors are reshaping the aid landscape, blending commercial aims with development goals in ways that look different from traditional partners. As Western aid recedes, their rise brings new resources, priorities, and trade-offs.

To analyze these stories, and others, Senior Reporter Adva Saldinger sits down with Business Editor David Ainsworth and Senior Global Reporter Colum Lynch for the latest episode of our weekly podcast series.

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This Week in Global Dev: #110: A look at UN80, and how emerging donors are reshaping the aid landscape

For decades, Africa's malaria strategy has focused almost exclusively on disease control through indoor mosquito management and personal protection — bed nets, indoor spraying, and individual-level interventions. But this approach alone isn’t working. Progress against malaria in the African region has slowed significantly, with cases declining by just 5% since 2015 and mortality by 16%, according to the World Health Organization.

Experts now argue it’s time to shift from disease-centric, indoor mosquito management to more robust integrated mosquito management strategies. That means taking a tiered approach, starting with reducing mosquito breeding sites, treating water sources with larvicides, and then targeting adult mosquitoes. “The tendency will probably be to think about controlling mosquitoes when they are flying only. But they are actually more vulnerable when they are not flying, usually when they are in the water,” explained Silas Majambere, a medical entomologist and business manager of Africa, Europe, and the Middle East at Valent BioSciences. 

This approach, known as larval source management, has proven both cost-effective and sustainable. “The conversation is shifting away from just talking about a disease and saying, ‘How do we take those limited public health dollars and manage the mosquito so that we can manage multiple diseases for those dollars?’” said Jason Clark, managing director for global public health and forest health at Valent BioSciences.

Some countries are already moving in this direction. In Benin, the government is framing mosquito control not just as a health issue but as an economic one. 
The government is focusing on tourism as one of the key pillars of growth for the country, and the presence of mosquito-borne diseases is a direct threat to that, explained Sinde Chekete, adviser to the president of Benin. “We believe that investing in mosquito control will ultimately bring resources, will bring revenue, because we'll be able to welcome more tourists … and reduce the overall cost of malaria,” he said.

Chekete, Majambere, and Clark joined Devex Executive Editor Kate Warren to discuss the shift toward integrated mosquito management in a special Devex podcast episode sponsored by Valent BioSciences.

Special episode: Beyond malaria: Africa’s shift to integrated mosquito management

This week, Akinwumi Adesina stepped down as the chief of the African Development Bank after a 10-year tenure. He was replaced by Sidi Ould Tah at the helm of the institution, who is promising reform, new partnerships, and a focus on jobs — even as the bank confronts tight budgets and a looming African Development Fund replenishment.

In the United States, the Trump administration proposed another $5 billion cut to foreign aid spending through a move known as a “pocket rescission.” This proposal builds on the cancellation of roughly $8 billion in foreign aid funding in July. We take a look at the controversial maneuver, which has not been used since 1977.

To dig into these stories, and others, David Ainsworth sits down with Michael Igoe and Ayenat Mersie for the latest episode of our podcast series.

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This Week in Global Dev: #111: A new era at AfDB, and Trump’s rescission package

The negotiation and approval of the U.S. budget is a complex process, filled with political bargaining and high-stakes showdowns that can have a profound impact far beyond Washington. This process directly shapes funding for foreign aid, global health, and humanitarian crises around the world.

With the Trump administration proposing a “pocket rescission” package that would cut an additional $5 billion from foreign assistance, its approval would have a significant impact on the global development sector.

To gain insight into the complexities of the U.S. budget and its implications for the development sector, Business Editor David Ainsworth sits down with Senior Reporters Adva Saldinger and Michael Igoe for this special episode of our weekly podcast series. 

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This Week in Global Dev: Special episode: The US budget deadlock explained

This week, we were at the Africa Climate Summit in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, closely following the stories that matter most to the global development community. From forging a unified voice ahead of the 30th United Nations Climate Change Conference to how carbon markets could transform climate action on the continent, we discuss the key takeaways from the conference.

In the United States, we continue to follow a key lawsuit challenging the Trump administration's foreign aid spending — or lack thereof. The case, which is a test of the executive branch's power over government spending, is now headed to the Supreme Court. The administration asked the highest court to intervene after a lower court compelled it to spend foreign assistance funds that Congress had already appropriated. We take a look at where the case stands and what might happen next. 

To dig into these stories and others, Senior Reporter Adva Saldinger sits down with Managing Editor Anna Gawel and Global Development Reporter Ayenat Mersie for the latest episode of our weekly podcast series. 

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This Week in Global Dev: #112: The Africa Climate Summit, and a new legal test for the Trump administration

This week, we take a look at the key talking points ahead of the high-level meetings of the 80th session of the United Nations General Assembly. From the Trump administration’s cutting of funding to international organizations to China’s desire to increase its influence at the U.N., we discuss the conversations that we will be following that are most relevant to the global development community.

During the discussion, we also explored some of the conversations that may not get the attention they deserve, including reforming the global debt architecture and securing the future of humanitarian funding. 

To look ahead to UNGA 80, Devex Business Editor David Ainsworth sits down with Senior Global Reporter Colum Lynch and Allison Lombardo, former deputy assistant secretary at the State Department, for the latest episode of our weekly podcast series. 

Together, they break down the diplomatic challenges and highlight negotiations that will shape this year’s discussions.

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This Week in Global Dev: #113: A look ahead to the high-level meetings of 80th United Nations General Assembly

This week, the Devex team is on the ground at the 80th United Nations General Assembly in New York. On the sidelines of the high-level talks, we are hosting a series of events with some of the most influential voices in global development at our dedicated venue, Devex Impact House. 

From the future of foreign assistance to the latest plan to reform the U.N., we discuss the forces shaping the sector and defining a new era of global development. This comes amid President Donald Trump's plans to reshape the international system, with a clear focus on reducing foreign aid and challenging long-standing international norms.

With the U.S. appearing to retreat from the U.N., we explore who the contenders are to fill the gap left by the world’s largest economy. 

To explore the key conversations we are following at UNGA, Senior Editor Rumbi Chakamba sits down with Senior Global Reporter Colum Lynch, as well as Devex President and Editor-in-Chief Raj Kumar, for this special episode of our weekly podcast series.

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Live from UNGA80: What's at stake for global development

This week we are on the ground in New York to cover the 80th United Nations General Assembly and Climate Week. 

Our discussion breaks down President Donald Trump’s address at the summit, where he called climate change a hoax, denounced Europe’s energy policies, and focused on the urgent need to address uncontrolled migration.

The global drive for emissions reduction is moving forward despite the Trump administration's stance on climate action, with high emitters, including China, submitting their Nationally Determined Contributions, or their climate action plans to keep global warming below 1.5 degrees Celsius.

To dig into these stories and catch up on what’s happening at UNGA80, senior editor Rumbi Chakamba sits down with senior global reporter Colum Lynch and global development reporter Jesse Chase-Lubitz for the latest episode of our weekly podcast series. 

Note on episode: David Lammy’s current title is deputy prime minister, not prime minister as mentioned in the episode.

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This Week in Global Dev: #114: UNGA80: Trump, climate, and the biggest headlines from the summit

This week, we discuss the details of the “Accra Reset,” an effort to declare an end to the era of development-as-usual and to push for the creation of new governance, business, and financing models. With traditional donors cutting foreign assistance, African nations and others are using the initiative to jointly invest, design, and create solutions with external partners.

With official development assistance plummeting, governments are under pressure to make up their global health funding shortfall through taxes on tobacco, alcohol, and sugary beverages.  However, these levies may not be a financial panacea.

During the conversation, we also look back at how U.S. objections stalled the long-negotiated United Nations declaration on noncommunicable diseases, sending it to a full General Assembly vote this month, and look ahead to the World Health Summit.

To dig into these stories and others, Senior Editor Rumbi Chakamba sits down with Senior Reporter Sara Jerving and contributing reporter Andrew Green for the latest episode of our weekly podcast series. 

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This Week in Global Dev: #115: Could taxes fix the global health funding crisis?

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