Britain and South Africa co‑hosted a two‑day Global Partnerships Conference in London, urging governments to blend trade policy with foreign aid . Ministers, NGOs and private investors gathered to discuss how dwindling official development assistance can be offset by new financing models.

Randeep Sarai Calls for an End to the Trade‑Aid Divide

UK Secretary of State for International Development Randeep Sarai told delegates, “We need to first stop trreating trade and development as two separate things. we don’t need to be shy about it.” His remarks, reported by the conference briefing, framed the event’s central theme:integrating commercial incentives with aid programmes.

OECD Reports Record 23.1% Drop in Western ODA (2024‑25)

The Organisation for Economic Co‑operation and Development calculated that donor nations cut official development assistance by 23 .1 % between 2024 and 2025, the steepest decline on record. The OECD also projects a further 6 % reduction this year, underscoring the fiscal pressure driving the search for private‑sector partners.

Canada’s $2.7 B Aid Cut and Britain’s 0.3% GNI Target

Canada announced a $2.7‑billion reduction in foreign aid over the next four years, while Britain said it will lower its ODA commitment from 0.5 % to 0.3 % of gross national income by 2027. Both moves were highlighted at the conference as evidence that traditional donor funding is no longer reliable.

NGO Coalition Warns Private Finance Is Not a Substitute

Representatives from 82 NGOs, including Oxfam, World Vision and the Norwegian Refugee Council, issued a joint statement saying private finance can complement but must not replace official aid , especially in conflict zones and hard‑to‑reach humanitarian crises.

How to Mobilise Trillions in Private Capital?

During a panel, Sarai asked, “How can we get the trillions of dollars that are out there, that are sitting on the sidelines,mobilised?” The question highlighted the conference’s biggest unknown: the mechanisms and incentives needed to channel private capital at scale into development projects.