Convened by Iliana Olivié, Elcano Royal Institute, Antonio Sianes, Universidad Loyola de Andalucía, and María Santillán O'Shea, Elcano Royal Institute

The multilateral cooperation system is giving way to more minilateralist cooperation alliances devised to advance concrete goals, while at the same time different development and cooperation models and actors (traditional and emerging, technical agencies and development banks) are looking for ways to coexist. In parallel, the agenda of financing for development has evolved dramatically in light of geopolitical fragmentation and the overlapping world crises. 

Official Development Assistance is consequently being replaced in many spheres by a stronger emphasis on (public and private) investment and private sector mobilization while development finance needs remain large and existential.

What is more, these trends are settling in a historical moment when the need to decolonize relations between North and Global South countries and societies is patent and urgent.

The financing for development agenda is thus simultaneously faced with having to activate new conversations to come up with innovative solutions to the persisting development problems, while at the same time needing to transform the manner in which those ideas are approached - conceptually, politically and practically - to make sure they are fit for today’s geopolitical world and decolonial imperative.

This is why the goal of this panel is to capture some of these emerging debates and ways of thinking, in order to activate more creative and innovative solutions to today’s development challenges. In other words, to gather sound evidence on how to advance towards financing development challenges that are intrinsically global – such as tackling climate change or guaranteeing global health, food security and safe and orderly migration – with cooperation instruments and alliances that are increasingly fragmented - including how to effectively mobilize all sources of financing for development, such as development banks, international tax cooperation, international trade or debt management

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