On Friday 4 October, Clare Short and Kevin Watkins joined us for a discussion on ‘British aid in a changing world’ as part of the Cutting Edge Issues in Development Lecture Series for 2024. Chaired by Dr Laura Mann. Read what MSc student Taylor Norris took away from the lecture below.
You can watch the lecture back on YouTube or listen to the podcast.
In a room full of bright-eyed, optimistic International Development students, guests Kevin Watkins and Clare Short give a sobering verdict on development today. There’s no sugar-coating, no fluff—these are fragile times. Whether it’s Sudan, Ukraine, Palestine, the climate emergency, or the rise of populism, the future of development is unclear in a world of overlapping crises.
Amidst this backdrop of optimism and positivity, a wry question from someone in the audience asks, “Why should we be studying development? Should I be asking for my money back?”. Kevin reassured the audience that it’s not all doom and gloom, that “we’re living in a time of great potential.”
Since 2020, DFID merged with the FCO (Foreign Commonwealth Office) to create the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO), a decision widely criticised by the International Development community and understood today as a move that ‘reduced’ development capacity. Both guests reeled at the mention of the state of UK development today; “what we’ve got now is the exact opposite of what we should be doing”, Kevin noted. I had the opportunity to ask Clare why decentralising DFID had enhanced its effectiveness. She explained that it allowed the department to focus on long-term, agreed objectives—something Kevin highlighted as the biggest issue in development and aid structures today, which are too closely aligned with government priorities and neglect the long-term solutions that made DFID successful.
It’s hard to imagine today, but Britain was a global leader in development and aid under Clare Short. Established in 1997 by Tony Blair’s New Labour government, Short was pivotal in shaping DFID into a standalone department with a sharp focus on poverty reduction and long-term development goals. When asked about DFID’s successes, Kevin reflected how it “took development from being fringe to mainstream,” setting a clear direction for the country, aligning trade, foreign, and aid policy in its approach.
It [DFID] is also a vital part of the UK’s great history as a global leader in international development, not just being generous with aid but also making sure it goes where it will have the most impact – Bill Gates
Both noted how development is taking a backseat in government priorities as domestic issues are becoming increasingly prioritised. A narrative of insularity and “taking care of ourselves first” is becoming more prevalent. Short addressed this with refreshing honesty, pointing out the challenges of advocating for development when pressing issues at home remain unresolved.
Kevin highlighted the need to shift development leadership from the Global North to the Global South emphasised in a recent G20 summit, where Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva launched the Global Alliance Against Hunger and Poverty, positioning Brazil as a leader in the fight against hunger and poverty. Kevin’s new report also highlights innovative debt relief policies, such as ‘debt-for-social-protection’ and ‘debt-for-school-feeding’ swaps, similar to the existing ‘debt-for-climate’ initiatives.
The first lecture in this year’s Cutting-Edge series provided a valuable reminder of the complexities facing global development today. While the challenges are both significant and multifaceted, the insights from Kevin Watkins and Clare Short emphasised an important moment for the field. Their call for a renewed focus on long-term, innovative strategies in development, particularly those led by the Global South, reflects a shift in the direction of future efforts.
The views expressed in this post are those of the author and in no way reflect those of the International Development LSE blog or the London School of Economics and Political Science.
Featured image credit: LSE Department of International Development
Good as this article is I do really wish that Foreign Aid as a discussion or for serious study not only included people in “developing countries” but put them first. Most I engaged knew perfectly well what their problems, solutions and priorities were.