When it comes to winning new project opportunities it’s important for you to stay ahead of what’s happening. Check out 8 global development trends to watch.

1. What’s
#trending in
global
development?

2. It’s no secret that
the development
business landscape
is changing.
Here are the top
10 themes
to focus on in your
project planning
now…

3. #1 Post-2015 Agenda
The UN has created a new global blueprint for eradicating extreme poverty by 2030.
Highlights of the report include an emphasis on using jobs and growth as the means
of climbing out of poverty, good governance and transparency, empowering girls and
women, tackling conflict and instability and bringing development and
environmental agendas closer together.

4. #2 Emerging
Donors
In an effort to secure a
position on the world
stage, emerging
economies are augmenting
both their engagement
and spending in aid
projects.
South Korea, Russia,
Brazil, India, & South
Africa are among these
emerging economies.

5. #3 Global Health
PEPFAR’s initiative to foster greater efficiency and innovation around
HIV/AIDS programming has led to an increasing number of non-traditional
partnerships.
These partnerships have been a driving force for creating new innovative
and sustainable interventions.
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6. #4 Country Systems
Despite some resistance, the notion that aid should be channeled through
local country systems has gained traction among the development
community.
However, enduring issues of transparency and accountability cause
uncertainty around the longevity of these systems.

7. #5 US Aid Reform
Obama’s ambitious aid reform
agenda, USAID Forward,
bolstered by the U.S. Global
Health Initiative, aims to
revamp how USAID provides
development assistance.
The changes are likely to
have a major impact on the
way USAID engages with
partners and country systems
in the aid process.

8. #6 Private Sector
Engagement
Development players are
increasingly turning to the
private sector for innovative
ideas, financial backing, and
expertise.
Market-based and private
sector-driven solutions to
development challenges are
becoming more and more
prevalent.

9. #7 Climate Change
Despite having no global
authority to ensure compliance
on commitments to climate
change, major donors have
been taking concrete steps to
tackle this key issue.
Noteworthy advancements
include ramping up climate
finance and integrating climate
change into aid portfolios.

10. #8 Localization
Foreign aid is ‘going local’. Funding, contracting and leadership are all moving to the
local level, where development really happens.
For international donors, localization may help eliminate costly parallel systems,
strengthen local institutions and delivery mechanisms and achieve value for money,
allowing developing countries to take charge of their own development.

11. #9 Donor Diversification
Belt-tightening among traditional donors is prompting development actors to
look for new sources of funding. But where are they finding them?
Innovative financing mechanisms; corporate giving; private philanthropy;
emerging donors; and traditional donors outside home base.

12. #10 Disaster
Preparedness,
Resiliency &
Response
Big donors are increasingly
embracing the concept of
resilience in their
programming. But why?
The food, fuel and financial
crisis of 2008 that
disproportionately
impacted vulnerable
populations, coupled with
the specter of climate
change have helped charge
this trend.
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13. Want to learn more about
what’s happening in
development?
Find more business insight like this on Devex.