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    What comes next for international development 

    January 5, 2026 • by Vanina Farber in I by IMD Podcasts • Podcast availablePodcast available

    In a moment of upheaval for international development, Katherine Milligan of the Geneva Graduate Institute and Carlos Álvarez Pereira, Secretary General of the Club of Rome, argue that hope – not fear...

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    In a moment of upheaval for international development, Katherine Milligan of the Geneva Graduate Institute and Carlos Álvarez Pereira, Secretary General of the Club of Rome, argue that hope – not fear – must guide what comes next.

     

    In 2025, the international development sector reached a tipping point. Deep cuts to US aid and a rapidly shifting geopolitical landscape made clear that the international development system as we knew it was gone. What comes next depends on how we choose to respond.

    According to Katherine Milligan, Senior Lecturer at the Graduate Institute of International and Development Studies and elea Fellow at IMD, and Carlos Alvarez Pereira, Secretary General of the Club of Rome, the path forward begins not with fear or denial, but with psychological safety.

    They argue that creating space for honest reflection is essential to bridging the growing dissonance between official narratives and how humanitarian and development professionals are actually feeling.

    In this conversation, they explore the leadership skills, competencies, and sense-making practices needed to unlock collective intelligence, so the sector can navigate transformation and maximize the chances for renewal and success.

    Authors

    Vanina Farber

    elea Professor of Social Innovation, IMD

    Vanina Farber is an economist and political scientist specializing in social innovation, sustainability, impact investment and sustainable finance.  She also has almost 20 years of teaching, researching and consultancy experience, working with academic institutions, multinational corporations, and international organizations. She is the holder of the elea Chair for Social Innovation and is the Program Director of IMD’s Executive MBA program and IMD’s Driving Innovative Finance for Impact program.

    Expert

    Katherine Milligan

    Senior Lecturer at the Graduate Institute of International and Development Studies and elea Fellow at IMD

    Katherine Milligan is the former Director and Head of the Schwab Foundation for Social Entrepreneurship at the World Economic Forum, which manages the largest network of late-stage social entrepreneurs in the world. She received her B.A. from Dartmouth College and her Master’s in Public Policy from the Kennedy School of Government at Harvard University.

    Expert

    Carlos Álvarez Pereira

    Secretary General of the Club of Rome

    Carlos Álvarez Pereira is Secretary General of the Club of Rome, a platform of diverse thought leaders who identify holistic approaches to complex global issues. Pereira has more than 30 years of experience in research and innovation, entrepreneurship, and business management. He is an advisor to the UNESCO Chair on Global Understanding for Sustainability, the Montpellier Institute of Advanced Studies on Transitions (MAK´IT), and the International Bateson Institute, and a fellow of the World Academy of Art and Science.

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