What comes next for international development

In a moment of upheaval for international development, Katherine Milligan of the 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 U.S. 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 sensemaking practices needed to unlock collective intelligence, so the sector can navigate transformation and maximize the chances for renewal and success.