Conference on the occasion of the launch of the 4th issue of International Development Policy

Co-organised by the Graduate Institute, the Centre for Development and the Environment (Bern University) and the Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation (SDC)

International development cooperation is undergoing a profound transformation in order to cope with global challenges that cut across the rich/poor and North/South divides. Today, a majority of the poor live in middle-income countries, which makes poverty alleviation more of a political than a technical endeavour. In addition, the emergence of new aid donors is radically altering traditional aid patterns. And beyond poverty alleviation, development cooperation is called upon to address global public goods. While intergovernmental negotiations stall, bilateral and multilateral aid agencies often take on – or are delegated – the task of combating climate change, food insecurity, water and energy scarcity, pandemics, armed conflicts, and the list goes on.

Policymakers, scholars and practitioners from a diversity of backgrounds and countries (including Brazil, China, Laos and South Africa) will discuss these challenges and the responses of traditional and emerging donors.

Programme
13:45 WELCOME
14:00 – 15:30 PANEL 1 | AID AND GLOBAL POLICIES

While international negotiations stall, the international ‘aid industry’ seeks to address global issues such as climate change, food and environmental security, health and migration issues:
Is the ‘industry’ up to the job?
How far do bilateral and multilateral aid agencies succeed in mainstreaming global issues in their operations?
Does this focus contribute to poverty alleviation or deflect from it?

Moderator | Dougal THOMSON, Journalist, The Economist

Gilles CARBONNIER, Professor of Development Economics,Graduate Institute of International and Development Studies (IHEID), Editor-in-Chief of International Development Policy

Pedro DA MOTTA VEIGA, Director, Centro de Estudos de Integração e Desenvolvimento (CINDES), Rio de Janeiro, Brazil

Peter MESSERLI, Director, Centre for Development and Environment (CDE), University of Bern

Michel MORDASINI, Assistant Director-General and Head of the Directorat Global Cooperation, Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation (SDC)

Coffee break
16:00 – 17:30 PANEL 2 | AID AND EMERGING ECONOMIES

Emerging economies are becoming important aid donors, but are also home to the majority of the world’s poor:
How is the standard aid business model affected by the emerging economies’ south-south cooperation?
Is development aid extended by Brazil, China and South Africa any more than a means to achieve self-serving geopolitical and commercial objectives?
Are these emerging trends – and the conflicting aid business models – an opportunity or a threat for a low-income country such as Laos?
Does the foreign policy community in Brazil, China, and South Africa consider linking South-South cooperation with global problem solving ?

Moderator | Dougal THOMSON, Journalist, The Economist

Phouang PARISAK PRAVONGVIENGKHAM, Vice-Minister of Agriculture and Forestry, Lao Peoples’ Democratic Republic

Elizabeth SIDIROPOULOS, National Director, South African Institute of International Affairs (SAIIA)

Marcel TANNER, Professor of Epidemiology and Medical Parasitology, University of Basel, Director of the Swiss Tropical and Public Health Institute

Mi ZHOU, Deputy-Director, Overseas Economic Cooperation Institute of the Chinese Academy of International Trade and Economic Cooperation (CAITEC), Beijing, China

Coffee break

18:00 – 19:30 ROUNDTABLE | EMERGING ECONOMIES: COMPETITORS OR PARTNERS IN FACING GLOBAL CHALLENGES?

Considering global public goods, emerging economies have been portrayed both as the problem and the solution:
What is the potential of South-South and triangular cooperation? Is it a new, promising recipe for success in dealing with poverty and other global issues?
How far do development aid strategies and policies of traditional donors differ from emerging donors? How much do they compete with – or complement – each other?
What does this mean for Swiss official development assistance and Swiss NGOs?

Moderator | Daniel BINSWANGER, Journalist, Das Magazin

Christophe BELLMANN, Programmes Director, International Centre for Trade and Sustainable Development (ICTSD), Switzerland

Michel MORDASINI, Assistant Director-General and Head of the Directorat Global Cooperation (SDC), Switzerland

Caroline MOREL, Director, Swissaid

Elizabeth SIDIROPOULOS, National Director, SAIIA, South Africa

Mi ZHOU, Deputy-Director, Overseas Economic Cooperation Institute of CAITEC, China

19:30 CONCLUDING REMARKS

Gilles CARBONNIER, Editor-in-Chief of International Development Policy

The conference will be followed by a cocktail.
 

Free entrance
Registration close.

If you are interested to receive information on the output of the Conference or on the International Development Policy, please contact poldev@graduateinstitute.ch

Room 501, University of Berne, Hochschulstrasse 4, 3012 Berne
Access map