Bond calls for ambitious and inclusive development agenda as UK to co-host Global Partnerships Conference in May

Today, Friday 20th February, the UK government has announced its plans to convene a Global Partnerships Conference, hosted in London between 19-20 May. The conference will be co-hosted alongside the Republic of ​South Africa, British International Investment, and Children’s Investment Fund Foundation, and will bring together stakeholders from governments to civil society to reimagine the future of development cooperation.

As the UK network for international development NGOs, Bond welcomes the opportunity for the UK government to centre a locally led approach to development cooperation, and urges the UK government to ensure civil society and Global Majority countries play a key role in setting the agenda for the conference.

Romilly Greenhill, CEO of Bond, the UK network for NGOs, said:

We welcome the UK government’s announcement of the Global Partnerships Conference, which presents an opportunity to turn rhetoric into reality: by establishing genuine partnerships with Global Majority countries, and redefining the future of development cooperation despite devastating cuts to UK aid.

This is a timely moment for the UK to demonstrate what inclusive convening can look like and establish good practice ahead of its upcoming G20 presidency, by centring a locally led approach to development cooperation. We urge the government to enable meaningful and inclusive engagement between government, civil society, donors, the private sector and other stakeholders. We are encouraged by the conference’s proposed focus on shifting power towards local partners to drive their own development solutions, and look forward to seeing how the UK government will put this vision into action and ensure civil society and Global Majority countries play a key role in setting the agenda.

If delivered collaboratively and ambitiously, this conference could mark a decisive shift towards development cooperation that redresses global power imbalances and is built on genuine partnerships, fairness, and solidarity.

ENDS. 

Notes for editors

1. For more information on the Global Partnerships Conference, please see the UK government Press Release here
2. Bond unites and supports a diverse network of over 330 civil society organisations from across the UK, and allies to help eradicate global poverty, inequality and injustice.
3. For further information or interviews, please get in touch with Emily Loynes at [email protected] or 07909947850