From Aid to Partnership: Key Outcomes from the Global Partnerships Conference 2026

The Global Partnerships Conference, held in London on 19–20 May 2026, marked one of the UK’s most ambitious attempts in recent years to redefine international development cooperation for a more fractured and financially constrained world. Co-hosted by the UK and South Africa, alongside partners including the Children’s Investment Fund Foundation and British International Investment, the event brought together more than 1,200 participants from over 50 countries.

At the heart of the conference was the launch of the new Global Partnerships Compact, a framework designed to shift development away from traditional donor-recipient models towards “equitable partnerships” grounded in local leadership, investment and shared accountability. The Compact focused on three priorities: mobilising finance, accelerating access to technology and innovation, and placing countries and communities closer to decision-making.

A recurring theme throughout the conference was the recognition that official aid alone can no longer meet the scale of global need. Speakers repeatedly emphasised the importance of unlocking private capital, particularly for climate resilience, infrastructure and economic growth across Africa and other low- and middle-income regions. Major announcements included the launch of the North Star renewable energy investment platform in India, backed by British International Investment and Copenhagen Infrastructure Partners.

Foreign Secretary Yvette Cooper used the conference to launch a new International Coalition to End Violence Against Women and Girls, bringing together founding countries including South Africa, Brazil, Morocco and Spain. She argued that global partnerships must be measured not only by economic growth, but also by “safety, prosperity, voice and choice” for women and girls worldwide.

UK Deputy Prime Minister David Lammy highlighted the corrosive impact of illicit financial flows, describing efforts to tackle them as “one of the great progressive causes of our times.” Meanwhile, David Miliband, CEO of International Rescue Committee,  welcomed the conference’s emphasis on fragile states, climate and conflict, while stressing the importance of deeper cooperation between the UK and Europe.

South African minister Maropene Ramokgopa delivered one of the conference’s strongest messages on locally led development, arguing that finance must “reinforce and not undermine the social contract between citizens and the state.” 

The conference also sought to bring a more human tone to debates often dominated by finance and geopolitics. Performances by Birmingham Poet Laureate Ayan Aden opened and closed the gathering with calls to “choose humanity,” helping frame the wider question facing the sector: whether global cooperation can evolve fast enough to meet today’s overlapping crises.

“After several difficult years for international development and global cooperation, it was encouraging to see the United Kingdom once again prepared to use its voice, convening power and political capital to bring countries and partners together around shared global challenges,” said Sarah Beeching, Executive Director of Oshun Partnership, which supported the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office at the conference. “The conference reflected a growing recognition that no country can tackle today’s interconnected crises alone. As the UK looks ahead to its future role on the global stage, including the opportunity presented by a future G20 Presidency,  there is real hope that this renewed commitment to partnership, coalition-building and practical international leadership can go even further.”