EUROPE - The Global Partnerships Conference opens in London today, bringing together governments, international organisations, businesses, and charities to discuss how to improve global cooperation on development amid food and energy insecurity.
The two-day conference is jointly hosted by the UK government’s Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office, South Africa, the Children’s Investment Fund Foundation, and British International Investment.
One of the main concerns is the worsening food crisis linked to the ongoing conflict in the Middle East. The World Food Programme warns that up to 45 million more people could fall into severe food insecurity if the conflict continues until mid-year. This would increase hunger in many vulnerable countries and put extra pressure on emergency food aid systems.
Officials say this is also a key time in the agricultural calendar. Problems in transporting fertiliser and other farming inputs could reduce crop production in many regions. This would mean greater reliance on emergency food assistance rather than long-term solutions such as investment in farming and technology.
The conference will focus on three main areas for reform. First, improving access to finance by helping countries and investors better coordinate funding for development projects.
Second, speeding up access to knowledge, skills, and technology, including digital tools and artificial intelligence, to support development goals.
Third, giving more power and decision-making to local communities, especially women and girls, and reducing overlap between organisations.
Recent figures show that international development funding dropped by 23% last year, a loss of around $50 billion. Most of this decline came from major donor countries.
Experts warn that without stronger cooperation, many developing countries could face even greater risks from food shortages, climate shocks, and economic instability.
The conference is expected to highlight different views on the future of global development, with some seeing it as an important step toward stronger cooperation, while others question whether it will lead to real and immediate change.
