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In 2024, global development faced ongoing tests: the escalating impacts of climate change, deepening inequalities, geopolitical tensions, and the evolving landscape of global health. Yet, it has also been a year of opportunity. From advancements in AI for development to the push for climate justice and equitable financing, critical conversations held both on the world stage and at the community level are shaping our collective future.

Devex’s Global Voices platform spotlights those driving change — grassroots innovators, policymakers, frontline responders, and thought leaders from across the globe. With this curated collection of solutions-focused opinion articles, we explore transformative ideas, urgent calls to action, and bold predictions for the year ahead, on themes from food security to localization, climate action, and technological innovation.

As the world’s leading independent news organization covering global development, Devex remains committed to amplifying diverse perspectives and fostering dialogue. Explore Global Voices 2024 to gain valuable insights into the stories that are shaping the future of development.

Honesty Pern

Opinions editor

Predictions for global development

Predictions for the year ahead in global health, food systems, climate, gender equality, AI, and more.

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“U.S. global health and development will look vastly different because of Trump’s upcoming presidency. Change is coming. If organizations don’t appreciate that and get ahead of it, they could end up underneath it.”

Peter A. Singer
The Trump effect on global health and development in 2025

By Peter A. Singer, professor emeritus, University of Toronto

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“Democracy is faltering, bodily autonomy is under siege, and the future of our planet is at risk. But here’s what I know: If there’s one thing that can transform global development in 2025, it’s our ability to dream bigger.”

Phumzile Mlambo-Ngcuka
2025 is the year to stop playing defense on gender equality

By Phumzile Mlambo-Ngcuka, board chair, Women Deliver

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“Future global prosperity relies heavily on the prosperity of Africa’s unelectrified population. By embracing innovative policies, strategic investments, and bold partnerships, it’s possible to connect 300 million people by 2030.”

Andrew Herscowitz
What’s in store in 2025 to solve Africa’s energy challenge

By Andrew Herscowitz, CEO, Rockefeller Catalytic Capital's Mission 300 Accelerator

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“If the international community embraces the Bridge proposal as the consensus framework for promoting debt sustainability in 2025, it could mark a shift from reactive crisis management to a proactive strategy aimed at genuine economic empowerment.”

Kalpana Kochhar
Why 2025 could be a ‘Bridge Year’ for the global south

By Kalpana Kochhar, director of development policy and finance, Gates Foundation

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“Localizing data, language, and skills is crucial to ensuring AI meets the needs of billions who don’t speak English or Mandarin, while also creating more robust and accurate AI models.”

Uyi Stewart
Localizing AI through languages is a 2025 imperative

By Uyi Stewart, chief data and technology officer, data.org

Editor’s pick: Opinion articles of 2024

A selection of leading opinion articles published on Devex in 2024, covering cross-cutting themes in global development.

Inclusive development

Catch up on all our coverage on inclusive development here.

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“To become religiously literate means to become better skilled in listening to the nuanced voices and deeply held values of other partners, and in constantly questioning and examining the direction and impacts of development work.”

Seiko Kanda
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“We need a more nuanced approach to managing our staff identities in diverse contexts. I am not advocating for a disregard of local sensitivities, but for a more thoughtful consideration of when and how it might be safe and appropriate to be open about our sexual orientations.”

Maliha Khan

Localization

For over a decade, the humanitarian and global development sectors have been talking about localization — shifting power to the countries and communities where aid work is implemented. Find all our coverage on the localization agenda here.

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“Our focus on localization was never limited to meeting a funding target; we’re seeking to fundamentally shift the power dynamics of foreign assistance across all of our programming.”

Samantha Power
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“There is something almost impertinent about international organizations setting out the changes they will make to achieve local leadership. Local organizations themselves need to decide how they will realize their own leadership.”

Rita Panicker Amanda Griffith
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“I have seen more and more countries turn to their own national humanitarian organizations to respond to crises, and I suspect the tension between humanitarian principles and political pressures on national humanitarian action is set to grow.”

Alexander Matheou

Devex Pro Report: The localization agenda 2.0

Devex’s special report looks in depth at the state of localization today. Read it now to learn more about what needs to change to push the agenda forward and what organizations can do to help.

The report covers topics including:

  • The barriers to localization
  • How to fund better
  • What local leaders want from donors
  • Which donors are making progress - and which aren't
  • How INGOs are adapting to the demands of localization
  • The innovative solutions being employed by some organizations.

Climate

Catch up on the intersection of climate and development with all our coverage here.

What climate finance is flowing to the most vulnerable countries?


Devex identified 10 countries that are at high risk from climate change and examined what funding they are currently receiving, to provide a snapshot of current levels of aid.

Upgrade to Devex Pro to read the story.

Global health

If you want to stay up to date with front-line and behind-the-scenes reporting on global health, sign up to our weekly newsletter, Devex CheckUp.

Food systems

Don’t miss a beat in the food systems world. Sign up to Devex Dish, your weekly newsletter on the transformation of the global food system.

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“Food fortification is one of the quickest actions to build essential nutrition in the food supply by incorporating critical nutrients — such as iron, folic acid, iodine, vitamin A, and zinc — into foods that people consume every day.”

Shawn Baker Philomena Orji

Development finance

Stay tuned into all things development-finance related with Devex Invested, the weekly insider brief on business, finance, and the SDGs. Sign up today.

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“We need a level and transparent playing field in the global governance structure where creditors and borrowers can negotiate as equals to meet debt servicing, human rights obligations, development objectives, and climate financing needs.”

Jack Odiwa

Interested in pitching an opinion article to us?

We publish opinion articles that emphasize innovative solutions to challenges faced by the global development community.

Here are our guidelines — email [email protected] with any submissions.