On Wednesday 16 July, the House of Lords International
Relations and Defence Committee will hold an evidence session
that explores how shifts in US development policy affect the
development strategy and partnerships of the UK.
The session will start at 11.30am and will be available
to watch live or on demand at Parliament
TV or attend in person in Committee Room 3, Palace
of Westminster.
Giving evidence will be:
-
Alex Thier, Chief Executive Officer, Lapis
Group (formerly Executive Director at the Overseas Development
Institute); and
-
Gideon Rabinowitz, Director of Policy and
Advocacy, Bond.
Questions will include:
- How would you describe the US's role as an international
development actor over the last 50 years? To what extent are
recent developments, particularly under the current Trump
Administration, a retreat from international development? Are we
witnessing a permanent shift?
- What do you see as the key consequences of the closure of
USAID—for aid recipients, but also for the US and its global
standing?
- Can the UK fill the gaps left by the US without overextending
its limited development capacity? Where should its priorities
lie?
- Are there still opportunities for UK-US co-operation on
international development?
- What lessons can the UK draw from recent US development
policy debates to safeguard the resilience of its own development
institutions and public support for international aid?
