Money sent home by migrants nearly doubles in a decade
14/9/2026: Remittances to families in low and middle-income countries totalled $728.6 billion in 2025, an increase of 94% since 2016, according to a new report. This figure for 2025 exceeds foreign direct investment to those countries and is more than four times global official development assistance.
Source: IFAD
Millions fail to get humanitarian aid as global system crumbles
10/9/2026: With aid contributions cut by 30% between 2022 and 2025 and thousands of aid workers losing their jobs, action is narrowing to focus only those whose lives are in immediate danger, according to the State of the Humanitarian System 2026 report. Support for longer-term issues and the ability to recover from crises has been drastically scaled back.
Source: The Guardian
IMF debt conditions revive fears of 1980s structural adjustment
10/9/2026: New research by Oxfam reveals that the International Monetary Fund has tightened up its loan conditions progressively over the past decade. These conditions undermine vital spending on public services – from healthcare to education and housing – that protect low-income communities.
Source: Oxfam International
The UN is reinventing its finances
24/8/2026: Deep cuts to aid budgets implemented by several major donor countries represent not simply a temporary funding shortfall but a structural challenge to global development. Across the UN system, agencies are experimenting with new financing models to mobilize additional capital.
Source: Devex
Why has microfinance failed to live up to its promise?
19/8/2026: Microfinance was once celebrated as Asia’s tool to lift people out of poverty, designed to provide financial services to low income people typically excluded from traditional banking. The stark reality is that, in addition to capital, entrepreneurs need skills and a sound business concept.
Source: The Conversation
An agenda for philanthropy’s investment into AI for good
18/8/2026: In late 2025, 10 of the largest US foundations committed $500 million over five years to explore what artificial intelligence could do to deliver human-centered goals. Funding now needs to take the next step of identifying what AI should do.
Source: Devex
Ambitious Global Tax Treaty remains within reach
13/8/2026: As the fifth round of negotiations concludes, the draft text of a UN Global Tax Treaty is moving towards a fairer allocation of tax on multinational profits between countries. Negotiations will continue until mid-2027.
Source: Greenpeace International
China influence has reshaped development finance conditions in Africa
13/8/2026: At the beginning of the twenty-first century, most foreign aid and investment flowing into Africa came from Europe and North America with explicit conditions attached. Since then Chinese financing and investment has shown less concern as to how African countries govern themselves.
Source: African Arguments
Aid cuts compel Malawi lawmakers to ‘think outside the box’
10/8/2026: External financing has historically accounted for more than half of Malawi’s health expenditure. Cuts in foreign aid from US, UK and Europe have compelled a rethink about domestic resources. Curbing corruption and reforming tax are candidates for action.
Source: Devex
UN tax convention could clear IMF debt for poorest countries
2/8/2026: The latest draft of the UN tax convention under discussion would require multinationals to pay tax where they actually create profit, instead of where they choose through creative accounting. Low income countries might be able to clear outstanding IMF loans within a year.
Source: Tax Justice Network