In the fifth episode of Global Aid Rethink, hosts Ivica Petrikova (Associate Professor in Politics and International Relations, Royal Holloway, University of London) and Melita Lazell (Associate Professor in Political Economy and Development at the University of Portsmouth) explore the tangible realities of aid in practice.

With global aid funding at its lowest in decades and the Sustainable Development Goals significantly off-track, this episode moves beyond theoretical discussions to explore the on-the-ground impact of development projects and the challenges faced by practitioners. It examines the immediate and long-term consequences of recent aid cuts, the complexities of localisation, and the effectiveness of various donor approaches.

Joining Ivica and Melita for this discussion are Tamsin Bradley, Professor in Development Studies at the University of Portsmouth, and Olusola Adeyemo, African Lead in Sustainable Farming, Distribution and Extension at AGRA. Drawing on their extensive experience, they share insights into how aid projects are implemented, the barriers to achieving sustainable impact, and the unintended side effects that can arise. The conversation also addresses priorities for future funding amidst reduced Official Development Assistance (ODA) budgets, advocating for a focus on systems, education, youth, and local innovation.

Global Aid Rethink publishes fortnightly, on Tuesdays, from 22nd April 2025 to 1st July.  

• Read the transcript here

This is a Research Podcasts production.

Episode credits:

Presenters: Ivica Petrikova, Royal Holloway, University of London and Melita Lazell, Portsmouth University

Guests: Tamsin Bradley and Olusola Adeyemo

Producer: Catherine McDonald, Research Podcasts

Music: MFCC via Pixabay

Artwork and Audiograms: Krissie Brighty-Glover and Lauren White, Research Podcasts

This podcast was generously funded by the ESRC-funded Royal Holloway Social Science Impact Accelerator

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