To bridge these complex themes and conclude the first series, 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) engage in a comprehensive final discussion.

Joining Ivica and Melita for this concluding conversation is Dr Jack Taggart, a researcher in critical approaches to international political economy, the politics of international development, and the dynamics of global governance, based at Queen's University Belfast. Together, they explore the historical precedents for aid retrenchment and revival, the rise of national self-interest and financialisation in aid agendas, and the potential for a more fragmented, unilateral future for aid provision. The discussion also addresses the barriers to implementing more effective, recipient-owned development approaches and the crucial need for improved public communication regarding aid's impact and purpose.

• 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: Jack Taggart

Producer: Catherine McDonald, Research Podcasts

Music: MFCC via Pixabay

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

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

To examine these practical challenges at a time when global aid funding is at its lowest in decades and the Sustainable Development Goals are significantly off-track, 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) continue the Global Aid Rethink series.

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 field experience, they share insights into how aid projects are delivered, the barriers to achieving sustainable impact, and the unintended side effects that can arise. The conversation also addresses vital priorities for future funding amidst reduced Official Development Assistance (ODA) budgets, advocating for a critical focus on systems, education, youth, and local innovation.

• 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

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

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

To dissect these complex mechanics at a time when global aid funding remains at its lowest in decades and the Sustainable Development Goals continue to be significantly off-track, 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) continue the Global Aid Rethink series.

Joining Ivica and Melita for this in-depth discussion is Professor Emma Mawdsley, Head of the Department of Geography at the University of Cambridge and an expert in the politics of global development. Together, they delve into real-world examples of financialised aid, examining the role of development finance institutions like British International Investment (BII). The conversation also addresses the stark lack of transparency in these models, the concentration of investments in middle-income countries, and the broader implications of aid being subordinated to geopolitical logics.

• 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: Professor Emma Mawdsley

Producer: Catherine McDonald, Research Podcasts

Music: MFCC via Pixabay

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

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

To delve into these challenging questions at a time when global aid funding is at its lowest in decades and the Sustainable Development Goals are significantly off-track, 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) continue the Global Aid Rethink series.

Joining Ivica and Melita for this incisive discussion are Professor Sophia Price, Head of the School of Social Sciences at Birkbeck, University of London, and Aude Darnal, Research Analyst and Project Manager at the Stimson Center and Founder of the Global South in the World Order project. Together, they explore the historical context of neocolonialism, dissecting how issues like conditionality and the marginalisation of local actors enforce systemic inequalities. The conversation also addresses the potential for resistance and decolonisation within the aid system, questioning whether a truly decolonised approach to aid is achievable amidst current global shifts

• 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: Professor Sophia Price and Aude Darnal

Producer: Catherine McDonald, Research Podcasts

Music: MFCC via Pixabay

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

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

To unpack these intricate dynamics at a time when global aid funding faces historic lows and the Sustainable Development Goals face significant setbacks, 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) continue the Global Aid Rethink series.

They are joined by Stephen Brown, Professor at the School of Political Studies at the University of Ottawa (additionally affiliated with the School of International Development and Global Studies), and Rose Worden, a Senior Analyst and Public Affairs and Policy Advisor. Together, they explore the critical distinctions between soft power and hard power, examining the underlying political motivations behind international assistance and the long-term implications for global governance.

• 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: Professor Stephen Brown and Rose Worden

Producer: Catherine McDonald, Research Podcasts

Music: MFCC via Pixabay

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

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

To break down these pressing and divisive shifts, 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, University of Portsmouth) launch the Global Aid Rethink series.

They are joined for this vital discussion by two leading voices in the field: Helen Stawski, Head of Policy at Oxfam GB, and Tamsyn Barton, former Chief Commissioner at the Independent Commission for Aid Impact (ICAI) and board member for both the Institute for Development Studies and the Centre for Global Development. Together, they dissect whether these developments truly signal a fundamental shift in global aid, examining the rising influence of non-traditional donors, the impact on local ecosystems, and the urgent imperative for global solidarity and mutual resilience.

• 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: Helen Stawski and Tamsyn Barton

Producer: Catherine McDonald, Research Podcasts

Music: MFCC via Pixabay

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

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Hosted by Ivica Petrikova, an Associate Professor in Politics and International Relations at Royal Holloway, University of London, and Melita Lazell, Associate Professor in Political Economy and Development at the University of Portsmouth, delivers in-depth conversations with policymakers, practitioners and academics.

Key themes up for discussion in the series include recent developments in the UK and US, aid as soft power, as neocolonialism, as extraction and in practice.

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

• Read the transcript here

This is a Research Podcasts production.

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

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.