“Investment” is often misunderstood in global development debates. For some, it refers to finance and private markets. For others, it has become a contested term in discussions about aid and public spending.

In this episode, we explore a broader definition: investment as the long-term creation of public value.

From health systems and education to climate action, biodiversity, and crisis response—this conversation reframes investment as the foundation of collective futures, not just financial return.

We also discuss how the language of “aid” shapes (and sometimes limits) how we think about global cooperation and responsibility.

Is the era of foreign aid coming to an end?Jonathan Glennie sits down with Mavis Owusu-Gyamfi, President and CEO of ACET, to discuss Africa's growing influence, the future of international development, and why old models of cooperation are no longer enough.A wide-ranging conversation on economic transformation, global power shifts, and what comes next for development in a changing world.

What does solidarity really mean in today’s world?In this episode of Future Cooperation, Jonathan Glennie reflects on months of conversations around the future of international development cooperation. From global conferences in Paris and London to debates around aid cuts, climate finance, multilateralism, and geopolitical fragmentation, one idea keeps appearing at the center of it all: solidarity.But beyond the speeches and policy language, what does solidarity actually look like in practice? Who defines it, who benefits from it, and can it still guide international cooperation in a more divided and multipolar world?This episode explores how solidarity has shaped global development in the past, why it matters now more than ever, and what a more honest and balanced form of cooperation could look like in the future.Brought to you by the Global Cooperation Institute.

In this episode of Future Cooperation Podcast, Jonathon Porritt reflects on his journey from mainstream sustainability work to civil disobedience, discussing climate politics, Gaza, corporate environmentalism, and why he no longer believes the COP process can deliver meaningful change.We explore his work with Friends of the Earth, his support for Just Stop Oil and Palestine Action, and why he believes real change will come from civil society rather than governments or corporations.Listen now and join the conversation on climate, activism, and the future of cooperation.

What would a truly multipolar world look like?
In this episode of the Future Cooperation Podcast, economist and policy expert Fadhel Kaboub joins us for a deep conversation about the future of the Global South, technology transfer, industrial policy, climate finance, and the possibility of building a new international economic order.

From Africa’s renewable energy potential to the geopolitical tensions shaping the global economy, this episode explores why this moment could represent both a historic opportunity and a major global risk.

We discuss:
• Why the current economic system still reflects colonial structures
• The rise of the Global South and South-South cooperation
• Technology transfer and industrialization
• China, Europe, and the future of global power
• AI, techno-feudalism, and digital sovereignty
• The political barriers to structural transformation

A challenging and thought-provoking conversation about development, power, and the future of global cooperation.

🎧 Listen now and join the conversation.

In this episode of the Future Cooperation podcast, we explore a difficult but urgent question: what happens when philanthropy begins replacing public leadership instead of supporting it?

After returning from the Skoll World Forum in Oxford, we dive into the growing role of private foundations, billionaire donors, and philanthropic institutions in shaping global responses to crises like climate change, pandemics, inequality, and digital governance.

Introducing the concept of “Fillanthropy” — philanthropy that fills the gaps left behind by retreating governments — this episode examines the risks of relying on private generosity to solve public problems.

From vaccine distribution and climate finance to AI governance and multilateral institutions, this conversation challenges the idea that philanthropy alone can sustain global cooperation.

Because while innovation and generosity matter, lasting solutions require accountable public leadership, democratic legitimacy, and strong international institutions.

🎙️ Future Cooperation Podcast
Hosted by the Global Cooperation Institute

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Is global cooperation falling apart, or are we just looking at it the wrong way?In this first episode of Future Cooperation, we unpack the growing sense of crisis around international cooperation and challenge the idea that the system is collapsing. From Colombia and the wider Global South, this conversation offers a different lens. One that sees not just risk, but real possibility.We explore why the old system was never as fair as it seemed, how a more multipolar world is reshaping power, and why moments of crisis have historically opened the door to something better.This episode sets the stage for a bigger question. If global cooperation is changing, what comes next?Brought to you by the Global Cooperation Institute.