Policy Updates

Scottish and UK development organizations criticized Prime Minister Andy Burnham's decision to exclude newly appointed Minister for Development Kirsty McNeill from Cabinet on July 30, 2026, with critics warning the move signaled a reduced commitment to international development.

McNeill, who served as an executive director for Save the Children before being elected MP for Mid Lothian in 2024 and subsequently serving as Scotland Office minister, was appointed Minister for Development and Africa by Burnham. Unlike her predecessor Jenny Chapman, who held the same role and attended Cabinet, and fellow FCDO minister Hamish Falconer, Minister for Intergovernmental Relations and European Relations, McNeill will not attend Cabinet. Foreign Secretary Ed Miliband will instead provide senior representation for development issues at Cabinet level.

Scotland's International Development Alliance welcomed the appointment of McNeill as Minister for Development and Africa but expressed concern that her exclusion from Cabinet represented a clear signal that the government failed to recognize the importance of global justice in addressing climate change and global conflict. Alliance representative Frances Guy urged the government to reinstate commitments to overseas development assistance and international climate finance. Oxfam, the SNP, and the Scottish Greens also criticized the decision.

Spain's MAEC presented a new Strategy for Culture and Sustainable Development of Spanish Cooperation on July 28, 2026, establishing a ten-point roadmap to advance cultural rights and diversity as pillars of sustainable development.

Minister of Foreign Affairs, European Union and Cooperation José Manuel Albares presented the Strategy for Culture and Sustainable Development of Spanish Cooperation to the Council of Ministers on July 28, 2026. The Strategy renews Spain's commitment to cultural rights and cultural diversity as drivers of sustainable development, framing culture as a human right, a space for participation and dialogue, a driver of social cohesion, and a tool for peacebuilding. Albares stated that the Strategy is grounded in the conviction that sustainable development cannot be achieved without culture.

The Strategy was developed through a participatory process involving institutional representatives, technical staff, cultural agents, and creators from Spanish Cooperation and the cultural sector. It aligns with the Law on Cooperation for Sustainable Development and Global Solidarity and the Master Plan for Spanish Cooperation, which recognize culture as a human right and a cross-cutting element of international cooperation.

The Strategy is structured around ten strategic lines. The first four focus on guaranteeing cultural rights, promoting participation in cultural life, advancing diversity, incorporating a feminist approach, and strengthening democracy, peacebuilding, and social cohesion. Lines five and six address the contribution of culture to economic and social development in partner countries, including support for the cultural and creative sector and the link between culture and education. Lines seven through nine address the protection of cultural heritage, the role of culture in responding to environmental and climate challenges, and the promotion of transparent and democratic participatory communication. The tenth strategic line focuses on building alliances to expand the scope, innovation, and impact of cultural cooperation for sustainable development.

UK Foreign Secretary Ed Miliband was appointed as as UK Governor to the World Bank on July 27, 2026, signaling renewed UK leadership on international development and climate finance.

As Governor to the World Bank, Miliband will be taking personal leadership of the UK's engagement on international development and climate finance. In the role, Miliband will attend the World Bank's Annual and Spring Meetings, including the Annual Meetings in Bangkok in October 2026. The UK government stated that UK leadership at the World Bank will help drive international action on poverty, climate change, and economic stability, and address global challenges including food insecurity and energy price shocks.

Miliband also confirmed that international development and tackling the climate and nature crisis will remain priorities for the FCDO, recognizing extreme poverty and climate change as shared global challenges affecting security and prosperity in the UK and partner countries.

World Bank President Ajay Banga welcomed the appointment of Miliband, stating the institution looks forward to working with him to create jobs, mobilize private capital, and deliver development outcomes.

On July 23, 2026, the US announced more than US$200 million in humanitarian assistance to the ICRC and the IFRC, including a US$133 million contribution to ICRC's 2026 Global Appeal and US$70 million to IFRC.

The funding was designed to provide flexible, rapid, and globally applicable humanitarian assistance, enabling implementing organizations to address ongoing crises and respond to new disasters using pre-positioned funding. The awards complemented similarly structured contributions from the US to Catholic Relief Services, UNICEF, and WFP.

On July 21, 2026, German State Secretary Niels Annen launched the "Berlin Process for Food Security in the Sahel," including EUR130 million (US$148 million) for the Sahel Resilience Partnership in 2026, of which EUR120 million (US$137 million) will go to WFP and UNICEF.

The Berlin Process for Food Security in the Sahel is a framework involving regional partners and international organizations, including WFP, FAO, IFAD, and UNICEF. The initiative strengthens coordination and effectiveness of food security measures in Mauritania, Mali, Burkina Faso, Niger, and Chad, in line with ongoing UN reforms toward more integrated and results-oriented working methods.

Secretary Annen announced EUR130 million (US$148 million) has been earmarked for the Sahel Resilience Partnership in 2026, of which EUR120 million (US$137 million) will go to the WFP and UNICEF. The funds support integrated approaches to strengthening resilience, transforming agriculture, and creating economic and social opportunities for young people across the five Sahel countries. The Sahel Resilience Partnership brings together the WFP, UNICEF, and GIZ to support vulnerable communities, complementing Germany's bilateral contributions in the region for agriculture, food security, and drinking water.

On July 21, 2026, the Australian government announced nearly AUD25 million (US$18 million) in funding for Gaza recovery and Palestinian Authority institutional strengthening, combining humanitarian assistance with governance and economic development support.

The package includes AUD15 million (US$10 million) to the UN Horizon Fund and AUD10 million (US$7 million) to the World Bank's PFRD.

The Horizon Fund channels UN agency resources toward rehabilitation of essential infrastructure, including water and sanitation, health, education, and housing, as well as debris clearance and explosive ordnance risk reduction. Australia's contribution complements more than AUD80 million (US$56 million) pledged to the Horizon Fund by France, Germany, Italy, the Netherlands, Norway, Sweden, Switzerland, and the UK. The PFRD supports the Palestinian Authority's public financial management and is backed by Japan, the UK, Canada, France, Sweden, Switzerland, and Iceland.

The announcement built on Australia's recognition of the State of Palestine in September 2025 and formed part of coordinated international efforts to advance a two-state solution.

On July 20, 2026, Andy Burnham became Prime Minister of the United Kingdom after the resignation of Keir Starmer. Following the announcement, Burnham appointed Ed Miliband as Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, replacing Yvette Cooper, and Kirsty McNeill as Minister for Development.

Burnham, the UK's fifth prime minister in four years, previously served as a Member of Parliament for 16 years, and also served as Health Secretary, before becoming Mayor of Greater Manchester in 2017. Meanwhile, Ed Miliband previously held the role of Energy Secretary in Starmer's cabinet, and has represented Doncaster North in Parliament since 2005. In addition to Miliband's appointment, Kirsty McNeill was chosen as Minister for Development. Previously, McNeill served as Parliamentary Under Secretary of State for Scotland and was an Executive Director at Save the Children.

In a speech following his appointment, Miliband outlined priorities including deepening the UK's strategic alliance with the EU, maintaining the alliance with the US, and upholding commitments to multilateral institutions such as NATO and the UN. He emphasized continued support for Ukraine, efforts to end the conflict in Iran and reopen the Strait of Hormuz, and pursuit of a sustainable peace in Palestine and Israel. Miliband also highlighted tackling the climate crisis, strengthening international development partnerships, and reforming international institutions as key priorities for FCDO.

On July 17, 2026, Secretary of State for International Development Randeep Sarai announced that , the Canadian government has matched CAD7 million (US$5 million) in donations for earthquake relief in Venezuela, bringing total Canadian humanitarian assistance in response to the earthquakes to CAD12 million (US$9 million).

The funds have been provided to the Canadian Red Cross and the Humanitarian Coalition in support of relief efforts following the June 24, 2026, earthquakes in Venezuela. The increase followed Canada's June 30, 2026, announcement of an initial CAD4 million (US$3 million) matching contribution, which was quickly reached.

The Swedish government announced SEK1.4 billion (US$140 million) in contributions to a new World Bank crisis facility for Ukraine on July 16, 2026, enabling new loans of approximately SEK4.2 billion (US$420 million) for the country's reconstruction and recovery.

The SEK1.4 billion (US$140 million) will go to the World Bank's Special Program for Ukraine Recovery 2.0 under the new IDA Crisis Facility 2.0. By leveraging the World Bank's balance sheet and capital market borrowing, Sweden's contribution enabled new loans of approximately SEK4.2 billion (US$420 million) to Ukraine. The contribution came in addition to a guarantee the government announced on May 29, 2026, which had already enabled new loans to Ukraine of approximately SEK2.5 billion (US$250 million).

The funding aims to support Ukraine's economic resilience during Russia's ongoing aggression, including maintaining public sector salaries, keeping the electricity grid intact, and sustaining essential services such as health care and education.

Canadian Minister of Foreign Affairs Anita Anand concluded a trip to Brazil on July 14, 2026, announcing CAD125 million (US$88 million) in FinDev Canada investments in sustainable infrastructure and renewed bilateral commitments on wildfires, customs, and health.

Minister Anand met with Brazil's Minister of Foreign Affairs Mauro Vieira for the fifth Strategic Partnership Dialogue, covering global and regional issues, defense and security cooperation, and trade and investment. Anand announced CAD125 million (US$88 million) in FinDev Canada investments across two sustainable infrastructure projects.

FinDev Canada committed a US$30 million loan to Equatorial Maranhão Distribuidora de Energia, an electricity distribution company serving nearly three million customers in Maranhão, as part of a US$50 million co-financing package with Sumitomo Mitsui Banking Corporation. The loan will expand and enhance Equatorial Maranhão's grid distribution network, including in rural and low-income areas. FinDev Canada also committed a US$58 million loan to Acelen Renewable in Bahia to support construction and operation of a biorefinery producing sustainable aviation fuel and renewable diesel, with a feedstock processing capacity of 20,000 barrels per day. The investment formed part of a US$854 million construction facility that included the International Finance Corporation, IDB Invest, and KfW Development Bank, among others.

Anand and Vieira also signed a Customs Mutual Assistance Agreement to facilitate the sharing of customs information between the Canada Border Services Agency and Brazil's Special Secretariat of the Federal Revenue, strengthening trade security and efforts to combat customs offences. In addition, the ministers announced the recent signing of a Memorandum of Understanding on Health Sector Cooperation to deepen technical and scientific cooperation on health surveillance, immunization, and environmental health. Finally, the first operating plan was signed under their Memorandum of Understanding on Mutual Assistance and Integrated Fire Management, facilitating the entry of Brazilian firefighters into Canada for the upcoming fire season and enabling the exchange of technical assistance.