Clémence Landers

DebtTalks Season 2, #11 - Retrenching aid in a volatile world This episode features Paola Subacchi in conversation with Clemence Landers.

Catch CGD's @clemencelanders.bsky.social discussing aid cuts and the crisis of development on the DebtTalks podcast: www.sciencespo.fr/chair-sovere...

Is the World Bank Spending Its Record Profits Optimally? Despite the global development system’s existential funding crunch, the World Bank is booking record profits. Last fiscal year, the World Bank reported a record $2.4 billion in profit. And in the firs...

@clemencelanders.bsky.social says IBRD could fill the gap in IDA funding created by falling donor pledges using its $2.8bn/yr profits. It should do that.

www.cgdev.org/blog/world-b...

A Quick Look at MCC’s New Scorecards The Millennium Challenge Corporation (MCC) recently introduced big changes to its country scorecards, which inform partner selection. Here’s a quick rundown of what’s new and what it portends for the ...

The Millennium Challenge Corporation (MCC) recently introduced big changes to its country scorecards, which inform partner selection.

@ecollinson.bsky.social & Julia Brownell give a quick rundown of what’s new and what it portends for the agency’s future programming:
https://go.cgdev.org/3KTiPW4

How the Global Fund might cover a $6.7B shortfall in donations Also in the Global Health Checkup: A grim outbreak in Ethiopia, bird flu, WHO layoffs, and a dengue cure shut down by Johnson & Johnson.

Check out @jmadankeller.bsky.social, @clemencelanders.bsky.social, and @rrockafellow.bsky.social's policy paper on how the Global Fund can adapt to a shrinking aid landscape, as featured in a @healthbeat.org article about the Global Fund filling in donation gaps:
https://go.cgdev.org/44crtpk

Weathering the Donor Downturn: The Case for a New Financial Model for the Global Fund The Global Fund is heading into its replenishment with a lofty fundraising goal: $18 billion for the next three years (2026–2028). But in today’s world of shrinking aid budgets, that target might alre...

As aid budgets shrink, the Global Fund’s next $18B replenishment target looks unlikely.

A rethink is needed. @jmadankeller.bsky.social & @clemencelanders.bsky.social outline how a mixed grant–loan model could strengthen the Fund’s future:
https://go.cgdev.org/4odMAyJ

📣Excited to share new @cgdev.org research w co-conspirators @clemencelanders.bsky.social & Rowan Rockafellow exploring an alternative funding path for the Global Fund in a shrinking aid landscape

Full disclosure, it's a bit wonky🤓 so hang on for the ride

Summary blog: www.cgdev.org/blog/weather...

"This might be a moment of opportunity...to build a new modernized and more equal system. Redefine the rules and redefine who gets to write the rules."

@clemencelanders.bsky.social discusses how a new vision for global development cooperation can reshape the system:
https://go.cgdev.org/3Lk1OV7

Photo of Spirit Halloween, which has a tariff aisle including a sign that says “Tariff-ied,” t-shirts that say “once I was afraid now I’m tariffied,” and costumes of Trump’s tariff chart

Spirit Halloween now has a section devoted to Trump’s economic policies

Does France need a wealth tax? on.ft.com/4onIDYn

How a Legislative Fix Could Bolster IDA’s Financing Firepower (at No Cost to the Taxpayer) The International Development Association (IDA), the World Bank’s concessional lending arm for the world’s poorest countries, is facing an uphill climb to maintain its $100 billion replenishment, fina...

The World Bank's IDA is facing an uphill climb ⛰️ to maintain its $100bn replenishment, as the tight global interest rate environment drives up borrowing costs.

Nico Martinez & @clemencelanders.bsky.social explain how recent legislation could offer relief:
https://bit.ly/4698A6z

Emerging market borrowing premium over US falls to nearly lowest since 2007 Yields for investment-grade EM borrowers fall relative to developed markets amid concerns over traditional havens

Investors have become less worried about the potential fallout for emerging markets from Trump’s erratic trade war, and are instead focusing on EMs’ improving economic health. It also reflects wariness among some investors over US government bonds...

www.ft.com/content/c939...

A Lean World Health Organization for the Global Good In this brief—the first in the Tough Times, Tough Choices series that will target the major global health and development institutions and their funders—we propose a different approach: radically stre...

1st edition of our @cgdev.org series "Tough Times, Tough Choices" is hot off the press

Facing budget cuts, we argue WHO's leadership must chart a path of retrenchment to a lean @who.int for the global good

w/ @peterbaker17.bsky.social & @rachelbonnifield.bsky.social

www.cgdev.org/publication/...

How Gavi 6.0 Can Take a Bigger Leap Gavi’s board and leadership must stretch scarce resources to fulfill a challenging double mandate: (1) stabilizing immunization outcomes and fiscal solvency in Gavi-eligible countries facing severe he...

Amid a broader global health financing crisis, @gavi.org faces a $2.5B budget shortfall

Read our new @cgdev.org brief on how Gavi 6.0 can take a bigger leap w @rachelbonnifield.bsky.social @peterbaker17.bsky.social @tomldrake.bsky.social & @orinlevine.bsky.social

www.cgdev.org/publication/...

#FfD4 kicks off next week against the backdrop of aid cuts & a traffic jam of replenishments among health & other concessional funds

But it's clear these funds need a major overhaul. Our new
@cgdev.org blog highlights 3 action items:

www.cgdev.org/blog/concess...

cc: @clemencelanders.bsky.social

Steel yourself and then read. WaPo went to Khartoum to meet the moms who, thanks to Trump and Musk’s brutal actions, are now watching their little children starve to death or die of cholera

Trump Targets Key Lifeline for Africa: Money Sent Home by Immigrants

Excited to see our @cgdev.org research featured in this excellent @nytimes.com article about the devastating effect of the US' remittance tax on Africa, especially coming after extensive aid cuts.

www.nytimes.com/2025/06/03/w...

Can IDA Weather the Development Finance Storm? The 21st replenishment of the International Development Association (IDA), the concessional lending arm of the World Bank, concluded last December, with donors pledging $23.7 billion for a…

Despite an uncertain development landscape, IDA is on track for a record replenishment—but challenges remain.

Nico Martinez & @clemencelanders.bsky.social‬ detail the headwinds facing IDA, from low growth to rising debt levels:

We’re only smiling because it’s not a real goodbye to @justsand.bsky.social

This clearly lays out the problem of declaring the 'biggest ever IDA' by borrowing a lot (rather than getting actual new donor resources) when it is expensive to borrow.

Can IDA Weather the Development Finance Storm? The 21st replenishment of the International Development Association (IDA), the concessional lending arm of the World Bank, concluded last December, with donors pledging $23.7 billion for a replenishme...

Can IDA sustain its $100B replenishment during this development finance storm? ⛈️

Nico Martinez and @clemencelanders.bsky.social find IDA is on track for a record replenishment—but a tight funding environment, low growth, and rising debt threaten its firepower:
www.cgdev.org/blog/can-ida...

A matchmaking service with a twist: Connecting big givers to programs cut by USAID A former USAID worker has a new mission. She's hoping to connect philanthropists with overseas programs that have lost — or are likely to lose — their U.S. funding.

USAID cuts have left major aid programs without funding. @cgdev.org is now hosting a team analyzing which ex-USAID programs are most cost-effective—and connecting them with donors willing to step in.

Learn more in @npr.org:
www.npr.org/sections/goa...

Redefining America’s Interests? Trump's FY2026 Budget Proposes Sweeping Cuts to US Foreign Aid The Trump administration unveiled an overview of its FY2026 budget request on Friday. While short on details, the document offers a grim forecast for US development and humanitarian spending. In seeki...

My @cgdev.org colleagues @ecollinson.bsky.social + @justinrhurley.bsky.social unpack what the 2026 budget request and what it means for US foreign assistance.

www.cgdev.org/blog/redefin...

One of the greatest moments in music history.

Nearly half of the BofA Global Fund Manager Survey participants now anticipate a global recession within the next 12 months, …For more insights visit today’s Chartbook Top Link!

The IMF is a fantastic deal for America If the U.S. steps back from the IMF, there will only be one winner: China.

Huge thanks to THE HILL for running this piece on why the IMF is a fantastic deal for America.

A great joy to be reunited with former colleagues Meg Lundsager and Elizabeth Shortino in support of the Fund.

thehill.com/opinion/fina...

What can we expect from the World Bank Spring Meetings? In the latest episode of our weekly podcast series, we discuss the top global development stories from this week and look ahead to the World Bank Spring Meetings.

Tune in to the full podcast episode⬇️

.@clemencelanders.bsky.social, vice president and senior policy fellow at the @cgdev.org, previews the upcoming IMF and World Bank Spring Meetings.

#IMF #WorldBank #SpringMeetings

What can we expect from the World Bank Spring Meetings? In the latest episode of our weekly podcast series, we discuss the top global development stories from this week and look ahead to the World Bank Spring Meetings.

I really enjoyed recording this podcast with the @devex.com ahead of the Spring meetings. Watch/listen here. @cgdev.org

www.devex.com/news/what-ca...

CGD is the place to be for the 2025 Spring Meetings! Please check out our exciting list of events and come say hi.