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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Jeanette Thomas, jt@developingstories.com, +1 202 744-4829
Website: www.devcoalition.org
Washington D.C., London, Accra, [7th April 2026]— The Future of Development Cooperation Coalition today announced the full set of Commissioners who will guide its year-long effort to reimagine development cooperation for a new era defined by economic transformation, climate pressures, technological change, and shifting geopolitics.
The commissioners will join the co-chairs —announced in January in Davos — for the Coalition’s inaugural in-person meeting next week in Washington D.C. on the sidelines of the World Bank-IMF Spring Meetings. Co-chairs and commissioners will be available for media interviews throughout the week.
Co-hosted by the African Center for Economic Transformation and the Center for Global Development, the Coalition brings together a globally representative group of leaders spanning government, finance, multilateral institutions, private enterprise, civil society, and technology, with lived experience as forward-looking thinkers and change agents.
The Commissioners reflect exceptional regional breadth — across Africa, Europe, Latin America, the Middle East, and Asia, including China — and deep specialization in macroeconomics, climate finance, trade, sovereign debt, financial inclusion, governance reform, humanitarian response, fintech innovation, digital innovation and artificial intelligence, and private capital mobilization. They are all engaging in the Coalition in their personal capacities, united in their belief that this moment of profound opportunity requires bold thinking and urgent action.
“This is a decisive moment for development cooperation,” said Co-Chair Yemi Osinbajo. “We have assembled an extraordinary group of leaders — with the energy, practical experience, and deep expertise across finance, governance, climate, technology, and private enterprise — to rethink how the development cooperation system must evolve to deliver economic transformation at scale. We are eager to get to work.”
Co-Chair Arancha González Laya added: “The strength of this Coalition lies in its diversity — across regions, sectors, and perspectives. Our commissioners bring credibility from government, markets, multilateral institutions, civil society, and innovation ecosystems. We will leverage knowledge across disciplines, not shy away from the toughest issues, and take a long-term view of the next two decades to forge a shared vision for a development cooperation system that is more agile, effective, efficient, legitimate, and firmly centered on country priorities.”
David Miliband said:
“This is a moment of rising fragility, geopolitical strain, and overlapping crises—and development cooperation is the bridge between global resources and the people who need them most. It must deliver targeted support that saves lives while strengthening resilience, stability, and long-term opportunity. I’m pleased to join this Coalition at a time when clear-eyed innovation, accountability, and pragmatic, community-based solutions are essential to deliver real impact.”
Joaquim Levy said:
“As drastic technological change and climate risks reshape the global economy, development finance has never mattered more–enabling countries to leapfrog in many sectors and claim their share of new growth. I look forward to help exploring how multilateral institutions and private markets can work together to accelerate improvements in living standards in so many regions of the world”
Rania Al-Mashat said:
“Development cooperation must better align with countries’ priorities while unlocking private investment at scale. That requires stronger connections between public policy, international partnerships, and capital markets to leverage development finance, anchor macroeconomic stability and support structural reforms. I am pleased to contribute to shaping and accelerating that shift.”
Over the coming year, the Coalition will undertake rigorous analysis and broad consultation — particularly across emerging and developing economies — to address a central question:
How must we rethink development cooperation so it can better support economic transformation and sustainable prosperity in the 21st century?
The Coalition will emphasize changing the conversation and delivering practical and actionable recommendations around:
The first formal meeting of Commissioners will launch an intensive phase of dialogue, research, and engagement with governments, investors, business leaders, civil society, and youth networks.
The meeting will take place in Washington, D.C. during the World Bank-IMF Spring Meetings, providing an opportunity for direct engagement with global policymakers and media.
Yemi Osinbajo (Nigeria)
Former Vice President of Nigeria; legal scholar and reform leader with extensive experience in economic policy, climate initiatives, debt issues and governance reform.
Arancha González Laya (Spain)
Dean of the Paris School of International Affairs at Sciences Po, former Minister of Foreign Affairs of Spain; experienced trade diplomat with deep expertise in EU policy, global trade governance, multilateral negotiations, and the intersection of technology, digital transformation, and public policy.
Tamara Hasan Abed (Bangladesh)
Managing Director of BRAC Enterprises and a leader in social enterprise. She began her career in investment banking, including at Goldman Sachs in New York, before joining BRAC, where she has led the scaling of its enterprise initiatives, linking market-based solutions with development impact.
Azucena Arbeleche (Uruguay)
Director of Banco Itaú Uruguay and Banco Itaú Chile and former Minister of Economy and Finance of Uruguay; recognized for fiscal management, debt strategy, and climate-linked finance.
Shenglin Ben (China)
Founding Dean, International Business School (ZIBS) & Academy of Internet Finance (AIF), Zhejiang University and leader in finance and fintech innovation; Founder of Beijing Frontier Institute of Regulation & Supervision Technology (FIRST) and Global FinTech Hub Network; Founding Co-Director, International Monetary Institute (IMI), Renmin University of China.
Abigail Kajumba (Uganda)
Executive Director of Emerging Public Leaders, a pan-African network; focused on youth leadership, public governance, and next‑generation participation in development policy. Co-founded Tritrees in Uganda.
Joaquim Levy (Brazil)
Chair of the Climate Finance Hub, former Minister of Finance of Brazil, former CFO and Managing Director of the World Bank Group. Wide experience across government, multilateral and national development banks, climate finance, and private markets.
Shankar Maruwada (India)
Prominent Indian social entrepreneur and technology leader; Co-founder and CEO of EkStep Foundation and a key member of the founding team for India’s digital identity program, Aadhaar; a leader in digital public infrastructure and technology-enabled public service delivery.
Rania Al-Mashat (Egypt)
Former Minister of Planning, Economic Development & International Cooperation and Tourism of Egypt, with extensive experience in multilateral engagement, economic policy, and climate finance; previously Advisor to the Chief Economist of the International Monetary Fund and Sub-Governor for Monetary Policy at the Central Bank of Egypt.
David Miliband (United Kingdom)
President and CEO of the International Rescue Committee, former UK Foreign Secretary; global leader in humanitarian and fragility policy with decades of diplomatic and political experience.
Jasandra Nyker (South Africa)
Managing Partner of Saja Climate Partners, with deep expertise in climate finance and sustainable investment; former investment banker and private equity investor, with extensive experience structuring and scaling investments across emerging markets.
Daouda Sembene (Senegal)
President and CEO of AfriCatalyst; macroeconomist specializing in debt sustainability, cost of capital, and financial-sector development.
The Future of Development Cooperation Coalition was born from high-level discussions at the June 2025 Financing for Development Conference in Sevilla, Spain. The Coalition has an ambitious agenda to facilitate a process through which countries at all stages of development—and leaders from across public, private, and civil society sectors—can co-create a vision for cooperation that is efficient, effective, legitimate, fit for the future, and anchored in mutual trust.
For more about the Coalition: devcoalition.org
Media Note: Co-Chairs and Commissioners will be in Washington, D.C. during the World Bank-IMF Spring Meetings (week of 13th April 2026) and most will be available for interviews upon request.
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