Accra Coalition Meeting Advances Proposals to Reshape Development Cooperation Around Country Priorities

ACCRA, Ghana, 14 September 2026 — The Future of Development Cooperation Coalition met in Accra, hosted by the African Center for Economic Transformation (ACET),  on September 10–11, 2026, to discuss, debate and refine proposals for reshaping development cooperation so that it better supports countries’ priorities, strengthens their capabilities, and delivers lasting change that makes the world safer, more resilient, and prosperous for all.

The Coalition’s third meeting focused on developing a small set of transformative, actionable recommendations. Co-chaired by Yemi Osinbajo and Arancha González Laya, the meeting built on country consultations and thematic workshops covering state capabilities, sovereign debt, artificial intelligence, domestic capital, and development cooperation in fragile and conflict-affected settings.

The ambition was to identify proposals that address major structural challenges, remain relevant to a changing world and have credible first steps toward political and technical implementation. Commissioners examined draft recommendations across finance, capabilities, assistance, resilience and fragility, AI, and debt, assessing where proposals could make the greatest difference, what was more additional to other reform work underway, and what would be needed to put them into practice.

“Countries must be able to shape their own development choices, negotiate strong partnerships, and turn their resources into opportunity for their people. Development cooperation should strengthen those capabilities. Whether we are discussing the cost of capital or the possibilities of AI, our test is the same: will this help countries build more productive economies and improve lives?” said Yemi Osinbajo, Co-Chair of the Future of Development Cooperation Coalition.

Making capital work for development

Discussions on capital addressed the cost of financing, debt pressures, illicit financial flows and remittances, alongside the potential to mobilize domestic resources for productive investment.

The central question extended beyond how much capital countries can attract to the terms on which they access it, the resources they retain and their ability to direct financing toward national priorities. High financing costs and debt pressures can constrain investment in development, while illicit financial flows drain resources from economies. Remittances form another important part of this financial picture, supporting households and connecting diaspora resources with home economies. And grants and the most concessional finance must be carefully targeted to where they can have the most impact.

These issues were considered alongside how development cooperation can help strengthen domestic financial systems and enable available capital to support productive capacity and economic opportunity.

Building capabilities to lead, negotiate, and deliver

Commissioners examined how cooperation can strengthen countries’ ability to set priorities, assess choices and implement their own development strategies. Negotiating capabilities were an important part of this discussion, including the expertise and information needed to engage effectively on financing, investment and technology partnerships.

Building these capabilities is essential to country leadership. It means strengthening institutions and retaining knowledge so that countries can make informed decisions, negotiate better terms and manage complex relationships over time.

Discussions also considered how assistance can better support lasting capability, and how approaches must respond to the particular challenges facing fragile and conflict-affected settings.

Harnessing technology, digital, and AI for good

Technology, digital and AI featured throughout the discussions, linking questions of capital, capabilities, and the future of development cooperation.

Technology offers extraordinary opportunities to expand access to knowledge, improve public services, lower the cost of service delivery, support local enterprise and improve accountability, transparency, and learning. Harnessed well, it could help countries overcome longstanding constraints and open new routes to prosperity.

But technology will not automatically create a more equal playing field. Unequal access to foundational infrastructure, including energy and connectivity, computing resources, data and skills could widen existing divides, concentrate economic gains and create new dependencies.

The discussion considered both AI’s promise and the deliberate action needed for it to serve the public good. Countries need the foundations and institutional capabilities to shape its use, govern its risks and make sure its benefits are widely shared.

Thinking ahead to implementation

Even as work to finalize the recommendations will continue after Accra, the meeting included a session on implementation. Commissioners considered the theory of change for different draft recommendations as well as which institutions and partners have the authority, interest, and incentives to take proposals forward, and how their own networks could help build support.

“Our task in Accra was to move from identifying problems to shaping a few ambitious proposals that can make a meaningful difference. That means being clear about what needs to change, who has the power to act and how to take the first steps. Country leadership and international cooperation must reinforce each other if we are to build a safer, more resilient, and prosperous world,” said Arancha González Laya, Co-Chair of the Future of Development Cooperation Coalition.

The Coalition will continue refining and prioritizing its recommendations through engagement during the UN General Assembly, the World Bank–IMF Annual Meetings in Bangkok and further consultations, with the aim of finalizing them by the end of the year.

The work is guided by a practical test: whether development cooperation leaves countries better equipped to finance their priorities, strengthen their institutions and shape their own futures, and whether cooperation leaves countries and people better off.

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Jeanette Thomas
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