This Week in Global Development

Episode: A look at Kenya’s new deals with the US, and the latest on food aid cuts

Date: December 10, 2025
Hosts: Adva Saldinger, David Ainsworth, Rumbi Chakamba
Special Guests: Sarah, Ayanat, Kate Warren, Leanda Wine

Overview

This episode examines major headlines in global development, focusing on:

• Kenya's groundbreaking new health and development agreements with the US
• Debt-for-development swaps and implications for aid transitions in Africa
• The latest cuts to US food aid and the future of the Food for Peace program
• A special segment on Amazon’s approach to human rights due diligence
• Leadership and strategy shifts at key global health organizations

The discussion features on-the-ground perspectives from reporters in Kenya, expert analysis of policy changes, and insights into the evolving landscape of global development under shifting American foreign aid paradigms.

Key Discussion Points and Insights

1. Kenya’s New Bilateral Deals with the US

The 'America First' Global Health Strategy ([00:33-03:10])

• Kenya became the first nation to sign a bilateral health agreement under the US’s new global health approach—$1.6 billion over five years, co-financed by Kenya ($850 million).
• Aim: Transition procurement and management of health commodities, and shift US-funded frontline worker salaries onto the Kenyan government payroll.
• The agreements are seen as "proof of concept" for a results-focused, country-owned model.

Memorable Quote:
“US Secretary of State Marco Rubio praised Kenya and called it the perfect partner to serve as kind of a proof of concept for this new mode of American health assistance.”
—Sarah [00:52]

Negotiation Strength and Transparency ([03:10-06:54])

• Kenya’s large and well-prepared negotiation team (over 90 people) influenced the terms, ensuring compliance with Kenyan law and precedent for transparency.
• Concerns remain for less-resourced countries negotiating similar deals.

Transition of Supply Chain Management ([03:10-03:15])

• The transition of supply chain management to the Kenya Medical Supplies Authority (KEMSA)—noted for past controversy but currently under reform.

2. Addressing Debt Through Innovative Finance

Debt-for-Development Swaps and Food Security ([04:11-06:54])

• Kenya and the US Development Finance Corporation (DFC) agreed on a $1 billion "food for debt" swap: swapping existing debt for cheaper loans, deploying savings into food security programs.
• This model is innovative, scarce in practice, and is independently monitored.

Notable Insight:
“A huge amount of Kenya's revenue goes into interest payments. President Ruto… mentioned this in the context of African countries' inability to spend much on climate because… revenues are tied up in servicing debt.”
—Ayanat [05:25]

DFC Regional Presence ([06:00-06:54])

• The DFC plans to establish a regional office in Kenya, signaling a shift toward more robust, on-the-ground engagement.

3. Data, Sovereignty, and Specimen Sharing

Transparency and Data Sharing ([06:54-11:43])

• The full Kenya-US agreement is expected to be publicly released, potentially helping other countries bolster their negotiations.
• Controversy surrounds long-term (25-year) specimen and data sharing demands from the US, raising concerns over national sovereignty and access to future medical benefits.

Memorable Quote:
“The Kenyan Ministry of Health… has been going on the local media saying that it didn’t actually negotiate a specimen sharing agreement. The Americans really wanted that.”
—Sarah [09:27]

Broader Implications for WHO Negotiations ([11:43-12:41])

• The deals could influence global negotiations in Geneva on data sharing and equitable access to vaccines developed from shared data.

4. Amazon’s Human Rights Due Diligence ([12:41-20:45])

Operationalizing Human Rights Policy ([13:11-15:01])

• Amazon has moved from high-level risk assessments to bespoke due diligence for each business unit.
• AI and machine learning now analyze millions of data points to spotlight risk hotspots.

AI in Human Rights ([15:01-16:45])

• Machine learning is identifying and preventing human rights impacts. Data quality and cross-sector collaboration remain key challenges.

Notable Quote:
“Even the most advanced model are only as strong as the data behind them... We need to expand the breadth and quality of the data on which we train models.”
—Leanda Wine (Amazon) [15:40]

Systemic Challenges and Sectoral Collaboration ([16:51-19:34])

• Main challenges: fragmentation of data and need for shared standards and trusted collaboration mechanisms.
• Example: Tech Against Trafficking coalition unites tech companies like Amazon, Google, Meta to scale anti-trafficking technologies.

Quote:
“Businesses cannot solve these problems alone. We need collaboration with governments... civil society, multilateral institutions, educational institutions.”
—Leanda Wine [17:05]

Long-term Success ([19:34-20:45])

• True progress: embedding human rights considerations into all decisions and preventing risks before they arise.

5. Cuts to US Food Aid Programs ([21:05-25:22])

Food for Peace and Resilience Activities ([21:28-22:46])

• USAID’s $2 billion/year Food for Peace program (dating to Eisenhower) faces major cuts, particularly to the $366 million resilience food security activities focusing on nutrition, agri-training, and market strengthening (e.g., Mercy Corps' demonstration plots in Kenya).

Quote:
“About eight organizations... had that cut last week. Food for Peace more broadly has been this really big puzzle about what happens with it next.”
—Ayanat [22:46]

Political Context and USDA Shift ([22:46-25:22])

• Food for Peace, popular with rural Americans and Trump’s base, may shift to the Department of Agriculture (USDA), whose capacity for complex, emergency settings is unproven.
• Appropriations bill mandates a study on the program’s fate; reform could mean harder times for resilience initiatives.

Quote:
“It's clearly one of those programs that benefits American farmers... but it's probably not the most cost efficient way to provide food.”
—Atba Saldinger [25:22]

6. Leadership Changes & Strategic Shifts in Global Health

Trump-Era Policy & Malaria No More ([25:34-29:34])

• Malaria No More appoints Bill Steiger (Trump-era USAID chief of staff and Bush family insider) as CEO, aligning with the US’s narrower “America First” health focus.

Insights:

• Steiger, a critic of USAID’s current procurement and localization models, is set to emphasize technological innovation (AI for malaria forecasting) and the financial arguments for health programs.

“He’s a strong proponent of this Trump’s way of doing aid… prominent critic of the USAID model… He’ll have focuses on areas like technological innovations such as AI forecasting for malaria.”
—Sarah [27:40]

Implications for Advocacy Language

• Organizations now frame their pitch in terms of “financial sense” rather than pure social value, in response to political shifts.

7. What’s Next

Upcoming Events & Reporting ([29:34-end])

• Sarah will host a panel on bilateral health agreements on December 15th for Devex PRO members.
• Food for Peace developments remain closely watched, with major reforms expected soon.

Notable Quotes Recap

| Time | Speaker | Quote | |--------|----------------|---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| | 00:52 | Sarah | “US Secretary of State Marco Rubio praised Kenya and called it the perfect partner…” | | 05:25 | Ayanat | “A huge amount of Kenya's revenue goes into interest payments. President Ruto… mentioned this…” | | 09:27 | Sarah | “The Kenyan Ministry of Health… has been… saying that it didn’t actually negotiate a specimen sharing agreement…” | | 15:40 | Leanda Wine | “Even the most advanced model are only as strong as the data behind them…” | | 17:05 | Leanda Wine | “Businesses cannot solve these problems alone. We need collaboration with governments…” | | 22:46 | Ayanat | “About eight organizations... had that cut last week. Food for Peace... has been this really big puzzle...” | | 25:22 | Atba Saldinger | “It's clearly one of those programs that benefits American farmers... but it's probably not the most cost efficient way…” | | 27:40 | Sarah | “He’s a strong proponent of this Trump’s way of doing aid… He’ll have focuses on areas like technological innovations…” |

Timestamps for Key Segments

• Kenya-US Health Deal overview: [00:33–03:10]
• Deal negotiation and supply chain reform: [03:10–06:54]
• Debt swaps and DFC regional office: [04:11–06:54]
• Specimen/data sharing controversies: [06:54–11:43]
• WHO negotiations and implications: [11:43–12:41]
• Amazon’s human rights practices: [12:41–20:45]
• Food for Peace program cuts: [21:05–25:22]
• USDA and political context: [22:46–25:22]
• Malaria No More leadership shift: [25:34–29:34]
• Upcoming events and news: [29:34–end]

Conclusion

This episode illuminates how US development policy is evolving in the “America First” era, with Kenya serving as an early, high-profile collaborator. Experts highlight the promise—and risks—of new models for health financing, debt swaps, and supply chain transition. Simultaneously, old debates persist over how best to provide food aid and support global health, now colored by political, economic, and strategic calculation. For development professionals, these stories signal a future where negotiation strength, transparency, and robust local systems count for more than ever.