Podcast Summary: This Week in Global Development

Episode: The Latest from the World Economic Forum Meeting in Davos

Date: January 22, 2026
Hosts: Rumbi Chakamba, Adva Saldinger, David Ainsworth
Guests/Correspondents: Raj Kumar, Alyssa (Elisa)

Overview

This episode covers the most important global development discussions and news from the 2026 World Economic Forum (WEF) in Davos. The hosts and correspondents analyze the dominance of U.S. foreign policy, how development topics surface amidst the geopolitical and business focus, the surge in artificial intelligence (AI) partnerships for health, the trend towards country-led aid reforms, and the critical need for more diverse voices at Davos.

Key Discussion Points

1. U.S. Foreign Policy’s Dominant Presence at Davos

• Theme: U.S. politics and President Trump’s administration decisively shape the WEF climate and discussions.
• Raj’s perspective: "U.S. foreign policy was dominant this year maybe more than ever." (00:38)
• Despite the U.S. overshadowing, development issues persist, often under the radar.
• Ongoing uncertainty about the administration’s approach to foreign aid, especially with the possibility of new rescission packages withholding appropriated funds.
• Hopeful notes: Senator Coons expressed optimism about a foreign aid funding bill making it through Congress and being signed into law. (01:27-02:49)

2. The “Board of Peace” – A New Multilateral Concept?

• Proposal for a new international body—potentially to supplant aspects of the UN, with initial focus on Gaza reconstruction and broader ambitions.
• Concerns within the international community about the implications for existing institutions like the UN, especially amid ongoing funding cuts and turmoil. (02:59-04:43)
• Notably, Ajay Banga, President of the World Bank, is slated to be a member, hinting at an expanded role for the World Bank in Gaza reconstruction.

3. Major Davos Development Themes: AI, Aid Cuts, and Transformative Opportunities

• AI at the Forefront: Nearly all major tech and AI companies present, with a growing intersection between AI capabilities and development sector needs. (05:01)
• Raj: "AI is a really big one… You're seeing more and more interest in terms of using those tools for health, for education, for agriculture."
• Juxtaposition of budget constraints (aid cuts) with transformative potential of AI to deliver impact more efficiently.

4. Gates & OpenAI Health Partnership Announcement

• Major $50 million collaboration launched to infuse AI into healthcare, starting in Rwanda and aiming for 1,000 clinics by 2028. (06:07-07:56)
• Alyssa: Describes Gates’ AI showcase and notes global health sector’s mix of excitement and skepticism: “Are we jumping on the bandwagon of AI can solve all problems?... Rwanda is a very good place for Gates to start in terms of capacity, but... we’ll see how the initiative rolls out.” (06:14-07:56)
• AI’s unique opportunity in Africa: filling gaps where health professionals (e.g., radiologists) are lacking, not replacing but providing new capabilities directly to patients in local languages. (08:52-09:37)
  • Memorable insight: "If you have AI being able to take over that task, it's not taking over anyone's job because it's simply not available."

5. Critical conversation: Country-Led Aid and the Accra Reset

• Increasing movement away from traditional donor-driven aid toward more African leadership, regional investment, and self-determination—spurred in part by necessity after ongoing aid cuts. (15:51-17:33)
  • Raj: "A lot of the African leadership is saying, we had to get to this point... this is positive, because it's forcing us... to drive the internal trade agenda within Africa."
• African Union (AU) is taking more substantive country-led action, with follow-ups on G20-endorsed debt panels and regionally driven policy evolution.

6. Networking, Collaboration, and Accountability at Davos

• Davos offers unique relationship-building across sectors (development, tech, business, finance) that doesn't happen elsewhere.
  • Raj: “What is real are the relationships that get forged here and the narratives that come out.” (19:29)
• Many impactful initiatives are launched or catalyzed here through “strange bedfellows" meetings.

7. Voices Missing from Davos—Inclusion and Representation

• Discussion sparked by BlackRock CEO Larry Fink regarding the persistent lack of direct representation from people most affected by development policy.
  • Alyssa: “Most people that are affected by what we talk about here, are not here. It's a very elite gathering... but the decisions though are global.” (21:34)
• Davos can be a chance for development and civil society leaders to “cut through the bubble” and connect with influencers outside their usual circles, raising awareness to a broader audience. (21:34-23:15)

8. Practical Advice for Development Leaders at Davos

• Prioritize attending diverse sessions and fostering serendipitous interactions to spark new coalitions.
  • Raj: “Try to let a little bit of serendipity take hold and attend events that are outside of your usual area of interest and focus... see what relationships that can build that can lead to new things.” (24:59)
• The global development field is larger and more cross-cutting than ever, integrating private sector, DFIs, and philanthropy. The opportunity at Davos resides in leveraging those expanded networks. (24:59-26:12)

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• Raj on US policy dominance:
  “U.S. foreign policy was dominant this year maybe more than ever... But just like in every other year, the issues that we report on and focus on, they're always happening, maybe a little more under the radar.” (00:38)

• Alyssa on hope from Capitol Hill:
  "[Senator Coons] was really optimistic that ... the Senate version of the bill will be passed next week ... and that President Trump will sign it into law." (01:27)

• Raj on the Board of Peace:
  "It’s hard to know whether that's kind of a philosophical idea or a practical one from the administration ... [but] Ajay Banga, the president of the World Bank, notably, is meant to be slated to be a member of that board." (02:59)

• Alyssa on the Gates + OpenAI partnership:
  "The $50 million will go toward ... country-led, government-driven solutions that infuse AI with healthcare programming. The first one to jump on board is Rwanda..." (06:14)

• Raj on AI potential in global health:
  "You may just be able to do those things directly with the patient. The patient might have a smartphone and be able to self-diagnose using AI tools..." (07:56)

• Alyssa, summarizing missing voices at Davos:
  "Most people that are affected by what we talk about here, are not here. It's a very elite gathering. ... Davos can be the place where development begins to cut through, through our bubble." (21:34)

• Raj: advice for meaningful engagement at Davos:
  “Try to let a little bit of serendipity take hold ... meet those people ... see what ideas and relationships that can build.” (24:59)

Noteworthy Timestamps (MM:SS)

• 00:38 — Discussion opens on US foreign policy’s outsized role at Davos
• 01:27-02:49 — Senator Coons' hopeful remarks on US foreign aid
• 02:59-04:43 — Explaining and reflecting on the proposed "Board of Peace"
• 05:01 — Key global development themes emerging at Davos, especially AI
• 06:07-07:56 — Full context and implications of the Gates/OpenAI AI for Healthcare partnership
• 08:52 — Gates’ focus on AI for health and leapfrogging in Africa
• 15:51-17:33 — African agency in country-led aid (Accra reset) and G20/AU debt discussions
• 19:29 — Value of relationship-building at Davos
• 21:34-23:15 — Missing voices debate (Larry Fink, inclusion, elite nature of Davos)
• 24:59-26:12 — Final advice for maximizing Davos for development professionals

Takeaways

• Davos 2026 is marked by US foreign policy influence and an undercurrent of essential development conversations, especially around aid and AI.
• AI is fast becoming a tool of immediate, not just future, significance in global development, with philanthropic giants like Gates and big tech like OpenAI joining forces on health initiatives.
• The paradigm is shifting toward country-led aid reform in Africa, spurred by necessity after aid cuts.
• Davos provides unmatched opportunities for forging new alliances—even if the development community’s voice is not always central.
• Representation and diversity at such elite gatherings remain a work in progress; “cutting through the bubble” is more urgent than ever.
• The most valuable use of Davos for development leaders is openness to unplanned encounters and cross-sector collaboration.

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