As we enter 2025, we're taking a moment to reflect on the lessons and achievements of 2024 - while looking ahead to what this year holds. Through SRI Executive's work with the global development sector, we've seen firsthand the obstacles of the last twelve months.
It has been a challenging year for many. At the same time, we've seen the resilience and innovation of organisations going through unprecedented change. We've been inspired by the drive and ambition of the leaders we partner with, all of whom are working towards a better future. We've been humbled by witnessing the bravery and determination of our friends and partners at the forefront of humanitarian or health crises and climate emergencies.
Though much has happened this year, there are some trends and themes we believe have had the greatest impact in 2024 and will continue to shape our sector in 2025.
In 2024, we continued to be alarmed by the deepening climate crisis. It was a year defined by natural disasters. Floods, landslides, hurricanes, wildfires and droughts took countless lives and decimated livelihoods. The world saw its first full year in which global temperatures exceeded 1.5C above pre-industrial levels, revealing the challenges adaptation and mitigation efforts have faced since the signing of the Paris Agreement. COP29 evidenced growing distrust and discontent in political solutions, as the countries least responsible but most affected by climate change demanded greater action and a significant increase in financial commitments from high-income countries. We are in an urgent and extremely worrying situation.
This is not to say that no progress has been made. Renewable energy sources are increasing rapidly, with the International Energy Agency (IEA) expecting global renewable capacity to increase 2.7 times by 2030, just short of the target of a 3 times increase. The Brazilian Amazon saw a nine-year low in deforestation, reflecting President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva's commitment to end deforestation by 2030. Additionally, a new study found that conservation projects are effective at not only halting but reversing biodiversity loss.
We greatly admire the difficult work organisations in our sector are doing to combat climate change. The Green Climate Fund approved USD 1 billion of climate finance for developing countries in July 2024. Greenpeace International fought against Big Oil campaigns, while the United Nations made unprecedented demands to ban fossil fuel advertising.
Though we still have a long way to go, progress is being made. If we can increase the speed of delivery and find the necessary investment, there is still much we can achieve in mitigation and adaptation to this crisis.
Humanitarian emergencies continued to escalate in 2024, testing the limits of global response systems and exposing the deep inequalities that leave millions vulnerable. Conflicts, natural disasters, and political instability displaced record numbers of people, while hunger and disease surged in regions least equipped to cope. It has been heartbreaking to see the suffering of people in Afghanistan, the DR of Congo, the Occupied Palestinian Territory, Sudan and Ukraine, among others.
The global humanitarian system is under immense pressure, with funding gaps widening and resources stretched thin. In 2024, the United Nations estimated that over 325 million people required humanitarian assistance—a staggering figure that reflects the growing complexity of emergencies. While humanitarian funding has increased by approximately 10%, we are still meeting only 46% of humanitarian funding requirements. Conditions are also leading to injury and loss of life among aid workers, with 2024 officially the deadliest year on record for aid workers around the world.
While there are signals of reprieve in some countries, others are experiencing intensified and protracted crises. It is difficult to be optimistic under the circumstances. However, we continue to have faith in the strength and dedication of the humanitarian community. We are proud to have donated to humanitarian agencies working on the frontlines of these crises, though we recognise this is a small contribution to an inexhaustible need. We will continue to support where we can and extend our deepest condolences to those impacted by humanitarian emergencies.
In 2024, significant cuts to foreign aid raised concerns about future funding for development projects. In Europe, both individual countries and the EU reduced aid, increasing competition among development organisations. The UN raised only 46% of its €48 billion goal for humanitarian aid, while the WHO secured USD 1.7 billion in its first investment round for its 2025 to 2028 work, placing its total funding at USD 3.8 billion when combined with other funding sources, leaving a gap of around USD 3.3 billion.
Philanthropy also saw a major shift as Melinda French Gates left the Gates Foundation and began to focus her efforts on supporting the rights of women and girls, committing to donating USD 1 billion in the next two years. French Gates has demonstrated a similar approach to MacKenzie Scott, giving relatively small grants to many organisations. French Gates has already begun dispersing USD 200 million in grants, while Scott continues to give unrestricted grants to organisations. Both women have been credited with changing how we think about Philanthropy, focusing on widespread giving that demonstrates trust in organisations to know how best to use funds.
New partnerships may provide a way forward for organisations as they adapt to funding shifts. 2024 also saw the Multilateral Development Banks (MDBs) increasing their efforts to work together, focusing on combining their resources to tackle challenges around the world and pushing their funding further. The World Bank and the African Development Bank (AfDB) announced a new partnership focused on providing electricity to 300 million people in Africa by 2030; the European Bank for Development and Reconstruction (EBRD) and AfDB are increasing their collaboration in support of small and medium-sized enterprises in Sub-Saharan Africa and the World Bank and the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB) have committed to a four-year partnership to strengthen their efforts for the people of Latin America and the Caribbean.
We're seeing similar trends in Global Health. The Global Fund and GAVI have been strengthening collaboration, recognising the value in joining forces, while Population Services International and the Elizabeth Glaser Pediatric AIDS Foundation are coming together under the newly formed HealthX Partners, unifying and streamlining their operations to provide better, more connected services.
As we move into a year of funding uncertainty, organisations will need to attempt new forms of adaptation, reconsidering how they operate and potential new avenues for growth and collaboration.
The Global Health sector faced numerous challenges in 2024. An increase in conflict saw the spread of disease and increased food insecurity. Meanwhile, the climate crisis continued to exacerbate existing global health challenges. Environmental changes such as rising temperatures, changing rainfall patterns and increased floods and droughts contribute to food shortages, water supply contamination and the spread of diseases. Africa saw a Cholera outbreak that impacted 33 countries and cases of Dengue Fever globally doubled between 2023 and 2024. The Mpox outbreak in Africa was declared a global health emergency and once again highlighted the disparity in access to necessary medical treatment.
But there were still wins for the global health community. The African Pharmaceutical Technology Foundation, which officially launched in 2024, is committed to addressing this disparity and focused on strengthening the African Pharmaceutical market. Seven countries eliminated a neglected tropical disease, Egypt became malaria-free, and Mother-to-child transmission of HIV and syphilis have been eliminated in Belize, Jamaica, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, and Namibia. The World Bank, the World Health Organization and the Japanese government announced a new knowledge hub focused on Universal Health Care, with the World Bank focused on providing affordable, high-quality health services to 1.5 billion people by 2030. UN Member States pledged to reduce antimicrobial resistance-related deaths by 10% by 2030, and 17 countries have introduced the malaria vaccine.
Though we are entering into another year of challenges, these wins show how impactful health programmes can be. Each year brings more advancements and a deeper understanding of the obstacles that need to be overcome to achieve SDG 3, Good Health and Well-Being for all. We know that our partners will continue to develop impactful solutions and deliver lasting results, creating a healthier world for everyone.
This was a year of elections, with new governments forming around the world. The UK saw the Labour Party returning to power after fourteen years of the Conservative Party in government, India's election saw the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) win a third term – though less decisively than expected - and the presidential elections held in Venezuela led to mass protests due to accusations of corruption.
Of course, no election result drew more attention than the return of Donald Trump to the American Presidency. Trump's next term will have a major impact on the development world, with his administration already set on pulling out of the Paris Agreement for a second time, expected to withdraw the US from the World Health Organization and, in general, push for cuts to US foreign aid.
Globally, we're seeing the renewed prioritisation of national interests, which will likely feed into the already growing divide between low- to middle-income countries and high-income countries. Health and climate crises continue to exacerbate tensions in international relations as emergencies reveal the vast inequities which continue to damage Low- and Middle-income countries. We are failing to address climate, humanitarian and health funding requirements and have been slow to truly address colonial power structures. While localisation is a work in progress, we are simply not moving fast enough. We have worked with several organisations to address their internal power structures and promote localisation, so we understand the difficulty of re-balancing. But we also understand the urgency and importance of this work and will continue to encourage and support organisations aiming to decentralise in 2025 and beyond. It is only when we find ways to work together that real change is possible.
There are many significant challenges facing the global development community as we move into 2025. Funding cuts are going to have a major impact on development efforts, with organisations needing to rethink their operations and adapt to new budgets. Conflicts around the world are continuing to feed into increased hardship for innocent civilians, who are unable to access the aid they so greatly need. The climate crisis continues to devastate entire communities as its effects spread to every corner of the world. This, along with an increased distrust in existing development systems, can create a sense that there is too much to overcome.
However, we know that change is possible. We have been privileged to support many of the organisations combatting these challenges. We have seen the progress they have made and watched them pioneer solutions that lead to lasting impact. We thank them for persevering with their challenging work and for being a partner to SRI Executive. It is an honour to play a small role in these organisations' success.
Finally, entering 2025, we are incredibly proud to have a team of dedicated, conscientious and resourceful consultants – who are all equally committed to supporting development organisations. In 2024, we again saw the incredible commitment and integrity of our team. We are confident that, whatever 2025 brings, our team will continue to amaze us with their ideas, solutions, and kindness.
We look forward to the new year, as we know that our team and partners will be continuing their incredible work and that through their drive and determination, progress will be made. We are excited to continue to support and contribute to development efforts, doing our part to build a better world.
Sources:
https://www.iea.org/reports/renewables-2024/executive-summary
https://www.greenpeace.org.uk/news/shell-lawsuit-settlement/
https://www.rte.ie/news/world/2025/0105/1488852-famine-un-feature/
https://www.who.int/news-room/spotlight/who-looks-back-at-2024
https://news.un.org/en/story/2024/11/1157371