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The Development Policy Forum (DPF) met on 2 June as part of European Foundation Week to discuss the impact and role of philanthropic foundations in the world of development aid. Though often limited in focus to a specific sector or geographical area, foundations are poised to be a positive force in development aid, the roundtable heard. Their ability to work flexibly and innovatively outside of official channels represents a fresh and complementary view on the heavily bureaucratic and often inefficient avenues of official development assistance. “When looking at bilateral aid agencies, there are not many new ideas on how to solve development problems. There is a learning process but the result seems to be that the policy goes around in cycles. Philanthropic foundations are a possible source for fundamentally new ideas,” explained Simon Scott, Head of the Statistics and Monitoring Division at the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD): Development Co-operation Directorate (DAC), France.

To see a list of discussants click here. To view photos from the roundtable, please visit this page.

The Development Policy Forum (DPF) is a partnership between Friends of Europe, the World Bank, the United Nations, France’s AFD, UK’s DFID and Germany’s GTZ. DPF events are also organised in association with the IMF and the European Commission. Please click here to read more about the DPF.