As of March 2026, this website is no longer being updated. I now work mainly on climate issues, especially in Brighton and Hove, and new work can be found on the website of Climate:Change, our independent think-tank on socially inclusive action in the City: www.climatechangebh.org.uk.
Meanwhile, however, this website has over 850 entries, mostly representing my work on international development from 2010-2025. Among much else, there are over 50 book reviews, more than 20 papers and training cases on bridging research and policy and on managing think-tanks, and many papers on other topics, including aid, food security and nutrition, and the future of international development. See ‘Topics and Themes’ for more details. I can be reached at sm@simonmaxwell.net.
Reforming the Intenational aid architecture: Options and ways forward
At the same time as these developments, various international political groupings including the G8, G20, the Commonwealth Secretariat and La Francophonie are taking a greater interest in the reform of the international aid system. More direct government and civil society engagement in these fora has the potential to build the trust and mutual accountability required for full implementation of Paris as well as the collective action required for significant UN reform. This paper sets out some options for reform which could be discussed by these political groupings and draws up a calendar of events for the next five years as the start of a process for identifying where and when high-level political engagement will be required to ensure significant reform of the international aid system............... (see link in title for full article)