Video On Demand

2025 Global Development Forum

April 23, 2025 • 9:00 am – 5:30 pm EDT

Brought to you by

Project on Prosperity and Development

The CSIS Project on Prosperity and Development is hosting the ninth annual Global Development Forum (GDF) to convene experts and key stakeholders for a discussion on the future opportunities and imperatives for U.S. engagement with developing and emerging market countries around the world.

The role played by the United States on the international stage is at an inflection point marked by significant disruption and shifting priorities. During this tumultuous era when China has strategically strengthened its economic interests and diplomatic ties across developing countries, when Africa is eyed by investors worldwide for being on the cusp of a demographic boom, when debt-stressed low-income countries are reeling from the impacts of extreme weather, and when violent conflicts have dominated assistance funding that is receding from traditional aid donor countries, it is imperative to take a step back and think about new or different ways to approach the global development challenges we face today. The Forum will examine pressing issues including innovations in technology, financial inclusion, resilience, and U.S. foreign assistance reform.

Registration for this event is now closed. For questions, please reach out to Madeleine McLean at MMclean@csis.org. 

This event is made possible through generous support from Chevron, Inc., as well as generous support from the Embassy of Denmark for ongoing related work. 

Hosted By

Contact Information

Programs & Projects

Focus Sessions

Event Agenda

Attendee Registration Begins

9:00 am

Welcome Remarks by Noam Unger

9:30 am

The U.S. Technology Offer to Developing Countries: The Promise and Pitfalls

9:45 am

Moderator:

  1. Navin Girishankar, President, Economic Security and Technology, Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS)

 

Panelists:

  1. Magdi M. Amin, Founder Managing Partner, African Renaissance Ventures
  2. Esimaje Brikinn, Senior Corporate Affairs Advisor, Middle East & Africa, Chevron International Exploration and Production
  3. Arun Venkataraman, Former Assistant Secretary of Commerce for Global Markets, and former Director General, U.S. and Foreign Commercial Service, U.S. Department of Commerce
  4. Howie Wachtel, Senior Director for Policy, UN and International Organizations, Microsoft

 

Find additional panel details HERE

Networking Coffee Break

11:15 am

Morning Focus Sessions

11:45 am

 

Technological Innovations and Financial Inclusion

Moderator:

  1. Romina Bandura, Senior Fellow, Project on Prosperity and Development, Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS)

 

Panelists:

  1. Dante Disparte, Chief Strategy Officer and Head of Global Policy and Operations, Circle
  2. Sergio Navajas, Senior Specialist, IDB Lab, Inter-American Development Bank
  3. Nilmini Rubin, Chief Policy Officer, Hedera 

 

Find additional panel details HERE

 

Building Resilience to Disaster Risk: Leveraging Insurance

Moderator:

  1. Noam Unger, Director, Sustainable Development and Resilience Initiative, and Senior Fellow, Project on Prosperity and Development, Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS)

 

Panelists:

  1. Ekhosuehi Iyahen, Secretary General, Insurance Development Forum
  2. Bridget Gainer, Global Head of Public Affairs & Policy, AON
  3. Lesley Ndlovu, Chief Executive Officer, African Risk Capacity
  4. Benedikt Signer, Executive Director and Board Member, Southeast Asia Disaster Risk Insurance Facility (SEADRIF) Insurance Company

 

Find additional panel details HERE

Networking Luncheon

1:00 pm

Fireside Chat with David Malpass, Former President of the World Bank

2:00 pm

 

Find additional panel details HERE

Afternoon Focus Sessions

2:45 pm

 

The Role of Mining and Minerals for Ukraine's Reconstruction and the Future of the U.S.-Ukraine Relationship

Moderator:

Max Bergmann, Director, Europe, Russia, and Eurasia Program, Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS)

 

Opening Comments:

  1. Davide La Cecilia, Special Envoy for the Reconstruction of Ukraine, Government of Italy

 

Panelists:

  1. Gracelin Baskaran, Director, Critical Minerals Security Program, Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS)
  2. Jennifer Fendrick, Director of Public Policy, KoBold Metals
  3. Natalie Jaresko, Former Minister of Finance, Government of Ukraine
  4. Richard Longstaff, Managing Director, Deloitte 

 

Find additional panel details HERE

 

Reforming U.S. Foreign Assistance 

Moderator:

  1. Daniel F. Runde, Senior Vice President; William A. Schreyer Chair; Director, Project on Prosperity and Development, Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS)

 

Panelists:

  1. Erin McKee, Former Assistant Administrator, Europe and Eurasia Bureau, U.S. Agency for International Development
  2. Rafael Romeu, President and Chief Executive Officer, DevTech Systems Inc.
  3. Dafna Rand, Former Assistant Secretary, Bureau of Democracy, Human Rights, and Labor, and former Director, Office of Foreign Assistance, U.S. Department of State
  4. Jim Richardson, Former Director, Office of Foreign Assistance, U.S. Department of State
  5. Tessie San Martin, Chief Executive Officer, FHI360

 

Find additional panel details HERE

Networking Reception

4:15 pm

Conference Adjourns

5:30 pm

Tags

International Development, U.S. Development Policy, Energy and Sustainability, Private Sector Development, Economic Security, Technology and Innovation, Civil Society, and Climate Change