“What Would a Global Order of Middle Powers Look Like?” 

Conversation & Garden Reception

at the Instituto Cervantes

On Tuesday, September 23, 2025, New America and the Starling Institute hosted an exciting conversation during United Nations High-Level Week.

We explored three central questions. What would it mean to re-imagine a new global order? Should a reimagined order be based on shared values? What are the near coalitions that need to happen?

The conversation will kick off with brief opening provocations, or 'lightning talks' by Martín Abregú, Vice President of International Programs at the Ford Foundation; Amitabh Behar, Executive Director of Oxfam International; Richard Gowan, UN and Multilateral Diplomacy Director at the International Crisis Group; Kate Higgins, CEO of Cooperation Canada; Stewart Patrick, Senior Fellow and Director of the Global Order and Institutions Program at the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace,  Zane Dangor, Director General of the Department of International Relations and Cooperation, South Africa, and Mariana Mazzucato, Professor of Economics of Innovation and Public Value, University College London. 

The discussions offered some important insights:

• There was broad agreement that the time for action is now and that the current multilateral system is approaching a breaking point.  That said, we are still lacking a clear blueprint on how to shape the future toward the system we want to see. 

• Regaining public support for multilateralism will require  concrete steps to tackle real issues and address the economic insecurity felt by so many while demonstrating the centrality of global cooperation to a promising future.

• It is time for middle powers to step up. After 80 years of waiting for great powers to lead, there is a space, with great powers unable or unwilling, to break the mold and act. 

• Reform the current system rather than try to rebuild it from scratch. Middle power leadership requires a functioning multilateral system. There is opportunity to build upon what exists and shape institutions that support a promising future. 

• Build a coalition of the willing. The moment calls for a  flexible network of states, united by both trust and self-interest, that are ready and capable to step up. 

• Hold principles to account. As we rethink the system, equity, solidarity, and sustainability must be central. 

• Peace and Security remains challenging. Without the active engagement of the great powers, middle powers will likely find an international security system difficult to maintain

On Wednesday July 30, 2025, the Starling Institute gathered approximately 80 participants in New York City, and online, to discuss the expectations, opportunities, and risks of Secretary-General Antonio Guterres’ UN80 Initiative. The discussion focused particularly on the contested vision for the reforms under UN80, and the opportunities and risks associated with comprehensive reform in a moment of geo-political tensions and acute budget pressures.

On May 28, 2025, the Starling Institute convened a private discussion of senior diplomats and UN experts on strategy, planning, and support around the reform and budget efforts bundled under the “UN80” initiative. The conversation explored how a coalition of constructive and multilateralist-minded member states, with the support of experienced outside experts, could advance UN80 in constructive ways.

On May 15, 2025, the Permanent Mission of Tuvalu to the United Nations and the Starling Institute co-hosted a private breakfast meeting for representatives of the Pacific Small Island Developing States (PSIDS) on the negotiations of the outcome document of the 4th Conference on Financing for Development (FfD4). The meeting aimed to provide a space for PSIDS to convene around a joint set of priorities, strategize for the ongoing negotiations and in the lead up to the Seville conference, which will take place from June 30 to July 3.

On the occasion of the 2025 Financing for Development Forum, the Starling Institute hosted a private lunch conversation among about twenty ambassadors of member state missions to the UN as well as leaders in development finance, to discuss the future of international development cooperation, particularly for the most vulnerable, during a time of change. We explored what policies and changes countries could be supportive of that could help offset reductions and increase financing to those most in need. Our discussion explored ways to support development finance and leverage greater collaboration on issues including reforms to the global financial infrastructure, addressing sovereign debt relief, the power of new partnerships, and encouraging greater transparency and local ownership of aid flows.

On April 17, 2025, the Permanent Mission of Nepal, as Chair of the Least Developed Country Group (LDCs), and Project Starling convened a retreat for LDC Ambassadors and experts. Representatives from 22 of the 44 LDCs and UN experts participated in the day-long session .

Timed less than three months before the Fourth Financing for Development (FfD4) conference in Seville, Spain, the retreat aimed to help clarify this group’s collective development finance priorities and how best to achieve them. This summary synthesizes inputs from the presentations, discussions, and participant feedback gathered throughout the retreat. Discussions were held off-the-record.

On March 3, 2025, Project Starling convened 34 participants from 12 Least Developed Countries for a private meeting  to explore strategies for Least Developed Countries (LDCs) to secure a successful outcome at the upcoming Fourth International Conference on Financing for Development (FfD4). Given the Sustainable Development Goals will not be achieved if significant progress is not made in LDCs, this event focused on enabling LDC diplomats to more effectively engage in FfD negotiations to advance the needs of LDCs.

The Starling Institute hosted a private meeting with LDC representatives to prepare for the FfD4 PrepComm III negotiations and ensure LDCs present a strong, unified front to secure outcomes addressing their priorities, such as closing the financing gap.

The Starling Institute hosted a luncheon in partnership with the International Peace Institute on the sidelines of the 2nd Preparatory Committee of the 4th Financing for Development Conference. The lunch was an opportunity for LDC and SIDS representatives to react to the publication of the Elements Paper and discuss priorities for the upcoming negotiations. 

It was agreed that a successful conference would not solve all development finance issues but instead should be seen as planting the seeds for continued progress. The importance of LDC and SIDS collaboration and ability to advance common proposals was also highlighted, as was the need to focus on making Overseas Development Assistance more effective rather than just looking at aid volumes.

On October 30 2024, the Starling Institute and the International Peace Institute (IPI) co-hosted a luncheon that gathered Least Developed Countries representatives to discuss strategy for the financing for development negotiations.  It was noted that the LDCs can exert the most leverage on negotiations if they advance joint positions across areas like development finance, technology access, trade, and capacity building. This suggests that coordination within the G77 and other groups, although sometimes challenging, will be key to bolstering unity. The desirability of LDCs being active participants during the intersessional period and creating specialized negotiating sub-groups – with focused expertise on issues like debt, trade, and taxes – would also be of considerable utility. 

The unprecedented convergence of challenges facing global governance today demands bold and transformational responses. Amid growing great power competition, the rise of new actors, rapidly advancing technology, and outdated institutions, the system often appears stagnant and inflexible. Yet, our institutions are constantly evolving. Power structures shift, new players emerge, and innovative ideas can take root. The outcomes of the Summit of the Future demonstrate that global collaboration can still deliver for people and the planet.

The Starling Institute, New America, the International Crisis Group and CIFF are hosting an exciting conversation to explore solutions that can meet this unique moment in history. We will discuss emerging responses and collaborative strategies to address today’s political, environmental, and social challenges.

Shifting Power: Bold Strategies for a New Era of Collaboration

5:00pm – 6:15pm

This panel discussion will explore opportunities to shift power to those most affected by global governance decisions. Our featured speakers are leading efforts that can help address today’s political, environmental, and social challenges and work towards a multilateral system that can deliver:

• Mark Malloch Brown, former UN Deputy Secretary-General 

• Elissa Jobson, Chief Advocacy Officer, International Crisis Group

• Brian Kagoro, Managing Director, Programs, Open Society Foundations

• Joseph Ng’ang’a, Vice-President for Africa at the Global Energy Alliance for People and Planet and CEO of the inaugural Africa Climate Summit

• Anne-Marie Slaughter, President & CEO of New America 

• Minh-Thu Pham, CEO, Starling Institute (moderator)

Garden Reception to Celebrate the Work Ahead

6:15 pm – 8:00 pm

To continue the conversation, please join us for an evening reception immediately following the panel in the adjacent garden. We hope to gather friends new and old to connect as we prepare for the work ahead. This event also marks Project Starling’s one year anniversary.