In January, the Starling Institute co-hosted a three-day retreat in Lusaka, Zambia with the Permanent Mission of Zambia to the United Nations, and the South African Institute for Policy and Research (SAIPAR). The retreat gathered 70 participants to strategize and respond to the first draft (or “zero draft” in UN nomenclature) of the Financing for Development agreement that was published on January 17. The retreat included ambassadors and lead negotiators from 15 Global South countries, as well as leaders from UN Financing for Development Office, UN Economic Commission for Africa, the African Union, African Development Bank, and World Bank Group. 

At the retreat, attendees began to shape a shared vision of what they hoped to see in the agreement. This included practical steps forward on debt sustainability, domestic resource mobilization, international financial architecture reform, international development cooperation, and private sector investment. Given the diversity of developing countries and the wealth of expertise present, the retreat was a vital moment for participants to explore the most difficult issues in depth and build trust and understanding of each other’s positions – a crucial element for success in any complex negotiating process.