Reflections on Development Finance and Partnership at Devex Impact House

Last Thursday, October 16th, I was at Devex Impact House, which offered a thought-provoking platform to engage with the shifting drivers, tensions, and opportunities in global development finance, health innovation, and multi-sector partnership models. For committed leaders who wish to propel missions on the international scene, this event highlighted not only the transitions required but also the collaborative, multilateral methods that enable sustained impact.

Reimagining Development Finance

Open Philanthropy, the Gates Foundation, and major DFIs held sessions that nudged the existing development finance model away from mainstream economic growth models and toward cross-sector collaboration. Justin Sandefur advocated for a turn toward "hits-based giving," leaping for risk-taking and anchoring philanthropy in models that stimulate transformational poverty reduction. Megan O'Donnell again insists on social-rate-of-return thinking, summoning all sectors to collaborate beyond narrow silos and toward more holistic, cross-sector design. All of these perspectives align closely with the values needed for coalition building and communication: value is generated when stakeholders share a common purpose for data, impact, and a long-term vision.  

Mobilizing Partnerships for Systemic Change

The session on "Financing Development in an Age of Retreat" and the G7 Infrastructure Investment Council analyzed hurdles to scalable partnership, from fragmented narratives to legacy risk assessments. Boitumelo Mosako and Remy Rioux encouraged coordinated messaging among ministers and multilaterals. Lori Kerr and Leslie Maasdorp instead called for harmonized due diligence and the rapid deployment of capital to close infrastructure gaps. Guy Eddon from Merck GHIF presented practical blueprints for global health venture capital and demonstrated how wise investment could be the foundation on which innovation rests. Each contribution resonated with the call for leaders who can link policy, investment, and technology, leveraging communications as both a driver and enabler.

Ownership, Accountability, and Health Futures 

Africa CDC and Harvard Ministerial Leadership underscored the need for timely, transparent, and locally-led health futures funding, which is partly determined by investment vehicles, local manufacturing, and private-sector innovation. The call for "More Money for Value and More Value for Money" resonated in stakeholder engagement practice, acknowledging outcome-based methods and results-oriented communications to maximize reach and reputation capital.

Reflecting on the Conversations on How to Engage the Private Sector

Throughout the conference, there was a felt atmosphere of partnership and innovation. But, after decades of experience in both the nonprofit and for-profit spheres, I felt that there was still an underlying sense that something was missing from the discussion—a candid exploration of how nonprofit organizations can strategically and sustainably engage in mutually beneficial collaboration with corporations.

The sessions were teeming with ideas to mobilize private-sector capital, but meaningful discussions of innovative, "out of the box" and scalable solutions to promote social goods were scarce. Too often, it seems the speakers avoided, intentionally or by habit, the corporations' perspective: what's in it for them in working with NGOs.    

Conclusion

Participating in Devex Impact House and exchanging ideas with its thought leaders solidified a vow to promote purpose-based organizations globally through strategic communications, coalition formation, and global advocacy. For those pursuing movement building, it is crucial to adopt not only a cause but also the viability that profit can bring, making subsequent transactions bolder, attainable, and meaningful for generations to come.