Europe Programme

CGD’s work generates practical proposals for Europe and the UK to enhance their effectiveness as global development actors and their collective impact within the international development system.

As the single largest source of development finance, Europe plays an important role in shaping the global development agenda and facilitating progress. The UK is one of the five largest providers of aid and is historically the largest provider of aid to the multilateral system making it an important leader in global development.

TOPICS

European Development Policy

Measuring Development Effectiveness

UK Development Policy

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Latest Work

Women carry their wares in woven baskets as they ascend a hill on the way to the market on the Mambilla Plateau in Taraba state, Nigeria

BRIEF

A Clearer Case for Aid

Masood Ahmed et al.

April 08, 2026

Boys carrying firewood on their bicycles in Tanzania

CGD NOTE

A Clear Vision for Official Development Assistance

Masood Ahmed et al.

April 08, 2026

Blog Post

Big Increases in Aid for the UK’s Overseas Territories, with Deep Cuts Elsewhere

Euan Ritchie

and

Edward Wickstead

April 02, 2026

Situ Gunung, Sukabumi, West Java, Indonesia. Man fishing in the lake using a traditional net.

POLICY PAPER

What Will It Mean for Development Agencies to Be Effective in the Years Ahead?

Rachael Calleja et al.

March 31, 2026

More work

Program Goals

The European Development Policy and Leadership Program combines research, convening and policy propositions to help European governments, their development finance institutions and international organisations shape agendas, strengthen their partnerships and collaboration, and improve their development offer. Our objectives are to enhance the impact of development policies and finance, improve transparency, and create a more cohesive and coordinated system for effective development cooperation.

UK flag waving by Westminister Abbey and Big Ben

Encouraging effective UK development policy and leadership

More effective and coherent UK development policy and leadership of the global development agenda.

Promoting climate finance effectiveness

Official development agencies and multilateral institutions achieve a step-up in the effectiveness and value for money of climate finance and encourage coherence between policies and targets on climate, finance, and development.

Influencing the allocation of EU development finance for maximum development impact

EU leadership of a cohesive and coordinated development finance system investing where the need and potential impact are greatest.

CGD's Commitment to Development Index interface, removing 40 rich world and emerging economies across 8 areas of development.

Policy coherence and peer learning through research and benchmarking

Government policies beyond aid that support development and official development agencies that are fit for purpose, responsive to the changing development landscape and delivering effective development.