The Future of U.K. and Global Development: Institutions, Issues, Challenges and Opportunities – A Lunch with Sir Suma Chakrabarti

We are delighted to be hosting a lunch with Sir Suma Chakrabarti.

He has had a long and distinguished career, most recently serving as the President of the EBRD from 2012 to 2020

Sir Suma began his Civil Service career in 1984, joining the ODA as a senior economic assistant working on macro-economic issues and UK aid projects. He undertook secondments at the IMF and the World Bank before working with HM Treasury and The Cabinet Office.  He re-joined DfID in 2001 and became Permanent Secretary in early 2002. From 2007 to 2012, he served as the Permanent Secretary to the Ministry of Justice.

Globally, the world continues to be impacted by the COVID 19 pandemic and the on-going military conflict in the Ukraine. Coupled with this, the impact of climate change is creating increased incidence of extreme weather. The combined effects of these drivers is often felt deepest by the most marginalised in society.  At the same time, governments locally are facing their own economic challenges; in the UK, the government is re-shaping its development agenda and whilst it remains committed to increasing ODA spend to 0.7% of GDP, this remains some years away.

Sir Suma will, against this complex context, provide an overview of his thoughts on the future direction for development.