LONDON, England, May 20, 2026

Speaking at the closing the Global Partnerships Conference in London, Adrian Lovett, ONE’s Executive Director for UK, Middle East & Asia Pacific, said:

“At a challenging time in UK and world politics, any opportunity to shine a light on the urgent need for international cooperation to achieve shared goals is welcome. The Global Partnerships Conference has created this opportunity, and the conference co-hosts deserve recognition for their efforts to look for new solutions and partnerships. 

It has been clear in the conference discussions that it is impossible to separate public and private financing efforts in international development. Private investment is a vital and substantial part of the mix, but investors and entrepreneurs are also clear that they need strong action by governments to create the climate for success, whether through concessional finance to reach where markets do not, or policy steps to reduce the cost of capital and tackle the debt crisis that hold back development and growth in Africa.  

The UK Government’s decision last year to cut the Official Development Assistance by 40% has had a devastating impact, at a time when progress on issues like child survival has stalled for the first time in a generation. This conference may be a first step in rebuilding Britain’s reputation with international partners. If it leads to a UK-hosted G20 summit next year that summons real political and financial clout to confront shared challenges, that offers a more hopeful future for children and young people everywhere, we may look back on this moment as a turning point. The test of the value of today’s words will be in the actions we take tomorrow and the results they achieve.

With global progress on child mortality now stalled for the first time in a generation, as highlighted in a new report by the ONE Campaign, it is essential that these efforts are judged against their real-world impact, not just the architecture of reform.

As attention now turns to the UK-hosted G20, these initiatives need to be significantly further advanced, with clear evidence that they are unlocking and mobilising substantial volumes of additional, effective development finance, and that it is beginning to flow to where it is most needed. Stronger partnerships and more innovative financing will only matter if they are matched by scale, speed, and measurable impact.

We will further study the detailed commitments made at the conference in the coming days.”

About The ONE Campaign:  

ONE is a global, nonpartisan organization advocating for the investments needed to create economic opportunities and healthier lives in Africa. Since 2004, we have helped secure more than $1 trillion in new investments to build a safer, more prosperous world. Our trusted advocacy combines hard-hitting data, grassroots activism and political engagement to influence decision-makers and drive lasting change. Learn more at ONE.org. 

The ONE Campaign / ONE.org Contact: [email protected] / 07462256646