iiinova — where your digital self keeps evolving

🇮🇪 #Ireland Should Lead with a Bold New Vision for Global Aid 🌍 Thank you to The Irish Times for publishing an idea I’ve been thinking about for a while. 🧵👇

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David McNair @davidmcnair.bsky.social · 06/10/2026

✅ Ireland should launch a ‘People & Planet Fund’ 🌍💶: Using part of the 14bn Apple windfall to create a global investment vehicle for: ♻️ Renewable energy 🌱 Climate resilience 🚀 A Win-Win Approach: Could boost Ireland’s global influence, create new markets, while building a fairer, greener world.

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For years analysts have called out an emerging debt crisis. But progress has been elusive because of politics. In a new paper, I propose a modular ‘toll booth’ approach to speed up solutions within existing political constraints. Would love feedback carnegieendowment.org/research/202...

carnegieendowment.org

The Debt Toll Booth: A Modular Solution to Addressing Sovereign Debt Crises

Policy proposals on sovereign debt must both match the scale of the challenge and be implementable within existing political constraints.

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David McNair @davidmcnair.bsky.social · 06/10/2026

carnegieendowment.org

The Debt Toll Booth: A Modular Solution to Addressing Sovereign Debt Crises

Policy proposals on sovereign debt must both match the scale of the challenge and be implementable within existing political constraints.

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David McNair @davidmcnair.bsky.social · 30/09/2026

What do 167 UN General Assembly speeches say about the state of geopolitics? I analysed them all to uncover six faultlines. senseofthings.substack.com/p/what-do-16...

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David McNair @davidmcnair.bsky.social · 18/09/2026

If, like me, you are trying to make sense of things then join me over on Substack. I’ll be writing about geopolitics, technology and economic development, how the business of influence is changing - among other things. senseofthings.substack.com/p/the-questi...

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Dave Jones @cleanpowerdave.bsky.social · 26/08/2025

NEW: The first evidence of a solar take-off in Africa☀️✈️ x33 rise in Algeria solar panel imports in the 12 mths to June 2025, compared to previous 12 mths. x8 in Zambia x7 in Botswana x6 in Sudan x3 in each of Liberia, DRC, Benin, Angola, Ethiopia 🧵

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ONE Campaign @onecampaign.bsky.social · 01/08/2025

"By shifting incentives to reward long-term thinking, collective action, and bold risk-taking, individual foundations and the sector as a whole can help build the resilient, just, and hopeful future the world urgently needs." Read more from @davidmcnair.bsky.social: tinyurl.com/ywst3bmj

tinyurl.com

Philanthropy Leaders Retreat: A Call for Bravery, Patience and Innovation

By David McNair, Executive Director for Global Policy, ONE Campaign In June, a dedicated two-day retreat brought together leaders from major global philanthropic foundations - outside the usual cycle ...

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David McNair @davidmcnair.bsky.social · 05/07/2025

A colleague shared this image #Canada As our societal resilience to risks breaks down, we elect leaders that entertain us, distract us from reality, and take us down the road of conflict That we can find limitless money for weaponry but deal with fundamental threats to our survival is baffling

Publish What You Fund @publishwhatyoufund.bsky.social · 03/07/2025

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🌍Can we trust current climate finance claims? 🎥At the launch of the 2025 DFI Transparency Index, @davidmcnair.bsky.social from @onecampaign.bsky.social breaks down why transparent, harmonised reporting is critical for accountability in climate finance. #ClimateFinance #DFITransparency #2025Index

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Tim Hirschel-Burns @timhirschelburns.bsky.social · 29/06/2025

With much of the Global North turning away from development, it's clear a new vision of global solidarity is needed. @davidmcnair.bsky.social laid out a template for what that could look like www.independent.co.uk/voices/aid-b...

independent.co.uk

Global aid is about more than money and charity – it helps us all

The world has done extraordinary things when we’ve had a vision to match our resources, writes David McNair

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David McNair @davidmcnair.bsky.social · 28/06/2025

I wrote a piece for @the-independent.com on the future of development policy. focus on 👉🏿 goals not budgets 👉🏿mutual interest not charity 👉🏿universal values not preaching www.independent.co.uk/voices/aid-b... #ffd4 #acm25

independent.co.uk

Global aid is about more than money and charity – it helps us all

The world has done extraordinary things when we’ve had a vision to match our resources, writes David McNair

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Richard Jones @richardaljones.bsky.social · 04/06/2025

Moore's law, past & future Technological change over last 50 years was dominated by Moore's law, & resulting exponential increase in computer power. That period is now drawing to a close, just as the demand for computer power is growing exponentially: my blogpost www.softmachines.org/wordpress/?p...

softmachines.org

Moore’s Law, past and future – Soft Machines

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Katri Bertram @katribertram.bsky.social · 26/05/2025

@davidmcnair.bsky.social, your LinkedIn post also resonated and I'd love your thoughts: Are we focusing on the right issues, or "trying to go back".

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David McNair @davidmcnair.bsky.social · 25/05/2025

I recently was gifted the planting of 10 trees which i was delighted about.

🚗More than 1 in 4 cars sold worldwide this year is set to be electric according to the International Energy Agency (IEA) Dominated by China 🇨🇳with European manufacturers in second place. 🇪🇺 The energy transition is happening with or without politics. ✅

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🌍 Health crises know no borders 🤝 Invest in Africa’s CDC, Medicines Agency, and manufacturing hubs If you’re in Geneva and fancy a coffee, let me know #WHA

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What Needs to Change? Much of it is about broader economic management: ➡️ Smarter taxes ➡️ Reduce debt costs ➡️ End illicit flows ➡️ Protect health budgets ➡️ Embrace new forms of finance ➡️ Treat health like infrastructure: invest… #WHA

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In Africa for example: 💰 Govs invest just 1.48% of GDP in health far below the WHO recommendation of 4-5% 💸 Households carry 34% of costs 👶 With 2.4B people by 2050, a resilient health system is critical. #WHA

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But this is also a moment of opportunity for countries to support their own ✨ Health sovereignty and build more resilient approaches to health globally. But doing so requires that we: ⚙️ Fund it 🧠 Govern it #WHA

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The World Health Organisation itself has just restructured following major US funding cuts. And developing countries are facing major risks: ❌ Up to $8B/year in donor funding at risk ❌ Millions of lives on the line ❌ Decades of progress could unravel #WHA

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ONE Campaign @onecampaign.bsky.social · 16/05/2025

Early start as I head to #Geneva for the World Health Assembly. This is the annual gathering of Health Ministers and officials to discuss global health governance. There are lots of headwinds…. #WHA

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Over the past two decades, we've helped unlock over $1 trillion in financing, trained 5,000+ youth activists, and helped save 50 million lives. Whether you signed a petition, met with your reps, or shared a post — you helped make it happen. Here’s to 20 years of action, and many more to come! 💥

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Sam Huckstep @samhuckstep.bsky.social · 16/05/2025

Remittances have long been a lifeline to low-income countries, often exceeding aid and foreign direct investment combined. After aid cuts, their importance has increased- sometimes markedly. In a new @cgdev.org blog, @helen-dempster.bsky.social and I explore how their benefits can be maximised.

cgdev.org

After Aid Cuts, Here’s How to Make the Most Out of Remittances

Explore how remittances could help reduce the impacts of aid cuts and support broader economic development goals.

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A genuine question for an article I'm working on: Is anyone in progressive movements / working on multilateral reform calling for *less* multilateralism? I mean focus on problems only international cooperation can solve and leave the rest to national and local? Recommendations v welcome!

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Who Will Be the Next Pope? Here Are Some Possible Contenders.

As the #Conclave to select the next #Pope begins this article is a good overview of the front runners.⛪️ I’ve only met one of the candidates and don’t really feel qualified to comment But moral leadership is thin on the ground & this is a vote that matters.🗳️ www.nytimes.com/article/next...

nytimes.com

David McNair @davidmcnair.bsky.social · 10/01/2025

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🎙️ I spoke with @africanews about Emerging Market Debt in 2025 . 🌍📉 📊 African countries will pay $88bn in debt service. 💰 Half to private creditors at expensive rates. 🌟 The G20 could help bring these costs down by reducing risk ratings. africanews.com/2025/01/09/w...

africanews.com

What is at stake for African sovereign debt in 2025? [Business Africa] | Africanews

Over 20 African countries will spend more on debt service than on healthcare or education in 2025. The picture gets even more complicated given interest rates are not expected to fall sharply. Over ha...

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David McNair @davidmcnair.bsky.social · 16/01/2025

🌍✨ Next week, I’ll be in #Davos for the World Economic Forum. There's so much public data out there that can improve policy making. But the friction involved in accessing it is too high. We’ll be showcasing how we’re removing those barriers 📊🔍. If you want to catch up, let me know. 🌟

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Essi Lindstedt @essi-lindstedt.bsky.social · 13/02/2025

I think leadership on EU development cooperation was really hurt by the UK leaving - and there is a case for a ‘Friends of Global Cooperation’ led by Ireland, Spain, Denmark and maybe Poland to fight for a better approach in the MFF etc.

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But overall it does feel like Ireland is one of the few European countries which can make a case for doing this kind of partnership independently rather than joining into something EU branded. Although then equally I would like to see Ireland getting EU action more effective and partnershippy.

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8/ It’s time for Ireland to think big and act boldly. 💪 We can lead a new era of international cooperation—one that serves both Irish values and global prosperity. #GlobalDevelopment #PeopleAndPlanet #SustainableInvestment #ForeignAid #AfricaOpportunity #IrishAid #SoftPower 🌍💶

7/ 📖 History shows us this works. Remember the Marshall Plan? 💰 Rebuilt Europe post-WW2 🛒 Helped create the world’s largest trading bloc 🤝 Boosted US business & global influence—all while promoting peace

6/ 🚀 A Win-Win Approach: ✅ Boost Ireland’s global influence 🌍 ✅ Create new markets for Irish business 📈 ✅ Build a fairer, greener world 🌱

5/ 💡 The public supports this vision: 📊 73% of Irish people back government aid 📊 75% believe aid makes a real difference

4/ ✅ Ireland should launch a ‘People & Planet Fund’ 🌍💶 A Sovereign Wealth Fund using part of the €14bn Apple windfall to invest in: ♻️ Renewable energy projects 🌱 Climate resilience programs 🚀 Poverty-fighting innovations

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3/ 📈 The opportunity for Ireland is clear. Bold thinking could: 🌍 Create green jobs at home and abroad 🤝 Boost Ireland’s soft power through partnerships 💰 Deliver long-term returns for Irish taxpayers 🌱 Advance Ireland’s foreign policy goals

2/ 🌍 Why Africa matters for Ireland’s future: ✅ By 2050, 1 in 4 people on the planet will be African ✅ McKinsey: $3 trillion consumer spending potential ✅ Fintech innovation, renewable energy, and a cultural boom are the new normal

1/ 📉 #USAID cuts are sending shockwaves globally. But it’s part of a broader trend: Western nations are stepping back from #Africa. 💡 Meanwhile, emerging powers like #China, #India, #UAE, and #Saudi are stepping up. Ireland should too. 🇮🇪

David McNair @davidmcnair.bsky.social · 08/02/2025

🇮🇪 #Ireland Should Lead with a Bold New Vision for Global Aid 🌍 Thank you to The Irish Times for publishing an idea I’ve been thinking about for a while. 🧵👇

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This week I spent my energy on two things 1. Trying to figure out what I can do to defend the liberal order. 2. Trying to get permission from IT to create new google docs. I failed on the latter. #modernlife

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Toni Morrison: “This is precisely the time when artists go to work. There is no time for despair, no place for self-pity, no need for silence, no room for fear. We speak, we write, we do language. That is how civilizations heal.” What’s next? Would love to hear your thoughts. ⏳

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🛡️ RESILIENCE VACUUM 🔹 A real response to today’s turbulence requires determination, resilience, solidarity. 🔹 Many in our community feel exhausted and defeated. (I know I do.) 🔹 But now is the time to look out for, inspire, and support each other—to build something new

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🔹 It’s not just about better messaging. 🔹 It’s about a fundamentally new value proposition. And to be honest—I don’t yet know what it is.

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🔹 For those working on global cooperation, we need a new vision—not just defending the status quo. We need action on climate & development that doesn’t compete with those left behind by globalization—but offers them real answers.

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🔹 Now we’re seeing the reaction—a counter-culture around ‘freedom’ but not necessarily democracy. 🔹 Populists get this. 🔹 Trump has pivoted from nostalgia (MAGA) to a frontier outlaw vision—AI, tech, crypto. It’s exciting.

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💡 IDEAS VACUUM Thinking a lot about @marklittlenews’ analysis: 🔹 Are we in a 1960s-style cultural revolution—bigger than just populism? 🔹 The 60s were driven by liberal ideas & leaders who became the new establishment.

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