- Published by
- DCED
The DCED’s 2026 Global Seminar, held in Nairobi, brought together more than 220 bilateral donors, private foundations, DFIs and impact investors, multilateral agencies, implementers and other practitioners, to examine implications of this evolving global aid landscape for systemic PSD.
Sessions were organised around eight thematic streams:
- Implications of the fast-changing funding landscape for working systemically
- Mutual benefits and synergies between trade and PSD
- Creating markets for SME finance
- The future of Market Systems Development practice
- The next generation of systemic Green PSD programmes
- Market Systems Development in contexts of fragility and conflict
- Safeguarding and advancing women’s economic empowerment and inclusion
- Results measurement and evidence
A few overarching key messages stood out:
- As the development landscape evolves and budgets shrink, investing in good practice becomes more - not less - important. There was a strong call for learning from experience and expanding the evidence base across all thematic strands. At a time when our sector is undergoing profound change, the DCED’s role in creating a space for honest dialogue, collective learning and a shared, evidence-based understanding of good practice is more important than ever.
- There is a strong drive across different PSD communities to work more systemically. For that to happen, we need to build stronger coalitions and break down siloes – between diverse donors, implementers, financiers, researchers, and other partners – if we are to respond effectively to a rapidly changing environment. Witnessing the interactions between the diverse mix of participants at this Seminar was very encouraging.
The report provides key takeaways under each of the eight themes.
Presentations and related materials can be accessed via the Seminar’s digital conference platform