What comes after the Sustainable Development Goals?

The SDGs have often been judged as a set of targets the world is failing to meet. But that misunderstands their deeper significance. Building on the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, the climate agreements and global commitments to biodiversity, the SDGs represent something more fundamental: a collective declaration of the kind of world we want to live in.

In this episode, Jonathan Glennie argues that the post-2030 agenda should not simply produce another list of goals — or add new challenges such as AI as additional SDGs. Instead, we need to move towards a model of long-term stewardship, changing how we govern our economies, societies and relationship with nature.

The challenge for the post-2030 era is not simply to hit more targets. It is to learn how to live well, sustainably and cooperatively on one shared planet.

What does it take to lead in an age of uncertainty?

In this episode of Future Cooperation Podcast, Jonathan Glennie sits down with former President of Peru Francisco Sagasti to explore the future of democracy, international cooperation and global governance in an increasingly complex world.

Drawing on decades of experience as an engineer, academic, policymaker and head of state, Sagasti reflects on why today's challenges—from artificial intelligence to geopolitical fragmentation—require a new way of thinking. Together, they discuss the limits of traditional political divisions, the evolving meaning of democracy, the role of multilateral institutions and why international cooperation remains essential in addressing global problems.

Despite the turbulence of our times, Sagasti shares why he remains hopeful about the next generation and the future of democratic leadership.

Topics discussed: democracy, artificial intelligence, global governance, multilateralism, international cooperation, leadership and the future of global development.

What is the real purpose of data? Is it simply to provide evidence, or does it also shape power and influence the way societies make decisions?

In this episode of the Future Cooperation Podcast, Jonathan Glennie from the Global Cooperation Institute reflects on how his thinking about data has evolved over three decades working in international development and public policy. From evidence-based policymaking and aid transparency to the importance of dialogue, he explores why better information alone doesn't necessarily lead to better outcomes.

This conversation examines the relationship between evidence, power, and dialogue, arguing that meaningful progress depends not only on having access to data, but on creating the conditions for collective understanding and better decision-making.

“Investment” is often misunderstood in global development debates. For some, it refers to finance and private markets. For others, it has become a contested term in discussions about aid and public spending.

In this episode, we explore a broader definition: investment as the long-term creation of public value.

From health systems and education to climate action, biodiversity, and crisis response—this conversation reframes investment as the foundation of collective futures, not just financial return.

We also discuss how the language of “aid” shapes (and sometimes limits) how we think about global cooperation and responsibility.

Is the era of foreign aid coming to an end?Jonathan Glennie sits down with Mavis Owusu-Gyamfi, President and CEO of ACET, to discuss Africa's growing influence, the future of international development, and why old models of cooperation are no longer enough.A wide-ranging conversation on economic transformation, global power shifts, and what comes next for development in a changing world.

What does solidarity really mean in today’s world?In this episode of Future Cooperation, Jonathan Glennie reflects on months of conversations around the future of international development cooperation. From global conferences in Paris and London to debates around aid cuts, climate finance, multilateralism, and geopolitical fragmentation, one idea keeps appearing at the center of it all: solidarity.But beyond the speeches and policy language, what does solidarity actually look like in practice? Who defines it, who benefits from it, and can it still guide international cooperation in a more divided and multipolar world?This episode explores how solidarity has shaped global development in the past, why it matters now more than ever, and what a more honest and balanced form of cooperation could look like in the future.Brought to you by the Global Cooperation Institute.

In this episode of Future Cooperation Podcast, Jonathon Porritt reflects on his journey from mainstream sustainability work to civil disobedience, discussing climate politics, Gaza, corporate environmentalism, and why he no longer believes the COP process can deliver meaningful change.We explore his work with Friends of the Earth, his support for Just Stop Oil and Palestine Action, and why he believes real change will come from civil society rather than governments or corporations.Listen now and join the conversation on climate, activism, and the future of cooperation.

What would a truly multipolar world look like?
In this episode of the Future Cooperation Podcast, economist and policy expert Fadhel Kaboub joins us for a deep conversation about the future of the Global South, technology transfer, industrial policy, climate finance, and the possibility of building a new international economic order.

From Africa’s renewable energy potential to the geopolitical tensions shaping the global economy, this episode explores why this moment could represent both a historic opportunity and a major global risk.

We discuss:
• Why the current economic system still reflects colonial structures
• The rise of the Global South and South-South cooperation
• Technology transfer and industrialization
• China, Europe, and the future of global power
• AI, techno-feudalism, and digital sovereignty
• The political barriers to structural transformation

A challenging and thought-provoking conversation about development, power, and the future of global cooperation.

🎧 Listen now and join the conversation.