What 'doing development differently' looks like
The writer is the British High Commissioner in Pakistan
The world is changing fast, and development co?operation must change with it. Today's international system is more volatile, fragmented and resource?constrained: competition is rising, conflicts and humanitarian needs are growing, climate impacts are intensifying, and aid budgets are falling. That reality demands a new approach: partnerships that align public purpose with private capital, innovation and delivery to help tackle poverty.
It is why the UK is co?hosting the Global Partnerships Conference in London on 1920 May with South Africa, the Children's Investment Fund Foundation and British International Investment, bringing together government, business, philanthropy, technology and finance. The challenge is stark: globally, only 35 18 per cent of the 2030 Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) targets are on track, nearly half are moving too slowly, and 18 per cent are regressing.
Pakistan's uneven progress reflects that strain. It ranks 140th out of 167 countries on the SDG Index, with persistent gaps on out?of?school children, child stunting and gender inequality. Yet Pakistan also has much to offer - and with the right partnerships, ambition can translate into lasting progress. The UK-Pakistan partnership - reinforced by ministerial?level development talks last December - focuses on outcomes, reforms and stronger institutions, helping mobilise Pakistan's own public and private finance so that results endure long after any donor programme ends.
Over the past decade, UK support has opened classroom doors for 4.5 million children, enabled 11 million families to access family planning, and delivered lifesaving assistance to more than 15 million people affected by humanitarian crises, including 1.5 million people affected by the 2025 floods.
But too often, donor?funded programmes fall short of transformational, sustainable change. That's because lasting development cannot be delivered from the outside; it must be led by a country's own institutions, businesses and citizens. In a constrained Official Development Assistance (ODA) environment, the British High Commission is working with Pakistan at the federal and provincials levels to focus where we can have the greatest impact: strengthening systems that support export?led growth, human capital and climate resilience, and partnering on security and migration co?operation.
Doing development differently means backing innovation, enabling the private sector to thrive, and unlocking more finance for climate adaptation so scarce money goes further.
That long?term approach is reflected in the UK's support to Pakistan's development finance institutions. Over the past decade, the UK has helped establish and strengthen institutions by providing early, patient capital to Karandaaz, the Pakistan Microfinance Investment Company, Parwaaz Financial Services, InfraZamin and, more recently, the National Credit Guarantee Company. Created to address structural gaps in access to finance, these entities have matured into self?sustaining institutions at the heart of Pakistan's financial system - revolutionising and building a new ecosystem to help businesses generate more than Rs240 billion in additional revenues and supporting more than a million jobs.
Our Aawaz programme has followed the same principle: supporting locally led change that lasts. Over a decade, it has helped prevent gender?based violence, protect children and promote inclusion - reaching 36 million people while strengthening community?led advocacy for policy changes. Take Aawaz's contribution towards efforts to end child marriage. Last year in Pakistan, around 5 million girls were married before age 15 and 20 million before age 18 - harming rights, health, education and economic prospects. By working patiently with communities, civil society, UN partners and the Government of Pakistan, Aawaz's community members helped advance legislation and, crucially, practical implementation plans, so that national ambition translates into sustainable action.
We are also focusing on supporting Pakistan's own systems to better adapt to a changing climate. In Islamabad, the UK funded three wastewater treatment wetland pilots which led to the government commissioning eleven more with their own funding - helping reduce flooding risk for local communities.
The UK will continue to support the poorest and most vulnerable. By working hand in hand with Pakistani communities, institutions and government - and by building modern partnerships that mobilise much more than aid alone - we can create positive, lasting change together.