The lack of cross-fertilisation between philanthropy and development has always struck me as a missed opportunity for learning. And then along came the Bellagio Initiative.

One area where cross-fertilisation can help concerns the different meanings of the term ‘development’ itself. The implications of this debate are huge because everything flows from the outcomes we seek, and without broad indicators of success you end up – how can I say this politely –  like the US today or China perhaps in 25 years’ time, characterised by very little absolute poverty or starvation, considerable material success for some, and large-scale social and environmental failures including rising inequality, declining social cohesion, political gridlock and looming ecological disaster.

IDS researcher Noshua Watson comments on the outcome of the UK Parliament ‘s International Development Committee inquiry into private foundations.