WG 22: Navigating the ODA Crisis: Post-Aid Solidarities, Youth Agency, and Resilient South–South–North Academic Networks 

Coordinator:
Teo Ramari (SYL and the University of Helsinki)

Type of call:
Call for Papers and Participation

Participation mode:
Hybrid

Description:
In an era marked by severe austerity, political hostility, and shrinking Official Development Assistance (ODA) budgets, traditional models of development cooperation and research funding face existential crises. These structural shifts disrupt global partnerships, stifling mobility, research continuity, and grassroots international solidarity.

However, these crises also open crucial spaces to critique paternalistic aid structures and reimagine what lies beyond them. This working group explores how researchers, student movements, and civil society organizations are navigating this funding landscape to build resilient, post-aid paradigms of solidarity. 

We seek to foster an intergenerational dialogue between established academics, early-career researchers, and student advocates/civil society to critically examine: 

  1. Navigating Austerity & Securitization: How are academic institutions, NGOs, and student networks adapting to ODA withdrawals, funding cuts, and changing geopolitical priorities? 
  2. Beyond Traditional Aid: What do genuine, non-extractive, and decolonial South–South–North academic and activist solidarities look like in practice? 
  3. Youth & Student Agency: How do young researchers and student organizations leverage collective action, commoning, and post-development frameworks to drive transformative change? 

We would welcome short paper submissions, position statements, project showcases, and critical reflections from scholars across all career stages, student groups, and civil society practitioners. 

Session Format:
Approximately 60–90 Minutes

To ensure this feels like a high-level academic space that actively invites established scholars rather than a “student-only” panel, we recommend a Hybrid Intergenerational Workshop/World Café:

1. Welcome & Lightning Teasers (15–20 mins)  

● 5 min: Brief Welcome & Framing by Chairs 

● 3-4 ‘Lightning Presentations’ from accepted contributors
2. World Café Breakout Discussion (35-45 mins)  

● Table 1: Structural Impact of ODA Cuts on Research & Advocacy Mobility  ● Table 2: Practicing Post-Aid / South-South-North (Academic) Solidarity ● Table 3: Co-creating Student-Academic Action & Policy Recommendations for Alternative Futures
3. Plenary & Co-Created Synthesis (10-15 mins)  

● Table hosts share key insights (outlining key takeaways for a short post-conference reflection/note) 

● Brief closing remarks and thank you 

Contact:
Teo Ramari, teo.ramari@helsinki.fi