5 Takeaways from the Event “IRC Rising to the Challenge: A Conversation with David Miliband & Ben Rhodes”
April 1, 2025
By Amy Smathers
On Wednesday, March 19, I joined fellow Pacific Council members in attending “IRC Rising to the Challenge: A Conversation with David Miliband & Ben Rhodes.” The event, hosted in partnership with Creative Artists Agency (CAA) and JSSK, featured a compelling discussion between IRC President and CEO, David Miliband, and writer and political commentator Ben Rhodes. The speakers shared about the International Rescue Committee’s (IRC) critical work to provide aid to people affected by conflict and humanitarian crises worldwide and discussed how the global aid system has been affected by recent policy changes made by the Trump administration.
Below are a few key takeaways from the event:
There is an unprecedented need for global humanitarian support. With nearly 300 million people in humanitarian need and 120 million people forcibly displaced, the world is facing an unprecedented crisis. At the same time, 50% of the global poor live in conflict zones and a large proportion of global aid is given to middle-income countries. IRC addresses this gap by offering life-saving care to those facing conflict, disaster and displacement in over 40 countries.
Recent changes in U.S. development policies are already affecting millions globally. On January 24th, 2025, the United States froze all foreign assistance, except for some military support. This move, as well as the decision to shutter the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID), has created a significant vacuum in global aid funding. Many NGOs that have relied on these funds to sustain their operations have been left to find new sources of support.
We must find new partners to support our global aid ecosystem. Mr. Miliband shared: “The United States was the anchor of the global aid system. It has also been an anchor of democratic norms, but this has now changed.” However, he argued that it is unlikely for European nations to fill the void. Facing debt, a looming Ukraine crisis, and internal political strife, many European leaders are now looking within their own borders instead of ramping up their humanitarian engagement.
There is both a moral and strategic case to be made for humanitarian aid. Aid programs help to prevent failed states, government corruption, mass migration, and conflict. Aid is also a powerful tool for political influence, including countering China who has invested heavily in international development projects in the last several years.
We now face a critical opportunity to reboot and reinvent the humanitarian system. As humanitarian spending continues to dwindle, more must be done to create coalitions of support amongst players outside of government such as philanthropists, international NGOs, interfaith and civil society groups, and the private sector, including companies with strong corporate social responsibility (CSR) and ESG practices. There is also an opportunity for storytelling efforts in Hollywood and beyond to educate the public about the value of humanitarian programs.
Amy Smathers is a foreign policy professional passionate about human rights and women's empowerment around the globe. She is the founder and director of The Well Initiative, a faith-based non-profit that connects nonprofits, businesses, and policy leaders for global impact. Her work is informed by her unique background supporting non-profits, government and the private sector in Washington D.C. and Los Angeles, including the U.S. Department of State, Human Rights Watch, Atlantic Council, and Global Philanthropy Group, where she helped to advise some of the world's most influential leaders and companies on philanthropy and social impact. Previously, she also managed Generation Democracy, a global network of over 400 human rights activists and democratic leaders in 75 countries. Additionally, she supported the U.S. Institute of Peace's programs to advance peacebuilding and democracy in Afghanistan and Pakistan and has worked on U.S. government projects to support women's empowerment, counterterrorism, and economic development.
The views and opinions expressed here are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of the Pacific Council.
