One year ago, NGO executives and aid agency leaders were imagining what Brexit and a newly elected President Donald Trump might mean for their work and for the world. Today we know much more. But there remains uncertainty beyond what's normal, even though to a lesser extent than last year.

Bipartisan support for foreign aid has proved itself strong in 2017, particularly in the U.S. Senate, so a budget deal that addresses the president’s priorities — especially increased defense spending — is unlikely to entail draconian cuts to aid.

For one thing, an unprecedented number of major development institutions had leadership transitions of some kind last year. With avowed aid skeptic Trump heading the world’s largest aid donor with huge influence over these appointments, there was real potential for unqualified or uncommitted leaders to take charge of some of the most important organizations for health, humanitarian, and development aid.

Yet instead, the roster of leaders looks downright conventional, even hopeful. There is no equivalent to Scott Pruitt, the environmental critic and climate change skeptic who now runs the United States Environmental Protection Agency.

Read the full article on the international development sector by Raj Kumar at Devex International Development