This policy brief examines the global decline in foreign aid following the closure of USAID and funding cuts by major donors, which are reshaping development financing worldwide. It argues that shrinking aid should encourage new approaches that rely less on grants and more on innovation and investment. 
The UNDP timbuktoo initiative is presented as a model for mobilizing $1 billion in catalytic capital to support 1,000 African startups, create jobs, and transform livelihoods. By leveraging entrepreneurship, private investment, and partnerships with governments, the initiative aims to build resilient and self-reliant development systems. The brief highlights Africa’s entrepreneurial potential and calls for a shift from aid dependency toward sustainable, innovation-driven growth.