Culture, Institutions, and the Future of Multilateralism

In this episode of the CID Voices Road to GEM26 podcast, Harvard Kennedy School student, and CID podcast producer, Ritul Madhukar speaks with Michael Croft, UNESCO’s Representative to Mozambique, whose career has spanned crisis and transition contexts in Libya, Nepal and Vietnam. Anchored in CID’s research theme of Culture, Institutions, and History, the conversation explores what it takes to build and sustain trust and strengthen public institutions in fragile environments. Drawing on decades of experience, Croft reflects on the role multilateral organizations play in shaping civic ecosystems, aligning governments and partners, and navigating historical legacies that continue to shape development outcomes. He argues that effective development is less about importing solutions and more about convening coalitions. What does it mean to reimagine development today? And can multilateral institutions adapt to meet the moment?