Welcome

We are pleased to announce the next Cracking the Nut conference will take place in Spring 2026 in Washington, DC

Recognizing that the foreign assistance landscape has shifted fundamentally, the 2026 conference will expand beyond its traditional emphasis on rural and agricultural development, while also staying true to its roots. Cracking the Nut® 2026 will explore the future of foreign assistance through the context of three themes:

1. Smart Aid: Reimagining AI and Data for Development
2. Rural Economic Development: Reimagining Models for Engaging the Private Sector
3. Stability Through Support: Reimagining Aid, Development, and Security in Fragile Contexts

Cracking the Nut® 2026 will convene practitioners, thought leaders, private sector enterprises, and public sector representatives to discuss the new era of global development—one that is resilient, inclusive, and responsive to emerging geopolitical realities. This conference is a call to action, to rebuild smarter, collaborate deeper, and ensure that foreign assistance continues to serve the world’s most vulnerable.

Cracking the Nut® 2026 will be a two-day learning event that fosters collaboration and dialogue on the evolving foreign assistance landscape. It will bring together approximately 200 participants representing a cross section of stakeholders to examine the shifting dynamics of foreign assistance and co-create a vision for the future. Through high-level panels, interactive breakout sessions, and solution showcases, participants will explore how to rebuild trust, reallocate resources, and reimagine aid in a world where traditional models are no longer guaranteed.

Cracking the Nut® 2026 is triangular by design—we’re bringing together diverse expertise in the foreign assistance sector to explore options for the path forward. It’s a conference built for crosspollination, not echo chambers. Engage with new people—spark friction, not just affirmation. Cracking the Nut® 2026 is future-facing—recognizing that fundamental geopolitical shifts have occurred, how can we impact and shape foreign assistance 2.0? How do we shift from asking “What works?” to “What’s next? Who decides? How do we build systems that learn, adapt, and include?”

Our Themes

Smart Aid: Reimagining AI and Data for Development

In a new aid ecosystem, how can AI and data-driven tools transform how foreign assistance is targeted, delivered, and measured?

Rural Economic Development: Reimagining Models for Engaging the Private Sector

How can private sector innovation and grassroots leadership converge to build resilient rural economies and co-create sustainable development solutions?

Stability Through Support: Reimagining Aid, Development, and Security in Fragile Contexts

How can foreign assistance evolve to integrate development and security strategies that foster stability in fragile and conflict-prone regions?