This conference paper summarises discussions at a roundtable organised by the Overseas Development Institute and the Center for Conflict and Humanitarian Studies at the Doha Institute for Graduate Studies in Doha, Qatar, on 12 December 2016. The discussion was chaired by Professor Sultan Barakat, Director of the Center for Conflict and Humanitarian Studies at the Doha Institute for Graduate Studies, and Dr Sara Pantuliano, Managing Director at the Overseas Development Institute.

The discussion, convened under the Chatham House Rule, explored the institutional and policy shifts in the development and humanitarian donor landscape in the Gulf, the Gulf countries’ role in responding to major crises in the region, and, finally, opportunities and challenges for Gulf donors in global international cooperation. 

Following the plenary discussion, participants were divided into two breakout groups, one looking at opportunities and challenges for international cooperation for the Gulf donors from their perspective, and the second looking at the subject from the Development Assistance Committee countries’ perspective. Both groups then reconvened to share insights and reflections on how coordination between various donors can be made more effective and impactful.