As international development enters a new era of scrutiny and shifting geopolitical dynamics, calls for greater accountability and trust between donors and recipient communities are growing louder. From the 2023 SDG Summit at the United Nations to recent critiques in mainstream media, the message is clear: traditional development models are not delivering on their promises. A new approach is required, redefining stakeholder roles with the Client–Provider–Payer model.

This innovative framework, proposed by Raphaël Edou, founder of Radenamias LLC, seeks to reorient project management toward a logic inspired by business, service quality, and client accountability. As Edou notes, “Accountability to those we serve is not charity; it is justice.”

🧩 The Core Idea: Donors are the Payers, not the Clients

Traditionally, donors fund projects aimed at improving lives in the Global South, but rarely do they require a precise description of the services being delivered, or the cost per individual whose problem the intervention seeks to solve.

The new model calls on donors to adopt the mindset of a payer: someone financing the resolution of clearly defined problems faced by individuals, organizations, or governments. In doing so, they gain clarity on:
– Who exactly the clients are
– What services they are receiving
– How the services address their challenges
– And what outcomes signal success

This approach was echoed in recent UN meetings. As reported by the New York Times, there is a growing call for development agencies to “justify their existence by the impact they deliver, not just the dollars they spend.”

📌 The OECD’s 2023 Development Co-operation Report also highlighted the need for development partnerships to be rooted in “mutual respect, shared responsibility, and demonstrable results.”

 From Project Activities to Client Services

Too often, development proposals focus on activities, training workshops, field visits, awareness campaigns, rather than specific services tailored to the real problems people face. The Client–Provider–Payer model flips this script. It asks:

– What is the specific service?
– Who receives it?
– What is the measurable value for the client?
– What does it cost per client served?

World Bank analysts have emphasized the gap between spending and impact. In a 2022 paper, economist Daniel Rogger wrote, “Development projects are often evaluated by input and output, but rarely by the lived experience of intended beneficiaries.” 

What This Means for Donors
Donors who adopt this model will:
– Request clearer proposals based on client needs
– Track progress based on client satisfaction
– Demand accountability from providers who execute
– Enable flexible funding tied to outcomes

This is not about adding bureaucracy, it’s about adding clarity. It helps donors invest in what works and eliminate what doesn’t.

 Author: Raphaël Edou, CEO of Radenamias LLC, international award-winner and former Minister of Environment in Benin.