The world today faces a complex web of challenges — from soaring inequality and sovereign debt crises to diminished development aid and upheavals in global trade. As these issues intertwine, the notion of private finance as a “trillion-dollar illusion” underscores the urgent need to reevaluate how we fund development efforts. In this critical moment, the question arises: How do we transform development finance amid unprecedented inequality? Equally important is understanding how to rethink forms of multilateral cooperation to build a more equitable and resilient global system.