Private actors in the international development cooperation landscape: Examining international philanthropic foundations' activities in the Brazilian Amazon

Motivation The 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development emphasizes the crucial role of various stakeholders in achieving its ambitious goals. The increasing involvement of private actors in international development cooperation (IDC) has gained significant attention as potential partners in development initiatives. Purpose This article examines the role of international philanthropic foundations in the Brazilian Amazon as a case study to investigate how private actors contribute to IDC. By analysing their strategic focuses, funding patterns, and partnerships, the article seeks to map and systematize international philanthropic engagement in the Amazon region. Approach and methods This study presents an original dataset of projects funded by international philanthropic organizations in the Brazilian Amazon. The article advances an exploratory analysis, focusing mainly on three key dimensions highlighted in the literature, that serve as analytical lenses to organize the empirical mapping and interpret observed patterns: (i) the alignment in thematic priorities between international philanthropic foundations and the foreign policy agendas of their home governments; (ii) challenges related to legitimacy and accountability; and (iii) the role of international philanthropy in providing public goods and multisectoral cooperation. Findings The findings reveal convergence between the strategic priorities of major international philanthropic foundations and US foreign aid objectives, particularly in areas such as human rights and scientific research. Persistent gaps in standardized public disclosure continue to constrain assessments of legitimacy and accountability, despite recent improvements in transparency frameworks. The study also underscores the expanding role of philanthropy in multi‐stakeholder collaboration, marked by the growing relevance of Brazilian‐led coordination mechanisms and the catalytic use of philanthropic resources to support financial innovation and derisking instruments for climate action and sustainable development. Policy implications The conclusions emphasize the need to strengthen transparency and accountability in international philanthropic engagement. Clearer disclosure standards, along with stronger domestic philanthropic intermediaries and country‐led coordination platforms, can improve accountability and local ownership, and better align philanthropic action with locally defined climate and development strategies. As philanthropy increasingly operates in contexts of limited state capacity, its role in development cooperation requires critical assessment to ensure inclusive, transparent and locally responsive partnerships. These recommendations should be read in light of an evolving landscape, in which co‐governance arrangements and partnerships with local actors are increasingly mediating how international resources reach the ground.