This comment is a reflection on the process of adapting donor approaches to changed realities in development work, using the forestry sector as a case study. Increased focus on issues including integration of traditional sectors in a comprehensive development process, harmonising the approaches of donors, emphasising the importance of linking up with national strategies of developing countries, shifting focus from projects to sector support and to budget support, and shifting donor decision making from headquarters to embassies or in-country representations represent changes that challenge the way development work has been planned and executed over the last decade.