The FCDO's digital work
17th April 2014 London, UK
Have you ever tried planning a party in a city where you don’t know anyone? Yes, it doesn’t sound easy. Last month we took on a comparable task when we decided to follow in the footsteps of our colleagues in Chicago and host a British Pop-up Consulate in Halifax. One of the main reasons for […]
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16th April 2014 London, UK
Like most government departments, the FCO has been making policy for centuries. But just as the content of foreign policy has changed, so has the way we approach it, and the tools we can use. Last week, the FCO’s Policy Unit ran a Policy Excellence Fair, with teams ranging from ministerial offices to Economics Unit […]
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28th March 2014 London, UK
This week the Foreign Secretary William Hague welcomed student Gopal Rao to the Foreign Office. The meeting was the result of a competition launched by the Foreign Secretary earlier in the year to thank his 200,000 Twitter followers for their comments, engagement and ideas. The prize – a meeting with him and the chance to […]
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17th March 2014 Havana, Cuba
A lot of my diplomatic counterparts in Havana look completely bemused when I talk to them about Twitter or tell them what my last blog was about. That’s not because they don’t know what Twitter or blogging is but because they don’t really see social media as playing a role in their daily diplomacy. Many […]
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29th January 2014 London, UK
Over 4,600 twitter followers, a blogging Ambassador, a gallery online telling UK-Holy See relations in pictures. These are part of the digital footprints of our small Embassy (five of us in total): the oldest UK diplomatic representation abroad, @UKinHolySee to name it in tune with the times. Digital media have become an essential part of […]
21st January 2014 London, UK
Open Data is one of the underpinning elements of the Prime Minister’s Transparency Agenda. Open Data is the raw commodity which enables government to release new economic growth and social value and improve public services and accountability. In the FCO we generate and use a lot of information and we are looking at ways – […]
20th December 2013 London, UK
One year ago this week we published the Foreign Office Digital Strategy, looking at how we would make the most of the opportunities of digital in our work. The Strategy set a clear vision – making use of digital tools in every element of foreign policy work; and moving to provide our services digitally by […]
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16th December 2013 London, UK
A timeline taking a look back at some of the major events that took place in 2013.
22nd November 2013 London, UK
Within the context of a globalized environment, each institution, whether public or private, needs to take the maximum advantage of social media channels, which usually include very low costs and have a wide range of coverage. In an embassy like ours in San Salvador, the digital work and maximization of resources takes great relevance because […]
21st November 2013 London, UK
During a crisis Twitter has proved essential for the dissemination of critical information. Building on this reputation Twitter launched a new service called Twitter Alerts in the US, Korea and Japan in September 2013. Twitters have now released the service in the UK and the Foreign Office has signed up to take part. The service […]
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