FCDO Outreach

Reaching out to a wider audience to inform and inspire others

21st September 2015 London, UK

Coordinator, Global Campaign for Media Freedom

Proud to be British – Proud to be me. My journey as a refugee to a British diplomat

Like many, I have been moved by the tragedies unfolding amidst the great migration crisis of our time. I want to share the story of my journey from a refugee to a British diplomat. I hope my personal reflections can help both combat the stigma attached to refugees (and some criticism aimed at the UK), […]

14th September 2015 London, UK

by Grant Shapps

Former Minister of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs

Working towards the future in Rwanda

Last week I visited Rwanda for the first time. It gave me the opportunity to see the remarkable progress that this country has made since the devastating 1994 genocide. In my joint role at the Foreign Office and DFID, I was able to explore the full breadth of the UK’s relationship with Rwanda – a […]

5th September 2015 London, UK

by David Lidington

Minister for Europe, London

#FreeEstonKohver

This is the hashtag that thousands of people in Estonia and around Europe have been adding to their social media postings in the last few months. I’m glad to add it to my blog too. Who is Eston Kohver? He’s an Estonian security services officer, who was abducted from Estonia on 5 September last year, […]

Freedom of speech is a right to be defended

One week ago today, a blogger called Niloy Neel was hacked to death in Bangladesh. He was the fourth blogger to be murdered there this year. I’ve been meaning to start my own blog for some time: last week’s events made me determined that I shouldn’t put it off any longer. Freedom of speech is […]

12th August 2015 London, UK

by Youth Inspiration Group

A fresh perspective on UK Foreign Policy

Youth to make the change: A fresh perspective to UK Foreign Policy

Taking a selfie on stage at the Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) leadership conference in 2015 left us thinking perhaps we weren’t that photogenic! But, what we were was successful. After months of rehearsals, planning and speaking with some of the most senior voices across the office we had delivered a high impact, fun, energetic […]

11th August 2015 London, UK

by Grant Shapps

Former Minister of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs

Peaceful and Democratic Transfers of Power: a Leaders’ Legacy

The UK has long valued democratic and accountable governance, not least in countries with which we have strong connections. As the Foreign Office and DFID Minister responsible for the UK’s relationship with Africa, one of my key tasks is to pursue this agenda in that continent. Recent scenes of discontent, strife and violence in Burundi […]

5th August 2015 Dublin, Ireland

David Wallace

First Secretary, Head of Policy Delivery, British Embassy Warsaw

Strengthening Europe Through Reform

What does Russian aggression in Ukraine have to do with EU reform? Well, for one both were topics of conversation during Minister for Europe David Lidington’s visit to Poland last week (to see the full interview in Polish click here ). But there is something deeper binding the two. Living and working in Warsaw I […]

23rd July 2015 Skopje, North Macedonia

by UK in North Macedonia

Reflections on Macedonia

For a small country, Macedonia has a lot to offer and from my recent trip to Skopje it was clear that Macedonia is a state with big aspirations. In the midst of a difficult period, both internally and regionally, Macedonia looks to have the agility and resolve that is needed in order to respond to […]

10th June 2015

by Peter Beckingham

Former governor in Turks and Caicos Islands

This post was published when the author was in a previous role

A rare visit to one of the Caribbean’s last uninhabited paradises

There can be few more idyllic and peaceful settings for breakfast than Daniel’s cafe in Middle Caicos. Fuelled with the owner’s delicious conch grits, and his warm welcome, our small expedition set off with another local, boatman Dolphus Arthur, to our destination – the Caribbean’s largest uninhabited island, East Caicos. The sheer remoteness of East […]

21st March 2015

by Greg Dorey

Diplomat

This post was published when the author was in a previous role

How the life of a Diplomat has Changed -Recognising World Poetry Day….

Here’s one I prepared earlier. (First published in “Time to Kill Sparrows” © 1999, foreword by Lord Hurd of Westwell. Now in its original version, without editorial changes.) THE RISE AND FALL OF THE TABLOID DIPLOMAT I start at the office at ten o’clock sharp, By half past I’m quite peckish for brunch. I return to my […]

About FCDO Outreach

The FCDO is doing more to promote its work to a wider audience, engaging with people to inform others about the work that we do and inspire them to think…

The FCDO is doing more to promote its work to a wider audience, engaging with people to inform others about the work that we do and inspire them to think about a career with us or work with us in other ways.

This blog is designed to capture a lot of the wide ranging work that we are doing across the office to engage people with the FCdO and its impacts. We welcome blogs from staff who have participated in or organised any event to engage people in the work that we do.

We also welcome blogs from the participants of these events on opinions about the impact and usefulness of them.

If you would like to blog please send an email digitalcontent@fco.gov.uk