Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office Blogs

A unique insight into UK foreign and development policy

11th August 2015 London, UK

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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 […]

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11th August 2015 Delhi, India

by Shivani Sharma

Senior Adviser, Science and Innovation Network

Roundtable on exploring Indo-UK education cooperation and funding sources

British Deputy High Commission Chandigarh organised a roundtable meet on 4th August at Chandigarh with three clearly defined aims: increase visibility of UK excellence in Education, forge new partnerships based on mutual interest increase number of quality applications from Indian universities to UK funding sources The idea to hold this session floated from our experience […]

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11th August 2015 Colombo, Sri Lanka

Laura Davies » Deputy High Commissioner to Sri Lanka and the Maldives

by Laura Davies

Former Deputy High Commissioner to Sri Lanka and the Maldives

Outreach in Galle

I spent this weekend on the coast near Galle, an immediate reminder of what a wonderful place Sri Lanka is to live and work. But though pleasure and leisure kept me there, it was work that took me. I’ve written recently about how our Consular team support British tourists in distress. On Friday, the team […]

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10th August 2015

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by Peter Beckingham

Former governor in Turks and Caicos Islands

12 STOREY NAVAL VESSEL BOOSTS TCI’S SECURITY – AND SPORTING PROWESS

A visit by a large and imposing naval vessel to most ports is a memorable sight, and the arrival of the Royal Feet Auxiliary’s “Lyme Bay” ship was no exception, dominating  Grand Turk’s skyline this month. Over 12 storeys, so nearly as high as the massive cruise ships arriving here, Lyme Bay carried over 150 […]

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10th August 2015

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by Leigh Turner

Ambassador to Austria and UK Permanent Representative to the United Nations and other International Organisations in Vienna

The Gallipoli Symphony: Hope, Peace, Friendship and Collaboration

As the last notes die away, the audience bursts into applause.  Musicians playing instruments as diverse as a ney, a didgeridoo, a Taonga Puoro (a traditional Maori wind instrument) and a harmonica, as well as a full orchestra and choir, rise to their feet. The performance of the eleven-part Gallipoli Symphony in the surroundings of the 4th […]

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6th August 2015

Stephen Townsend

Stephen Townsend

Deputy Head of Mission, British Embassy to the Holy See

Modern Slavery and the UK

The UK’s Modern Slavery Act came into force on 31 July  This landmark legislation brought into law some important new provisions. These include mechanisms to seize traffickers assets and use those funds to help compensate victims, prevention orders to ensure that those who pose a risk of committing modern slavery offences cannot work sectors where they will […]

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5th August 2015 London, UK

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by Rob Fenn

Head of Human Rights and Democracy Department, FCO

FCO Human Rights Work: A New Way Forward (leaving no priorities behind)

A change of government is a golden opportunity to look at things afresh, even in an area – like human rights – where our national interest and reputation both argue for continuity, if not for doing more. The new government’s manifesto commitment to supporting universal human rights was an invitation to raise our game, not […]

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5th August 2015 Dublin, Ireland

David Wallace

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 […]

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5th August 2015 Dushanbe, Tajikistan

The men on board of female-led economic initiatives

ABSTRACT: In the nearly 500 female-led self-help groups established in the frame of the Regional Migration Programme in Tajikistan women and men closely work together. This cooperation is promoted by the 71 male self-help group members in the Sughd Province. The predominance of male emigrants has placed over the last years many Tajik women as […]

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