Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office Blogs

A unique insight into UK foreign and development policy

8th November 2024

Berlin, Germany

Ecolabels: A Catalyst for Sustainable Food Choices?

by Kate Robinson

Science and Innovation Advisor, British Embassy Berlin

17th October 2024

Belgrade, Serbia

OSLOBOĐENJE BEOGRADA

by Edward Ferguson

British Ambassador to the Republic of Serbia

11th October 2024

Vienna

Busting the gender myths – women and organised crime

by Corinne Kitsell

Ambassador and UK Permanent Representative to IAEA and CTBTO

18th December 2013

by Peter Millett

Ambassador to Libya, Tripoli

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

Nelson Mandela once said: Education is the most powerful weapon you can use to change the world.” An inspirational phrase. But how can people use this weapon? And what is the battle they are fighting? The enemy is unemployment. The way for the foot soldiers leaving education to sharpen their swords and be prepared for […]

17th December 2013 Ottawa, Canada

by Mark Agnew

Trade and Economic Advisor

The anatomy of an export action plan

A few weeks ago I attended Trade Minister Ed Fast’s announcement of the Canadian government’s Global Markets Action Plan. Reading through the document, I was struck by the parallels to the UK’s approach to increasing exports…

17th December 2013 Brasilia, Brazil

by Luana Seabra

The Natural History Museum’s engagement with Brazil

The following is a guest post by Dr. Michael Dixon. When I first visited Brazil over two years ago as part of a UKTI Creative Industries Trade Mission, I was struck by the breadth of opportunities for the Natural History Museum. So I recently visited the country again and met with government ministries, research funders, […]

16th December 2013 Washington DC, USA

by Bradley Keelor

Senior Science and Innovation Policy Advisor

Governing under the influence (of science)

In November, I was able to spend some time with Professor David Cope of Cambridge University – the former Director of the UK’s Parliamentary Office of Science and Technology (POST) – while he was at the US Government Accountability Office (GAO) in Washington. In his time at GAO, David has been working with the Chief […]

16th December 2013 Washington DC, USA

by Alex Brooks

Secretary for Asia-Pacific, Foreign & Security Policy Group

The Philippines Still Needs Our Help

Washington truly epitomises the holiday spirit. It’s my first holiday season here, and I’m seeing firsthand the spirit of giving across the city. Bell-ringers collecting for the homeless. Toy drives in offices all across town, including our own. Washingtonians’ generosity is making an impact from local neighbourhoods to the far side of the globe. This […]

16th December 2013 Havana, Cuba

by Tim Cole

Former British Ambassador to Cuba

¡Vaya bien Madiba!

Me sentí muy honrado al ser invitado en representación de Europa, a intervenir en el homenaje del gobierno cubano a Nelson Mandela que tuvo lugar el 11 de diciembre. A continuación les adjunto la versión completa de mi discurso. En febrero de 1990 después de veinte y siete largos años de cárcel, Nelson Mandela fue […]

16th December 2013 Madrid, Spain

by Daniel Pruce

British Ambassador to the Philippines and to Palau

Being in Benidorm, and being in “Benidorm”

On a recent trip to our Consulate in Alicante I was able to squeeze in a one night stay in Benidorm. Alicante is very important to us given the high numbers of British nationals who live and holiday there. In fact, a quarter of the 14 million Brits who come to Spain for their holidays […]

16th December 2013 Havana, Cuba

by Tim Cole

Former British Ambassador to Cuba

Learning how to live in London – a Cuban fresher’s perspective

I’m very grateful to Aimée Gonzalez for this excellent guest blog. Aimée is Cuban and currently studying at the London School of Economics (the LSE) in the UK under the Chevening scholarship scheme. Two months have already passed by… and I’m still dazzled and struggling to keep pace with the vigorous current of London’s life. Instead […]

16th December 2013

by Bruce Bucknell

Former British Deputy High Commissioner Kolkata

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

Branding the Creative industries

We talk a lot about brands these days. There is a lot of value in a strong brand. The worth of a brand is in how its distinguishes, or stands out, from other brands. As a British ambassador, I’m very much part of the “British brand”. My role entails a variety of activities, from supporting […]

16th December 2013 London, UK