Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office Blogs

A unique insight into UK foreign and development policy

7th June 2013 Harare, Zimbabwe

Catriona Laing

by Catriona Laing

British Ambassador to Zimbabwe

A Generational Change Plays Out as Women in Helmand Register to Vote in Local Elections

I attend many public gatherings known as ‘shuras’ in Helmand. The one I was invited to address on Monday was however different in that it was for women and run by women. I came away feeling we had reached a really important milestone in the tough journey women face in Helmand. The aim of this […]

Read more on A Generational Change Plays Out as Women in Helmand Register to Vote in Local Elections | Reply (3)

7th June 2013

Avatar photo

by Greg Dorey

Diplomat

Breaking down barriers through sport

Last week UK company G4S (possibly the biggest employer in Africa) gathered seven young athletes from around the world (Bangladesh, Botswana, India, Kenya, Peru, South Africa and The Philippines) at the British Residence in Addis Ababa. They were part of the “G4S 4teen” programme, which has supported 14 extremely talented young athletes towards their sporting […]

Read more on Breaking down barriers through sport | Reply

7th June 2013 London, UK

Digital Diplomacy Could be the Future for Governments | HootSuite

HootSuite discuss social media strategies in government on their blog, following the visit of Alistair Burt MP (Parliamentary Under Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs) in May: As members of the media are taking to social media channels to deliver important news in real time, a growing number of governments (from municipal to federal) […]

Read more on Digital Diplomacy Could be the Future for Governments | HootSuite | Reply

6th June 2013

Avatar photo

by Sarah Dickson

Ambassador to Guatemala (June 2012 - June 2015)

El café es la droga de mi preferencia – parece que la OEA está de acuerdo

Recién he regresado del Reino Unido y he visto café por todos lados.  No estoy diciendo que los británicos han dejado de amar el té, pero las cafeterías están por doquier en el Reino Unido.  Una de ellas está promoviendo el café guatemalteco de la ciudad de Antigua Guatemala.  A mi regreso a Guatemala, es […]

Read more on El café es la droga de mi preferencia – parece que la OEA está de acuerdo | Reply

6th June 2013

Avatar photo

by Sarah Dickson

Ambassador to Guatemala (June 2012 - June 2015)

Coffee is my drug of choice – looks like the OAS agree

I have just got back from the UK and have seen coffee everywhere. I am not saying that the Brits have stopped loving tea, but coffee shops seem to be everywhere in the UK. One of them is promoting Guatemalan coffee from the town of Antigua. On my return to Guatemala, it is the town […]

Read more on Coffee is my drug of choice – looks like the OAS agree | Reply

6th June 2013 Paris, France

Avatar photo

by Peter Ricketts

Ambassador to France from February 2012 to January 2016.

The 3 lines of our cooperation with France on Syria

Peter Ricketts

The subject we’ve been working very closing with the French on in the last few weeks has been Syria, which has of course been very prominent in the media. And it’s a terrible human disaster: apart from its dangerous regional implications, we believe that 80,000 people may have been killed over the last two years. […]

Read more on The 3 lines of our cooperation with France on Syria | Reply (1)

6th June 2013 New Delhi, India

Together for health: UK and India pen MoU on health cooperation

Health and disease was one of the major areas identified for collaboration between the UK and India at the Indo-UK Science & Innovation Council last year, and it’s been a regular topic on this blog ever since. Here’s Himangi Bhardwaj, our Health Adviser in New Delhi, bringing the latest news on Indo-UK Health… 19th May […]

Read more on Together for health: UK and India pen MoU on health cooperation | Reply (1)

5th June 2013 Kingston, Jamaica

by Samara South

Political and Press Support Officer

Is anyone listening?

Light into Europe helps sensory impaired children to have a brighter future

Listening is not one of the first things that comes to mind when we think of social media, most of us view it as a tool to connect with people we know, or to meet new people. The concept of listening via social media has evolved over time. When used correctly information can be garnered in […]

Read more on Is anyone listening? | Reply

5th June 2013

Avatar photo

by Paul Johnston

Ambassador to Ireland

The Golden Thread

You might assume from the title that this is going to be about mathematical theory or science fiction or indeed sewing. But the “golden thread” in question is our Prime Minister’s description of the link between peace, good governance and open societies and economies as part of new thinking on poverty reduction through wealth creation. […]

Read more on The Golden Thread | Reply