22nd December 2025
Continuing to grow the global alliance for women and girls
Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office Blogs
A unique insight into UK foreign and development policy
17th December 2025
MAKING LIFE SAFER, FOR EVERYONE
9th December 2025
Why We Need Data, Courage, and Community
15th March 2012 Windhoek, Namibia
Commonwealth celebrations in Namibia
I have just returned from hosting Namibia’s first ever Commonwealth Day celebrations in Parliament where I shared British fish ‘n chips with the Prime Minister, Foreign Minister, SWAPO Chief Whip, Toivo ya Toivo and other local VIPs. The British High Commission in Windhoek rallied together the eight other Commonwealth missions accredited to Namibia to hold […]
14th March 2012
This post was published when the author was in a previous role
The Archbishop of Canterbury in Rome
It is often easier to say what divides religion than what unites. And that is certainly the emphasis given by media reporting from the “front line”, be it sectarian violence in Nigeria or historic resentments in Northern Ireland. Sometimes, regrettably, religious division is real, and does lead to violence. But very often it is the […]
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13th March 2012
This post was published when the author was in a previous role
Speaking about the economy
It’s been quite a business-focused couple of weeks. I accompanied Hector Sants, CEO of the UK’s Financial Services Authority for calls in Canberra and Sydney. He had come to look at Australia’s “Twin Peaks” regulatory structure, which is close to the model the UK is currently moving towards. We called on Treasurer Wayne Swan, Assistant […]
13th March 2012 Ottawa, Canada
#StartupNations supporting the entrepreneurial spirit!
Over the past few months I’ve had the distinct pleasure of working with Startup Britain, Startup Canada, Startup America, the Kauffman Foundation and the Canadian High Commission in London to plan a Startup Nations event to be held in the margins of the Global Entrepreneurs Congress, taking place (now) in Liverpool UK! Well, over the past couple of days, all […]
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12th March 2012 Washington DC, USA
Keep calm and innovate!
Today’s fast moving, ever-changing digital landscape has altered many things about how we work, live and do business. But some constants remain – entrepreneurship, innovation and creativity are still king. This year’s South By Southwest Interactive (SXSWi) festival exemplified just that – and showed that Britain is certainly towards the front of the pack! From […]
12th March 2012 Geneva, Switzerland
Sleep-walking and breaking taboos
Maybe it’s just that I’m getting older but this feels like a particularly tiring Council session. And judging by the number of weary diplomatic faces around this week, I’m not the only one whose been feeling the strain. The Council is set to adopt more resolutions than at any other previous session, and with a […]
12th March 2012
This post was published when the author was in a previous role
Ukraine’s 2012 elections: OSCE/ODIHR observers
The atmosphere in the press conference is electric. TV and video crews cram the aisles. Finally, the OSCE/ODIHR mission announce that, in their view, the 2010 Ukrainian presidential election has met most OSCE and Council of Europe commitments. Leaders of the mission talk of “an impressive display of democratic elections” and “a well-administered and truly […]
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12th March 2012
This post was published when the author was in a previous role
Education for business
Unemployment has long been high on the agenda of governments all round the world. The biggest challenge is how country can make itself competitive and play to its strengths. Education has a key role in preparing young people for the jobs market. So how can schools and universities ensure that they are offering the courses and […]
12th March 2012 Nairobi, Kenya
Celebrating International Women’s Day
Last week the world marked International Women’s Day – a day to renew our commitment to the empowerment, education and advancement of women and girls around the world. Somalia is, according to a 2011 survey, one of the worst countries in the world in which to be a woman. Women are subjected to violence, harassment […]
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12th March 2012
This post was published when the author was in a previous role
Inspiring internationally
Last week we had head teachers and teachers from 12 UK schools here in Ethiopia to meet partner schools – I met them on Saturday. 30 counterparts from Ethiopian schools will be in the UK on a reciprocal visit at the end of March. This was all within the framework of the International Inspiration Programme […]