Bond launches new communities platform for members
This week we have launched our new online Bond communities platform. Our communities platform is a new and improved online space to help colleagues from across Bond’s membership connect with…
Can the Summit for Democracy deliver?
The US-led Summit for Democracy, taking place on the 9-10 December 2021, promises to kick off a year of action to reduce corruption, defend against authoritarianism and protect human rights…
Is now the time to rename “aid”?
Last week, I had the honour of joining well-esteemed panellists at an event hosted by The Kampala Initiative, asking whether now is the time to rename “aid”. Some of the…
Mergers: The dog that didn’t bark
As the pandemic hit the charity sector, the need for support from charities, both around the world and in the UK went up, while the resources to deliver them went…
UK Aid in 2021: Another difficult year, but there are green shoots
This year is ending in much the same way that it started for UK aid: The UK’s ODA budget is capped at 0.5% GNI, we are waiting for the UK’s…
9 achievements we’re proud of in 2021
This year is almost behind us, and once again we find our future uncertain. With the direction of the FCDO still unknown, and a new secretary of state taking over…
Civic space in 2021: The good, the bad and the ugly
While there have been some glimmers of hope, it’s fair to say that 2021 has been a tough year for those campaigning for human rights and civic space in the…
Sustainable economic development and the SDGs in 2021
Sustainable Development Goals More than two years have passed since the UK government presented its Voluntary National Review (VNR) of the Sustainable Development Goals to the UN High-Level Political Forum…
What’s next for the development and humanitarian sectors in 2022
Welcome to 2022. For 2021 I described “a year full of headwinds and uncertainty for international development“. I am afraid that 2022 looks like more of the same, with lots…
10 tips for writing better project proposals
Writing successful proposals is essential to the work of every aid and development organisation. Though we encourage exploring alternative funding streams, the capacity to attract donor funds through winning bids…