Sometimes, it seems like we are constantly under pressure to "pitch". Whether it's planning your two minute "elevator pitch" for the momentous day you meet your role model in a lift, or working out how to get your boss to pick up your innovative new idea, pitching is becoming a norm in our society. It was [...]

ITV1's Soccer Aid match will be shown live from 6pm on Sunday May 27th. For more information on UNICEF and tickets to Soccer Aid go to www.itv.com/socceraid. All donations to Soccer Aid will be matched pound for pound by the British Government. When UNICEF asked me to get involved with Soccer Aid and suggested I make [...]

DFID spends over 40% of its annual programme budget through multilateral organisations, including the United Nations, World Bank and European Union - on everything from peacekeeping and responding to humanitarian disasters, to delivering education, immunisation and infrastructure programmes. It is vital that we hold those organisations to account for spending UK aid money well. That [...]

My fellow volunteers mocked me when I first arrived in Burkina Faso, asking me why I had brought such a ridiculous garment to a 40 degree climate. However, back at Heathrow I very much appreciated my large puffer jacket, and I hugged it closer as it protected me from the icy wind. Our last day [...]

What do you think about when you think about research? Do you think of stereotypes – such as academics looking like Einstein in the picture below with the blackboard? Dusty theses sitting on library shelves? Or do you think about the kind of exciting, innovative initiatives and companies – TED, Google and the DFID-funded "What's Your [...]

I've always been a fan of birthdays. Mine falls on June 20th. Last year, I had a wonderful celebration. It wasn't just because of the presents - I got to spend the weekend in the countryside with my closest friends, enjoying all that nature has to offer. This year, however, my birthday will be memorable for [...]

A large sign greets me with 'Welcome to the land of the brave' in the arrival hall in Kabul. I have just stepped off the plane, and am wondering what the year ahead will bring. This is my first time in Afghanistan and I'm excited and nervous, only having seen one week before the news [...]

Hi, I am Alex, and I have recently joined DFID to work as the regional statistics and results adviser for DFID's programmes in Central Asia, Afghanistan, Pakistan, and Regional Asia programmes. I am based in London as part of the Western Asia team. I've worked for various Whitehall departments for a number of years on issues like [...]