I have just returned to Kabul following a visit home to London to see my family during the Olympics. It is obviously quite a contrast between the shiny capital of "Team GB" and dusty Kabul which is still rebuilding itself following thirty years of conflict. There are similarities, however, for example in the ambition and [...]

While the UK basked in the glory of Team GB's medal haul at the London 2012 Olympics, I spent a week driving up from Zimbabwe to Dar es Salaam, to start my new assignment as DFID’s Education Adviser in Tanzania. The highlight en route was definitely seeing the cichlid mother fish in Lake Malawi (Lake [...]

We review our programmes annually to monitor progress. Security concerns in Afghanistan make these reviews more challenging than in other countries but, with careful planning much can be achieved and learned. I recently joined the team reviewing a new project which focuses on strengthening civil society, 'Tawanmandi', on a trip to the provincial capital of Balkh province, [...]

My two year secondment to the European Union (EU) Delegation in Zimbabwe has flown by and once more I am packing my bags, this time to drive up to Tanzania - to support the DFID education programme from Dar Es Salaam. Living and working in Zimbabwe has been immensely rewarding, it's been a pleasure to see [...]

A couple of days ago, I had coffee with a friend and ended up talking about my move from London to Glasgow, just over a year and a half ago. I told my friend that when I first moved, I started off trying to enjoy Glasgow in the same way I enjoyed London. I rented a small [...]

This Sunday, David Cameron and Vice President Michel Temer of Brazil will challenge global leaders to work to address hunger and malnutrition at the Global Hunger Event. As that event takes place, many international organisations – governmental, multilateral, civil society – continue to fight hard to tackle food security and hunger issues all over the [...]

Recently I travelled to Niger in West Africa with World Vision. It's my first time in Africa and I certainly didn't expect it to be SO hot and barren. Niger is an amazing country and I have met some simply amazing people this week but they need your help, my help, our help. Their country is [...]