The last time I flew into Tacloban was in the back of a British military Hercules (I wrote about it here). Boxes of high energy biscuits lined the runway and lifesaving relief supplies were unloaded from military planes from all …
The panel met for the second time in January. It was a slightly smaller group, perhaps due to the perils of a winter meeting and last minute illnesses. However, 2 detailed presentations helped share more information with panel members about …
It's been an interesting year working on digital in DFID. Writing our 'Digital Strategy – 12 months on report' gave us a good opportunity to look around the organisation and see what progress has been made since December 2012. Our …
I sometimes worry that I work too hard. This is the third valentine's date with my husband that I've missed because of working abroad. I'm currently in Nigeria for the fifth meeting of the Global Partnership for Effective Development Cooperation's …
Menuka Rana, a housewife, is a proud owner of a piglet and 2 young goats she bought with her first loan from a microfinance institution. Until recently, her village did not have a regulated financial institution and loans from the …
Last month I highlighted in my blog how I had learnt from colleagues about the huge waste of food caused by ‘post-harvest’ losses. Up to 30% of food, even in countries with high rates of undernutrition can be lost between …
No, not the illegal narcotics for which Afghanistan is sadly infamous. The subject of this blog is private sector healthcare, and in particular the determination of one man, with the support of the Afghanistan Business Innovation Fund (ABIF) to provide …
In January, I always enjoy reading the Economist's World In Year X publication – which sets out their forecasts for big headlines under a number of categories. What I particularly like is their review of how correct their forecasts were …
What do you get when you combine a vibrant First Lady, a country in which most women have undergone female genital mutilation and many are facing health problems and complications in pregnancy, and funding from donor countries to support a …
Today I am in Ziniaré, a village that has abandoned female genital mutilation or cutting (FGM/C). While 76% of girls and women from 15 to 49 years old in Burkina Faso have undergone the practice, only 9% of Burkinabés, men …
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