News and views

The latest news, blogs and opinions from across the international development and humanitarian sectors.

Bond experts, members and thought leaders from civil society provide the latest insights and trends across a range of topics, including: aid, funding, politics, Brexit, the SDGs, communications, public support, project management, leadership and civic space.

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All we can staff

Rethinking the way we work, at home and overseas

3 June 2020
After being named as one of the top five charities to work for in the UK, All We Can share how their approach to partnership overseas helped them shape their office culture.
A man with his face covered cycles through London near parliament

How to talk about Covid-19: insights from the British public

1 June 2020
New research from the Development Engagement Lab sheds light on the British public’s receptivity to development cooperation in the context of the global Covid-19 pandemic. 
An EU helicopter delivers emergency supplies in Uganda

How can INGOs prepare for future humanitarian crises?

28 May 2020
INGOs must demonstrate not only how to mitigate the crises of the present, but also how to prepare for ever more complex and uncertain types of humanitarian crises in the future.
A woman on her phone

Safely collecting data to fight Covid-19 in developing regions

27 May 2020
Having surveyed over 5,000 people in Africa on their concerns around Covid-19, GeoPoll provides tips for NGOs to gather data safely and efficiently in developing countries.
Whistleblowers

Whistleblowing matters: why charities need to strengthen their whistleblowing culture

19 May 2020
An exploration of how the charity sector can facilitate whistleblowers to come forward when they see something that isn't right.
Women in South Sudan practice safe coughing. Photo credit: Women for Women International

Covid-19: How do we ensure women aren’t left behind?

19 May 2020
Women and girls living in conflict are being disproportionately affected by Covid-19, so an inclusive global response is needed to the increasing inequality and insecurity.
Two NHS healthcare professionals examine a chart

Celebrating the NHS’s global nature and collaborating across borders

18 May 2020
Health systems are strongest when organisations support and learn from each other, as health partnerships between the UK and developing countries show.
Whitehall

Have DFID’s priorities changed as a result of Covid-19?

14 May 2020
The secretary of state for international development, Anne-Marie Trevelyan, recently outlined DFID’s approach and priorities in tackling the Covid-19 pandemic. Here is what we learnt.
Whitehall

Have DFID’s priorities changed as a result of Covid-19?

14 May 2020
The secretary of state for international development, Anne-Marie Trevelyan, recently outlined DFID’s approach and priorities in tackling the Covid-19 pandemic. Here is what we learnt.
UK Aid logo

Stats on international development: how UK aid was spent in 2019

7 April 2020
DFID has released the annual Statistics on International Development report, which provides preliminary statistics on how much Official Development Assistance (ODA) the UK provided in 2019. Here are the highlights.
Women carrying water back from Jamam to the refugee camp

Why internationalist values are more important now than ever

30 March 2020
As Covid-19 forces countries to make decisions that could affect societies for decades, the UK has the chance to demonstrate global leadership that delivers for the world's most vulnerable.
UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson holds his first Cabinet meeting since his reshuffle in the Cabinet Room

Reshuffles, reviews and restructures: what does the new government mean for development?

27 February 2020
DFID survived Boris Johnson's cabinet reshuffle, but could government restructures and the upcoming integrated review divert UK aid away from reducing poverty?
Anne-Marie Trevelyan

Anne-Marie Trevelyan named secretary of state for international development

13 February 2020
Conservative MP for Berwick Upon Tweed, Anne-Marie Trevelyan, has been appointed as secretary of state for international development, replacing Alok Sharma.
British and Sierra Leonean medics work together at Connaught Hospital, Freetown

What kind of global Britain do we want?

10 February 2020
As the UK exits the European Union, we have the chance to redefine what role we play on the world stage. But the right steps need to be taken to ensure "Global Britain" is a success.

DFID must be at the heart of global Britain

30 January 2020
The government won't realise its vision of a global Britain if DFID is scrapped or merged with the FCO.
Leaders, country representative and key speakers at the UK-Africa Investment Summit

UK-Africa Investment Summit: risks and opportunities for development

24 January 2020
Bringing together leaders of 20 African countries and UK government, the UK-Africa Investment Summit could be a game-changer for the world's poorest, but the devil is in the detail.
A man with his face covered cycles through London near parliament

How to talk about Covid-19: insights from the British public

1 June 2020
New research from the Development Engagement Lab sheds light on the British public’s receptivity to development cooperation in the context of the global Covid-19 pandemic. 
COVID-19 Frontline Health Workers in Thailand

3 ideas to communicate sensitively in the Covid-19 crisis 

22 April 2020
How can the development and humanitarian sectors get their communications right at a time when everyone’s priorities have shifted and when the British public is being bombarded by Covid-19 related news? 
Delegates voting at the AGM

Bond members adopt ethical content principle and elect new trustee

19 November 2019
Laura Jump was confirmed as a trustee to the board, and new guidelines on the ethical collection of images and stories were added to Bond's charter at Bond AGM.
Runners on the street in the London marathon

5 communications tips for small NGOs to attract supporters

12 September 2019
With over 160,000 registered UK charities, here are communications tips to get your small NGO noticed and reach the right supporters.
People at a conference

How to make the most of party conference season

29 August 2019
Party conference season is back - here are some tips to get you through it and make the most of the advocacy opportunities.
Woman standing in front of a mountain with headphones in

Should your NGO make a podcast?

29 August 2019
With podcasts increasing in popularity with audiences across the UK, here are some things to consider before starting your own series.
This is amazing, I love it." Portrait of Veronique Eulalie Rasoarimanana outside her home in Madagascar.

Informed consent: why conversations are crucial

29 July 2019
It is not enough to ask if you can take someone's photo. A look at the importance of having conversations with the people you're working with before sharing their story.
Views of cities lit up at night from space

Why privacy and data protection are key to inclusive development

24 May 2019
Exploring the ethical questions surrounding how we use data to provide effective humanitarian assistance.
People fundraising in the UK before Covi-19

Adapting your public fundraising for the Covid-19 crisis

12 May 2020
As traditional fundraising events and activities are cancelled, here are some ideas to change how your charity raises money from the UK public.
Abigail Smith, a volunteer from Covid Relief Bangkok

5 ways to combat the Covid-19 crisis in the global south

8 April 2020
With millions in low and middle-income countries facing devastation from the coronavirus pandemic, we outline what is needed for an effective global response to combat the crisis.
Oxfam, Byres Road, Coronavirus sign

How is Covid-19 affecting NGOs’ finances and operations?

8 April 2020
With NGOs scaling back programmes and cutting back staff, our recent survey shows organisations need grant flexibility to survive beyond the next three months.
Piggybank

4 ways funders are supporting NGOs and responding to coronavirus

1 April 2020
Many donors are adapting their practices and funding agreements to enable organisations to respond to challenges arising from the Covid-19 crisis.
Children in Sindh, Pakistan, play at a water pump in a village.

5 considerations for diversifying your funding

12 February 2020
In an increasingly competitive funding environment, it's crucial that INGOs diversify their funding models to remain sustainable. Here are five tips on how to do so.
Nana Afadzinu holding a workshop on #ShiftThePower

Going beyond Western models of value to shift the power

16 January 2020
NGOs in the global south often have to jump through hoops for foreign donors. They are bereft of power in many ways. How can we shift the power to make it more balanced?
Addis Ababa, the capital of Ethiopia

4 priorities for the Africa Investment Summit

9 January 2020
It is not about whether Africa needs investment. It is about what kind of investment, where, for who and how.
Last will and testament

Tap into funding from legacies and gifts in wills

23 October 2019
An estimated £3 billion was left in wills to charities last year. How can your NGO show people you're worth leaving money to?
COVID Relief volunteers in Bangkok

5 ways NGOs are working with local partners to respond to Covid-19

29 April 2020
International NGOs are working with local partners to reassess and adapt how they support the world's most vulnerable communities through the Covid-19 crisis.
Margaret Klonzo of Amref Health Africa

Community health workers: the first line of defence against Covid-19 in Africa

23 April 2020
As seen from the Ebola outbreak, community health workers are essential to ensuring communities stay healthy as coronavirus spreads in Africa.
Nana Afadzinu holding a workshop on #ShiftThePower

Going beyond Western models of value to shift the power

16 January 2020
NGOs in the global south often have to jump through hoops for foreign donors. They are bereft of power in many ways. How can we shift the power to make it more balanced?
"Ava" and her newborn baby at the IDP Camp, Bunia General Hospital, Democratic Republic of Congo 

Why we need to keep talking about inequality

15 October 2019
If we want to eradicate global poverty, we need to tackle the political and structural factors that are driving inequality.

Tapping into local knowledge to diversify income

12 September 2019
ChildHope UK drew on the expertise of local partners to build a consultancy to deliver their mission and financial value.
Children from World Vision peace club in Kenya

Listen to children and young people in policy making

12 August 2019
Children and young people have the right to participate in policy decisions that effect them. How can we facilitate this?
Satellite image

6 ways artificial intelligence is being used in international development 

8 August 2019
A look at some promising ideas and projects showing how artificial intelligence can potentially help with international development.
Pound coins stacked up

Cost transparency for DFID grants: improvements and obstacles 

3 July 2019
DFID's new cost templates and guidance will allow NGOs to recover more grant costs, but barriers to full cost recovery still remain.
An EU helicopter delivers emergency supplies in Uganda

How can INGOs prepare for future humanitarian crises?

28 May 2020
INGOs must demonstrate not only how to mitigate the crises of the present, but also how to prepare for ever more complex and uncertain types of humanitarian crises in the future.
A woman on her phone

Safely collecting data to fight Covid-19 in developing regions

27 May 2020
Having surveyed over 5,000 people in Africa on their concerns around Covid-19, GeoPoll provides tips for NGOs to gather data safely and efficiently in developing countries.
Eleven Integrity Action partner representatives came together from Afghanistan, DRC, Kenya, Nepal and Palestine at a workshop in Kathmandu in 2019

3 practical ideas to shift the power in partnerships

5 May 2020
Ideas to address the power disparities in partnerships between grant-holding INGOs in the global north and organisations in the south.
ICRC providing clean drinking water at a refugee camp in Liberia

How do we harness uncertainty for positive change?

15 October 2019
We’re talking to Bond members and sector leaders to identify what the future should look like for the UK international development sector.
How do we plan for an uncertain future?

How can we plan for future shocks to the sector? 

9 October 2019
We talk to Duncan Green of Oxfam GB about planning for the future when there is so much uncertainty
Satellite image

6 ways artificial intelligence is being used in international development 

8 August 2019
A look at some promising ideas and projects showing how artificial intelligence can potentially help with international development.
City skyline at night

Data for good, data for bad

12 June 2019
Olivier Usher from Nesta explores the transformational implications of data-driven tech in international development, and asks the important questions: what it’s for and who benefits?
Men standing around a landed drone

5 frontier technology trends shaping international development

4 June 2019
115 DFID staff across 37 countries identified what emerging forms of technology they think will most change development.
Conference call

Leading in the Covid-19 crisis: tips for NGO leaders

14 April 2020
Practical tips and insights for CEOs to lead your organisation’s crisis response to Covid-19 in a collective, inclusive way.
Oxfam, Byres Road, Coronavirus sign

How is Covid-19 affecting NGOs’ finances and operations?

8 April 2020
With NGOs scaling back programmes and cutting back staff, our recent survey shows organisations need grant flexibility to survive beyond the next three months.

How is recruitment in the sector changing in 2020?

16 March 2020
A look at how the roles, candidates and searches for jobs in the international development and humanitarian sector are changing in 2020.
"Hope" a CSO special plenary session hosted by UN Women

What is stopping women from becoming NGO leaders?

4 February 2020
70% of INGO staff are women, but only 30% of those women reach the top of their organisations. We look at the social and systemic barriers preventing women and women of colour from progressing in their careers.
Bond Conference 2019

12 achievements we’re proud of from 2019

18 December 2019
A look back at some of our achievements and accomplishments in 2019 across the international development and humanitarian sectors.
Locals working at food store in Apac District of Northern Uganda

New approaches to protect civil society globally

22 November 2019
With civil society under threat across the world, 150 leaders came together at the Global Perspectives conference to explore new ways to help civil society organisations thrive.
Delegates voting at the AGM

Bond members adopt ethical content principle and elect new trustee

19 November 2019
Laura Jump was confirmed as a trustee to the board, and new guidelines on the ethical collection of images and stories were added to Bond's charter at Bond AGM.
Simon Starling

Simon Starling is Bond’s new director of policy, advocacy and research

13 November 2019
Simon brings over 20 years of international development experience to his new role.

Members' tweets

@TheHALOTrust
2 years ago

Mine clearance is transformative. That's why we're campaigning for a #LandmineFree2025 https://t.co/Nw4hK5XhR7

@IAPB1
2 years ago

The IAPB Standard List @IAPB_SL is working on updating an Essential List for #DiabeticRetinopathy. Until then, here… https://t.co/vmmHJUVyAH

@WorldHabitat
2 years ago

‘On the table’ conversation = likely to draw previously silent citizens into a discussion of problems and potential… https://t.co/Vo2DeqgLm6