Bond hosts ‘International Development Reception’ welcoming MPs back to Parliament to learn about the impact of the work of our members
On Monday 6 January, Bond, along with a host of its members, welcomed parliamentarians back from their winter break with the ‘International Development Reception’ in Parliament.
They had the opportunity to meet with Bond members to learn about their work, and to hear from inspiring speakers with direct and lived experience of issues such as maternal and new born health, landmine clearance, and refugee support,
We were also pleased to welcome the Minister for International Development, Anneliese Dodds, who gave a keynote speech about her department’s priorities for aid and development going into 2025 and beyond, and to hear from Lord McConnell, the former First Minister of Scotland who now chairs the APPG for the UN Global Goals, the sponsor for the evening’s event.
The evening started off with some opportunities for networking, and we were pleased to welcome around 25 parliamentarians, from across the political spectrum, to speak with Bond members to hear more about how they contribute to the overall impact of the UK international development sector. We were also thrilled to welcome representatives from the Conservative Friends of International Development (CFID), Labour Campaign for International Development (LCID) and Liberal Democrats in International Development (LDID), who were official partners of the reception, making this a truly cross-party event.
Bond’s CEO, Romilly Greenhill, welcomed attendees with a short speech about the impact of UK aid and humanitarian work, and the urgent need for this work in the current geopolitical context. She also informed attendees about the series of events that will be taking place starting on 11 February, to celebrate 20 years since Nelson Mandela made his speech in Trafalgar Square, stating “like slavery and apartheid, poverty is not natural. It is man-made and it can be overcome and eradicated by the actions of human beings”.
These events will culminate in a high-level policy event at Westminster’s Methodist Central Hall – the location of the very first meeting of the UN General Assembly – followed by a symbolic moment in Trafalgar Square, and she urged MPs to join in with this in February.
Attendees then had the opportunity to hear from Dr Ijeoma Lynda Omenugha, a ONE Campaign Ambassador and doctor working in the UK and Nigeria, who spoke about her work advocating for healthier and more prosperous communities in Africa, and her personal experiences delivering healthcare to women and children in Nigeria.
We then heard from Foni Vuni, who is the Program Coordinator at the Global Refugee Youth Network and Research Lead at Oxford University’s Refugee Studies Centre. She spoke about her own personal experiences of displacement from South Sudan, her hopes of returning to her home country, and her current work supporting refugees around the world.
Lastly, we heard from Hana Albaioumy, the Emergency Response Manager for the Occupied Palestinian Territories at Mines Advisory Group. Hana spoke about her work, the impact of the war on her family in Gaza, the urgent need for a ceasefire in Gaza and the desperate need for the ongoing delivery of humanitarian aid.
Following these speeches, there was an opportunity for further networking and discussions between Bond members, and with the parliamentarians in attendance, to discuss how interested MPs and Peers can work to support the sector in parliament, and how they can deepen their engagement with the work of our members. It was a great way to kick off the New Year, and there was even talk of this becoming an annual tradition.
We’d like to thank our partners (all listed below)for their support in putting on this reception, and to thank our inspiring speakers Ijeoma, Foni and Hana, who really brought to life the vital impact of their work on communities around the world.
Bond members who supported the reception:
- Action Against Hunger UK
- Action for Global Health
- Action for Humanity
- Age International
- CAFOD
- CBM UK
- Christian Aid
- Hope and Homes for Children
- Institute of Development Studies
- MAG (Mines Advisory Group)
- Mercy Corps
- MSI Reproductive Choices
- Norwegian Refugee Council UK
- ONE Campaign
- Plan International UK
- RESULTS UK
- Save the Children UK
- Sightsavers
- UNICEF UK
- United Against Malnutrition and Hunger
- Unlimit Health
- WaterAid UK
- World Vision UK
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