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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The Chancellor Rishi Sunak works on his Spending Review speech with members of his team in his offices in 11 Downing Street

New threats to UK funded humanitarian and development programmes

25 October 2021
In the wake of 18 months of devastating cuts to those most vulnerable, it is unconscionable that the UK government is considering using ‘free money’ intended to help the world’s poorest to save themselves money instead.
Houses of parliament

How new changes to election rules could impact your campaigning

21 October 2021
The government is looking to make further changes to the rules governing elections, which could have a big impact on charity campaigning. The Elections Bill will make an already complicated and burdensome area of law even more confusing for NGOs.

Shifting to locally-led development starts with how we transform ourselves

19 October 2021
Locally-led development has shot back up the international development communities’ agenda but what does this mean for our approach to funding community-led programmes?
Ezekiel Rukuruva, 62, preparing a rainwater channel near his home in a food-insecure area of Chiredzi, Zimbabwe, and linked to us through CBM-partner Jairos Jiri Association.

NGOs must ensure a disability-inclusive approach to climate action

18 October 2021
An estimated 20% of people most vulnerable to climate change are persons with disabilities. Yet they are rarely included in climate action, and are frequently excluded from the decision-making processes and plans to address climate change. 
Planning your organisation's future

The future NGO is agile

13 October 2021
Resilient NGOS share at least four significant commonalities: they are accustomed to change, have highly diversified income streams, a solid digital infrastructure, and are quicker in establishing new partnerships. In short, these NGOs are agile.
Street market crowd at Lagos Island's commercial district.

Why locally-led development must be at the heart of the new International Development Strategy

12 October 2021
If the FCDO is committed to value for money, open societies, effective aid and equity for the world’s most marginalised people, it must place locally led development at the heart of its new International Development Strategy.

A divided digital generation: How we risk further excluding girls with disabilities from education.

11 October 2021
We’ve already seen how e-learning has left the poorest children behind. For children with disabilities, a focus on digital could well provide opportunities, but it can equally exacerbate the inequalities that already exist.
Cultural diversity

It’s time for the sector to nurture equity, diversity and inclusion (EDI) if we are to see real change

7 October 2021
Cultural transformation is never easy, but organisations must rise to the challenge and use this time of global reckoning as an opportunity to assess the power and privilege they hold, and build better cultures that work for all.
The Chancellor Rishi Sunak works on his Spending Review speech with members of his team in his offices in 11 Downing Street

New threats to UK funded humanitarian and development programmes

25 October 2021
In the wake of 18 months of devastating cuts to those most vulnerable, it is unconscionable that the UK government is considering using ‘free money’ intended to help the world’s poorest to save themselves money instead.
Houses of parliament

How new changes to election rules could impact your campaigning

21 October 2021
The government is looking to make further changes to the rules governing elections, which could have a big impact on charity campaigning. The Elections Bill will make an already complicated and burdensome area of law even more confusing for NGOs.
Ezekiel Rukuruva, 62, preparing a rainwater channel near his home in a food-insecure area of Chiredzi, Zimbabwe, and linked to us through CBM-partner Jairos Jiri Association.

NGOs must ensure a disability-inclusive approach to climate action

18 October 2021
An estimated 20% of people most vulnerable to climate change are persons with disabilities. Yet they are rarely included in climate action, and are frequently excluded from the decision-making processes and plans to address climate change. 
Street market crowd at Lagos Island's commercial district.

Why locally-led development must be at the heart of the new International Development Strategy

12 October 2021
If the FCDO is committed to value for money, open societies, effective aid and equity for the world’s most marginalised people, it must place locally led development at the heart of its new International Development Strategy.

A divided digital generation: How we risk further excluding girls with disabilities from education.

11 October 2021
We’ve already seen how e-learning has left the poorest children behind. For children with disabilities, a focus on digital could well provide opportunities, but it can equally exacerbate the inequalities that already exist.

What the final 2020 statistics for international development do (and don’t) tell us

30 September 2021
The FCDO has released their annual Statistics on International Development, but do they provide any clarity on where the 2020 aid cuts fell and do we have a better idea of what the UK’s humanitarian aid and development priorities are?

What should the new secretary of state for foreign, commonwealth and development affairs prioritise?

29 September 2021
With Liz Truss now promoted to secretary of state for foreign, commonwealth and development affairs, here's what we think should be prioritised.
UNHCR convoy heading to Melkadida refugee camp, Somali Region, Ethiopia

Safety and security of aid workers: a priority for the UK’s International Development Strategy and humanitarian policy review

22 September 2021
Insecurity is one of the main barriers to humanitarian access. the British government, as a major aid donor, has ethical and practical responsibilities to its partner organisations.
Illustration created by Vidushi and her team for Urgent Action Fund Asia and Pacific

Challenging harmful visual narratives through images

10 September 2021
In order to stop perpetuating white saviourism, we need to strategically shift the narrative towards love, hope, solidarity and connection. We need to re-imagine our choice of images to represent people in their power.
Speech

Devspeak: are the words we use doing more harm than good?

25 August 2021
Development and NGO clichés can be problematic for a variety of reasons. So how can we encourage people to put a bit more thought into how they communicate, without being too prescriptive?
Examples of the largest collection of free and open source hopeful human rights art from TheGreats.co

How can we use images of hope to campaign for human rights?

14 April 2021
What is the picture we want people to see when they think of human rights? This new project from Fine Acts and hope-based communications sought to answer the question with a series of new images.
Stack of newspapers in a Kiosk, London, United Kingdom

How to get media coverage and influence people

4 February 2021
In the context of growing challenges to the sector, it is perhaps worth returning to the basic rules and tips around how to use media and comms to advance our causes and make the world a better place.
Speech bubbles

Taking British politics, jargon and colonialism out of our language

10 December 2020
When it comes to language, we need to practise what we preach, if we are to have legitimacy and influence at Bond, and it is important that we aim to set the bar high for ourselves and encourage others to do the same.

Race and representation in NGO storytelling: responses to 5 frequently asked questions

30 September 2020
Thoughts and ideas for how NGOs can move towards more authentic and ethical representation in their communications and fundraising.
People at a festival

How can we reconnect with audiences we’ve left behind?

31 July 2020
With support for aid in decline, new research into British public perceptions explores how a focus on “distant” audiences can help to turn the tide.
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. 

Shifting to locally-led development starts with how we transform ourselves

19 October 2021
Locally-led development has shot back up the international development communities’ agenda but what does this mean for our approach to funding community-led programmes?

Six tips for success with institutional fundraising in 2021

31 August 2021
This blog offers expert advice on how you can make your organisation stand out to keep your institutional funding pipeline growing.

What does good funding look like?

2 August 2021
With so much riding on the international development strategy, we will be anxious to see whether ODA remains focused on delivering long-term, sustainable and community-led programmes, for the people who need them the most.

Diversifying income streams – emerging lessons from the Enterprise Development Programme

28 July 2021
With the recent aid cuts and an increasingly volatile donor situation, is it time for NGOs in the international development sector to embrace and utilise enterprise income?
Money

Building financial reserves as we recover from the current financial crisis

6 May 2021
As NGOs grapple with grant cuts and other pressures, financial reserves and building sustainable income streams are more important than ever.
A woman with the British Red Cross takes a day away from the office to solicit for donations in front of the Liverpool Street Tube Station in London

Is 2021 the end of ‘business as usual’ public fundraising models?

15 April 2021
In an age of “adapt to survive”, the post-Covid-19 world is an opportunity to make big transformative changes which reimagine our public funding models.
A Syrian-Kurdish woman and several children stand outside a home in Darashakran refugee camp in Iraqi Kurdistan

How do we build equitable partnerships with diaspora communities?

4 February 2021
We must invest in engaging with diaspora as equitable partners, or risk framing diaspora communities as “beneficiaries” or “cash machines” to fund international organisations.
Closed charity shop in Glasgow

Squeezed funding, programme cuts and redundancies: NGOs struggle without government support

28 January 2021
According to our latest survey of Bond members, small and medium NGOs are being hit worse financially by Covid-19, with 26% of NGOs having already made redundancies.

5 programmes putting women and girls at the centre of development

8 March 2021
This International Women’s Day, Bond members celebrate just some of the many programmes that are putting women and girls at the heart of development.
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.

Shifting to locally-led development starts with how we transform ourselves

19 October 2021
Locally-led development has shot back up the international development communities’ agenda but what does this mean for our approach to funding community-led programmes?
Speech

Devspeak: are the words we use doing more harm than good?

25 August 2021
Development and NGO clichés can be problematic for a variety of reasons. So how can we encourage people to put a bit more thought into how they communicate, without being too prescriptive?
Volunteers load supplies outside town hall in Antigua, Guatemala to take to area affected by eruption of Fuego (fire) volcano

Grand Bargain 2.0: Tinkering or transformation?

8 July 2021
Without a more audacious vision, a more efficient and effective humanitarian system will remain out of the Grand Bargain’s reach.
Hands and flowers

Locally-led development: putting plans into action

8 July 2021
Understanding the problem is an important part of creating change. But there are also moments when we want things to move more quickly, to see real action and transformation in response to need.
Two activists embrace in KwaMashu, an informal settlement north of Durban, South Africa. Christian Aid’s partner, Church Land Programme, works closely with the shackdweller movement (Abahlali baseMjondolo) so that people in KwaMashu can live without fear

Leaving and learning: 3 things we learned collaborating with local partners

1 July 2021
As national and local actors will increasingly hold the purse strings in the future, we need to rethink how we add value to and support local partners.
"Speaking out: Peer educators advocate for an end to FGM/C" by DFID - UK Department for International Development is licensed under CC BY 2.0

5 ways development consortia have adapted to Covid-19

8 February 2021
Amid the Covid-19 crisis, consortia of development organisations have found different ways to adapt to ensure progress, maintain relevance, and deliver impact. 
Syrian primary school children attending catch-up learning classes in Lebanon

From aid to public investment: 5 shifts to transform development cooperation

14 December 2020
This new approach builds on the best of the traditional understanding of aid, as well as the main critiques of it, and responds to the new global reality we all face. 
Crowd of people composing a world map

Is investing in a global public the future of aid?

7 December 2020
While we need solid emergency leadership in the short term to respond to Covid-19, we need visionary thinking as well, to build a new idea like a global public.
Volunteers load supplies outside town hall in Antigua, Guatemala to take to area affected by eruption of Fuego (fire) volcano

Grand Bargain 2.0: Tinkering or transformation?

8 July 2021
Without a more audacious vision, a more efficient and effective humanitarian system will remain out of the Grand Bargain’s reach.
Hands and flowers

Locally-led development: putting plans into action

8 July 2021
Understanding the problem is an important part of creating change. But there are also moments when we want things to move more quickly, to see real action and transformation in response to need.
The Great Barrier Reef, which is under threat from climate change effecting sea temperatures and water acidity.

How green pensions can help NGOs do better on climate change

30 June 2021
There is currently £2.6tn circulating in the UK pension sector alone, much of which is invested in companies such as fossil fuel giants, tobacco firms, arms producers, and companies with links to harmful practices such as deforestation.
Money

Building financial reserves as we recover from the current financial crisis

6 May 2021
As NGOs grapple with grant cuts and other pressures, financial reserves and building sustainable income streams are more important than ever.
A life preserver at sea

Safe organisational cultures only thrive under committed leadership

22 March 2021
A healthy safeguarding culture has to be everybody’s responsibility, but it will only succeed when leaders step up to the challenge and lead by example.
Nurses taking a break in Uganda

3 ways NGOs and donors are shifting power through governance

25 February 2021
Governance structures that perpetuate inequality are key barriers to promoting locally-led development. How can INGOs change their governance to address power imbalances?
"Speaking out: Peer educators advocate for an end to FGM/C" by DFID - UK Department for International Development is licensed under CC BY 2.0

5 ways development consortia have adapted to Covid-19

8 February 2021
Amid the Covid-19 crisis, consortia of development organisations have found different ways to adapt to ensure progress, maintain relevance, and deliver impact. 
A Syrian-Kurdish woman and several children stand outside a home in Darashakran refugee camp in Iraqi Kurdistan

How do we build equitable partnerships with diaspora communities?

4 February 2021
We must invest in engaging with diaspora as equitable partners, or risk framing diaspora communities as “beneficiaries” or “cash machines” to fund international organisations.

Members' tweets

@TheHALOTrust
3 years ago

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

@IAPB1
3 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
3 years ago

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