News and views

The latest news, blogs and opinions from across the international development and humanitarian sector. 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, projects, leadership and civic space.

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List of news and blogs

Tanzanian woman and child with computer learning about digital

Embracing digital principles for inclusive development

More and more organisations are endorsing the Principles for Digital Development, which help guide the effective use of technology.
12 February 2019
City of London

Counting investment profits as aid risks undermining development efforts

Any private investment in aid needs to work in the interests of the world’s poorest or the UK's aid quality will deteriorate.
8 February 2019
Lighthouse by the sea

Driving up safeguarding standards: one year on

Some of the ways the aid sector has stepped up to prevent exploitation, abuse and harassment over the past 12 months.
8 February 2019
Silhouette of road sign

How do you know when your NGO needs to change?

NGO leaders need to make brave decisions in order to adapt and evolve for the future.
7 February 2019
Rickshaws in Delhi

Financing injustice

It is dangerous to assume that private financing has the same development impact as other aid flows.
7 February 2019
European flags

CSO funding in Europe: Is DFID still leading the way?

A new research study looks at how UK government funding of CSOs compares to trends in five other European countries.
5 February 2019
Woman holding a placard on a march

The question campaigners hate to answer, but need to

Asking ourselves why our advocacy doesn't work can hurt but it also helps us to understand what we need to do next.
31 January 2019
Smiling woman in Coimbatore, India

Implementing the SDGs in 2018: how much progress have countries made?

The latest annual analysis of countries' Voluntary National Reviews assesses how countries are implementing the SDGs and sharing learning and knowledge.
30 January 2019
City of London

Counting investment profits as aid risks undermining development efforts

Any private investment in aid needs to work in the interests of the world’s poorest or the UK's aid quality will deteriorate.
8 February 2019
Rickshaws in Delhi

Financing injustice

It is dangerous to assume that private financing has the same development impact as other aid flows.
7 February 2019
Woman holding a placard on a march

The question campaigners hate to answer, but need to

Asking ourselves why our advocacy doesn't work can hurt but it also helps us to understand what we need to do next.
31 January 2019
Smiling woman in Coimbatore, India

Implementing the SDGs in 2018: how much progress have countries made?

The latest annual analysis of countries' Voluntary National Reviews assesses how countries are implementing the SDGs and sharing learning and knowledge.
30 January 2019
Man and child drinking tea

How can blended financing help the world’s poorest?

Questions remain over when to use public-private finance approaches and how to get the best impact from them.
28 January 2019
Brexit flags

PM’s Brexit deal rejected: What now for NGOs?

Summarising the current Brexit situation facing the UK development sector, what might happen now and Bond's priorities for the year.
16 January 2019
Training being provided to mothers in Niger

Counter Terrorism Bill: Aid workers to be exempt from damaging law

An amendment excluding aid and humanitarian actors from the "designated areas offence" has been passed in the House of Lords after campaigning by Bond and members.
16 January 2019
Refugee woman with her rabbits in Bangladesh

OECD releases final overseas aid figures for 2017

The latest figures from the OECD show that worldwide Official Development Assistance fell slightly in 2017 to a total of $144.7bn.
9 January 2019
Silhouette of road sign

How do you know when your NGO needs to change?

NGO leaders need to make brave decisions in order to adapt and evolve for the future.
7 February 2019
Rickshaws in Delhi

Financing injustice

It is dangerous to assume that private financing has the same development impact as other aid flows.
7 February 2019
European flags

CSO funding in Europe: Is DFID still leading the way?

A new research study looks at how UK government funding of CSOs compares to trends in five other European countries.
5 February 2019
Man and child drinking tea

How can blended financing help the world’s poorest?

Questions remain over when to use public-private finance approaches and how to get the best impact from them.
28 January 2019
Funding for Development Conference 2018

3 takeaways from the Funding for Development Conference

Over 200 people joined us for our second Funding for Development Conference. Here are three key areas of learning for NGOs that came out of the day.
10 October 2018
Children painting a wall mural with EU flag in Arbat camp, Iraq

Successful Brexit negotiations vital to protect world’s poorest

The UK government’s commitment to underwrite EU humanitarian funding is welcomed but a post-Brexit agreement needs to ensure that collaboration and shared learning between UK and EU CSOs can continue.
24 September 2018
Theresa May and Cyril Ramaphosa delivering a speech in Cape Town

4 funding announcements from the PM’s trip to Africa

Theresa May announces funding for stability, economic prosperity and family planning while visiting Africa to promote UK trade after Brexit.
6 September 2018
Nordic flags of Norway, Finland, Sweden and Denmark

5 tips to access Nordic funds

Recommendations for reaching Swedish, Finnish, Danish and Norwegian international development funds.
5 September 2018
Tanzanian woman and child with computer learning about digital

Embracing digital principles for inclusive development

More and more organisations are endorsing the Principles for Digital Development, which help guide the effective use of technology.
12 February 2019
Lighthouse by the sea

Driving up safeguarding standards: one year on

Some of the ways the aid sector has stepped up to prevent exploitation, abuse and harassment over the past 12 months.
8 February 2019
Silhouette of road sign

How do you know when your NGO needs to change?

NGO leaders need to make brave decisions in order to adapt and evolve for the future.
7 February 2019
Children in school in Zambia raising their hands

Engaging different audiences in behaviour change programmes

Behaviour change campaigns can make a real difference if tailored for the right audiences and their needs.
7 January 2019
Swirl of barracuda

The future of big INGOs: ways forward in a fast-changing world

Penny Lawrence looks at the structural and cultural changes multi-mandate NGOs can make to keep up with future trends.
11 December 2018
Doctor examining a baby being held by a woman

Counter Terrorism Bill: Lords pass amendment to protect aid workers

Following a call from 22 NGOs, the House of Lords passed an amendment to a bill which exempts aid workers from prosecution after travelling to fragile states.
4 December 2018
Fish on coral on Great Barrier Reef

Can big NGOs survive and thrive again?

Oxfam GB's former deputy chief executive discusses the challenges facing big international development charities and shares her insights into how they can remain relevant.
8 November 2018
Women at community meeting holding paper

Applying 8 principles for fair and inclusive research partnerships

Recommendations for building more equitable research partnerships that can have a real world impact.
30 October 2018
Woman holding a placard on a march

The question campaigners hate to answer, but need to

Asking ourselves why our advocacy doesn't work can hurt but it also helps us to understand what we need to do next.
31 January 2019
Unfocused shot of meeting

A human approach to crisis management

Managing a crisis can be complicated, but organisations need to consider their people's wellbeing when planning their responses.
24 January 2019
Rescue workers celebrate in Nepal surrounded by cameras

Humanitarian journalism in crisis

A new research study finds that very few commercial news organisations cover humanitarian issues outside of major emergencies.
11 January 2019
Children in school in Zambia raising their hands

Engaging different audiences in behaviour change programmes

Behaviour change campaigns can make a real difference if tailored for the right audiences and their needs.
7 January 2019
Woman walking through ruined area of Sana'a, Yemen

Why does the public ignore Yemen?

A new poll has found that 42% of the UK public do not know that there is a war going on in Yemen. Why is there such a lack of awareness?
13 November 2018
Mobile phone with lots of apps on screen

Want to make an app? 3 considerations for NGOs

Some recent examples of NGO mobile apps and three things to think about before making your own.
1 November 2018
Coffee cups

How to make the most of party conference season

Party conference season is back - here are some tips to get you through it and make the most of the advocacy opportunities.
20 September 2018
Midwife and two children she looks after, in Sierra Leone

Fully framed: telling complete stories through images

NGOs are one of the main sources of imagery from the developing world, so we must consider the images we use and how they might affect perceptions.
20 August 2018
Tanzanian woman and child with computer learning about digital

Embracing digital principles for inclusive development

More and more organisations are endorsing the Principles for Digital Development, which help guide the effective use of technology.
12 February 2019
Silhouette of road sign

How do you know when your NGO needs to change?

NGO leaders need to make brave decisions in order to adapt and evolve for the future.
7 February 2019
Mobile phone with lots of apps on screen

Want to make an app? 3 considerations for NGOs

Some recent examples of NGO mobile apps and three things to think about before making your own.
1 November 2018
Two people standing next to large world map globe

4 ways IATI data is informing the global community

Over 550 CSOs are publishing data to the IATI standard - here are four ways that data is informing the sector's work.
17 October 2018
Woman in Kenya waiting to have eye patch removed after surgery by The Fred Hollows Foundation

Harnessing impact investment for social change

How The Fred Hollows Foundation has been using innovative forms of funding to fight avoidable blindness.
29 August 2018
Star Trail

4 digital trends for NGOs

Digital continues to change the way NGOs work and communicate, with ongoing trends offering opportunities and challenges.
12 July 2018
Cargo ship

How to overcome barriers to INGO structural innovation

Three measures the sector could take to encourage INGOs to make bold structural changes.
4 April 2018
Mantis app hacked

The development organisation of the future?

We ran an experiment using a fictional NGO to get organisations to think about how they need to change if they are to stay relevant in a rapidly changing world.
28 March 2018
Silhouette of road sign

How do you know when your NGO needs to change?

NGO leaders need to make brave decisions in order to adapt and evolve for the future.
7 February 2019
Unfocused shot of meeting

A human approach to crisis management

Managing a crisis can be complicated, but organisations need to consider their people's wellbeing when planning their responses.
24 January 2019
Bond banner

Stephanie Draper appointed Bond chief executive

Stephanie Draper is the current chief change officer and deputy chief executive at Forum for the Future and will start at Bond in mid-March.
9 January 2019
Civil Society Futures workshop in Newcastle

Connecting to shift power: A new PACT for civil society

After speaking to over 3000 people, the Civil Society Futures inquiry has proposed some recommendations for building stronger connections between charities and the public.
3 January 2019
Paper lanterns in Sydney

18 things we're proud of achieving this year

We've been very busy at Bond this year - here are eighteen achievements from 2018.
18 December 2018
Swirl of barracuda

The future of big INGOs: ways forward in a fast-changing world

Penny Lawrence looks at the structural and cultural changes multi-mandate NGOs can make to keep up with future trends.
11 December 2018
Fish on coral on Great Barrier Reef

Can big NGOs survive and thrive again?

Oxfam GB's former deputy chief executive discusses the challenges facing big international development charities and shares her insights into how they can remain relevant.
8 November 2018
People in an office

A respectful organisational culture is crucial to safeguarding

Recommendations for cultivating an inclusive, supportive culture for NGOs.
1 October 2018