Bond 2020 Annual Conference cancelled due to Coronavirus

Bond, the UK network for 450 NGOs has announced they are cancelling their annual conference on the 23rd-24th March 2020.

The Bond Conference is the biggest international development event in Europe, bringing together over 1,000 people from around the world for two days of sessions and networking.

Many high-profile speakers, including Rt Hon Anne-Marie Trevelyan MP, economist Kate Raworth, environmental activist James Wakibia and Pan-African feminist Aya Chebbi were set to speak at the two-day event. However, increasing concerns over the spread of COVID-19 and advice from Public Health England and the UK Government has meant the NGO network did not want to risk contributing inadvertently to the spread of COVID-19.

Bond International Development Awards, which honours the achievements of people working in global development and humanitarian assistance will continue to take place as scheduled, for the first time, digitally.

Stephanie Draper, Bond CEO said:

“After careful consideration, we have made the difficult decision to cancel this year’s Bond Conference 2020 in London due to health and safety concerns related to the COVID-19 outbreak. The well-being of everyone who takes part in the Bond Conference is our priority. Having followed the regular guidance and advice carefully from Public Health England and the UK Government we feel this is a necessary precaution.

The good news is, the Bond awards will still be taking place digitally, so we will still get a chance to honour the impressive staff, volunteers and projects from across the sector that have helped so many people around the world facing the impact of poverty, inequality, conflict and climate change.

The Bond Conference has become a fixture in the international development diary, and we intend to run the conference again in 2021. Because the conference provides a key opportunity to connect with others to share and debate pressing development issues affecting the NGO sector, we are looking at other ways to take these discussions further.”

ENDS

Notes to editor

1. Bond Conference & Awards conference is the biggest international development event in Europe, bringing together over 1,000 diverse people from across the international development and humanitarian sectors.
2. Bond will be refunding anyone who purchased a ticket to the Bond Conference. Anyone who paid by credit/debit card will be automatically refunded within three weeks. Please contact [email protected] if you have any questions.
3. Bond is the UK network for organisations working in international development. Bond unites and supports a diverse network of over 450 civil society organisations and allies to help eradicate global poverty, inequality and injustice.
4. For further information please contact Maryam Mohsin, [email protected] or 07555 336029