Development Initiatives

There was a great turnout for Development Initiatives fringe meeting at the Labour Party Conference in Brighton last week. Chaired by Hugh Bailey the head of the APPG on Africa, the panel of speakers were invited to address the question of how to use aid to reach the poorest of the poor.

Development Initiatives is today launching its updated and user-friendly group website. The new site sports a more up-to-date look, and is designed to better showcase our people, our message, and the various "Initiatives" – our programmes that work to eliminate poverty through the transformative power of information.

We’re just back from a successful Fringe meeting at the Liberal Democrats Party Conference in Bournemouth.

The Fringe was chaired by Olly Buston from ONE/Data. Olly reminded everyone of the importance of keeping Britain on target to achieve the 0.7% of GNI that it has repeatedly committed to set aside for development assistance. But he also pointed out that the qualitative aspects of aid delivery are just as important as the quantity of aid given.

The United Kingdom, through DFID, is an important donor to influence.  Not only is the UK a major donor in terms of aid volume, but it is also a respected leader in progressive aid policies and new ideas to support better aid delivery. 
DFID’s policy and direction is controlled by the Parliament of the day, currently led by Gordon Brown’s Labour government.  But Parliament is drawing to the end of its term, and a general election to elect a new Parliament must be held by no later than Thursday, 3 June 2010. 
Change is in the air.