September 2020 News
HEADLINES
Exciting line-up of international speakers announced as countdown begins to Digital Summit
With our first ever fully online digital summit, ‘Global Development Beyond COVID-19’, fast approaching on 24 September, we are really excited to announce a whole host of exciting international speakers and contributors across a range of sessions on everything from humanitarian action and education to funding and safeguarding.
And if that wasn’t enough, we are also looking forward to an opening address from Scottish Government Minister, Jenny Gilruth MSP! Plus, an exciting panel line-up to finish the day with special guests: Anne-Birgitte Albrectsen, CEO of Plan International; Lysa John, Civicus Secretary General; John Carstensen, Climate Change Lead at leading global consultancy firm Mott MacDonald; and Caroline Rance, Climate and Energy Campaigner at Friends of the Earth Scotland.
So, have you signed up for the summit yet?
Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office opens doors
As the new UK Foreign, Commonwealth and Development office launches this month, it remains more important than ever for the international development sector to continue to put forward a positive vision of what this new merged department should prioritise.
Towards the end of August, senior appointments for the new interim leadership team were announced, signalling that for at least the first 6 months of its existence the new department could lack balance between development and diplomatic experience in the driving seat.
As the new Management Board settles in, let’s keep reminding them, and everyone else, that the new FCDO must, above all else, maximise impact on poverty eradication in the world’s poorest countries.
Get involved in our first ever virtual exhibition!
If you enjoyed networking and browsing the stands at last year’s Alliance conference, fear not, our 2020 Digital Summit will also deliver the opportunity for Alliance members, service providers and other key stakeholders to showcase their activities and services through our first ever virtual exhibition!
Attendees will have the chance to ‘browse’ a virtual exhibition hall and interact with exhibitors in live time. Exhibitors will gain brand exposure and access to over 200 representatives from the diverse international development and humanitarian community in Scotland, the UK and internationally.
We’ll have a limited number of free exhibition stands available for Alliance member organisations, while for service providers, stands will be offered at highly competitive rates. Get in touch today to take advantage of this unique profile-raising opportunity, and build meaningful connections with a wide and far-reaching audience.
To register your interest, contact the Alliance’s Membership Services Manager, Catherine, by emailing catherine@intdevalliance.scot.
FOCUS ON CLIMATE
The DFID and FCO merger and climate finance: lessons from Canada
On June 16, Climate Home News published an article entitled ‘UK aid foreign ministry merger raises fears for politicisation of climate finance’. Ten days later, the same site published another article in which the UK government promised the sector to uphold its commitment to climate finance.
Can this type of merger have an impact on climate financing and will it work out in favour of the world’s poorest? We travelled back in time and had a look at a country that went through a similar merger in 2013: Canada.
Join our COP26 planning meeting on 10 September
At the start of the 2020, the Alliance and many of its members were gearing up for a year of sustained action on climate, after having learnt that the annual UN Climate talks were on their way to Glasgow in November. Since then, things have changed immeasurably due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic sweeping the globe. Many of our planned actions ahead of COP26 have understandably been delayed.
Join us for this online planning meeting (open to all Alliance members) for the chance to reconnect, discuss the new lay of the land in terms of the road to COP26 next year (changed dates, big announcements etc) and, crucially, re-start the conversations about what we can do together.
OPINION
Supporting Park Rangers On the Frontline
On International Rangers Day in July, Renew SCIO and their partner project PRWOP facilitated a small, locally led, peer group discussion for rangers to share experience and information.
Sonya Willett and Charles Etoru offer some insight into the unprecedented challenges that African park rangers and their families are now facing due to COVID-19.
Lasting Initiatives
Belinda Hodge, Chief Executive at The Livingstone Initiative, writes about why they are committed to making their projects as sustainable as possible through genuine partnerships, collaboration and community engagement.
Want to write a blog or opinion piece for us? Find out more.
IN OTHER NEWS
University of Strathclyde to launch new Centre for Sustainable Development
ODI marks World Humanitarian Day by confronting systemic inequality in the sector
Scottish Government releases funds to support aftermath of Beirut Explosion
COVID-19 and the SDGs: How the 'roadmap for humanity' could be changed
UPCOMING EVENTS
Ethical and empowering use of imagery
6 October
This workshop will provide a space to reflect on, discuss and develop responsible strategies for the use of images in the international development and humanitarian sector.
Round-table with Jenny Gilruth MSP, Minister for ID and Europe
7 October
This online round-table meeting will give Alliance members the opportunity to discuss priorities and share ideas with Jenny Gilruth, Minister for Europe and International Development.
GET INVOLVED
The Alliance Community
Find out what members were up to on the Alliance Community during August.
Posts covered partnership and collaboration requests, a new funding opportunity for small charities and much more!
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