01 Apr BFPG’s March Review
This month’s newsletter is full of highlights from March including Select Committee appearances, our new Advisory Board, articles, summaries from our many events and much more besides. We hope it will provide some useful food for thought. As ever, we will continue to monitor the geopolitical climate and bring you timely and in-depth analysis of major updates and opportunities for the UK. Please do feel free to contact us at hello@bfpg.co.uk should you have any questions.
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Alternative Financing for International Development
BFPG Director Evie Aspinall gave oral evidence to the International Development Committee on the importance of bridging the financing gap in order to meet the Sustainable Development Goals. The session focused on both the opportunities and risks associated with mobilising private finance to meet these needs, and potential opportunities to better leverage private capital in pursuit of our development goals.
WATCH HERE
Leading the Way to Where?
With ongoing questions about the future of US leadership and a renewed focus on national security, there are growing calls for the UK to take on a stronger leadership role in the world. But what would leadership look like? How would we measure it? And should it be a given that the UK would want to lead? Senior Advisor David Landsman explores.
READ HERE
One Year On: How Has the Integrated Review Refresh Held Up?
When the Integrated Review Refresh was released in March 2023, it was designed to respond to the myriad of challenges brought about by Russia’s invasion of Ukraine that its predecessor, the Integrated Review, failed to foresee two years earlier. But with conflict in the Middle East, ongoing war in Ukraine, and deep-seated economic challenges in the UK, how have the Refresh’s principles and priorities held up? And how much progress has been made?
READ HERE
The Iranian Election: Implications for the UK
On Friday 1st March, Iran held tighty controlled legislative ‘elections’, the first since the outbreak of nationwide protests in 2022-23, after the death of Mahsa Amini in the custody of Iran’s morality police. Ali Khosravi explores what the outcome of the ‘election’ means for Iran’s domestic politics and for Iran’s place in the world.
Introducing the BFPG Advisory Board
Earlier this month BFPG were delighted to announce the appointment of our new Advisory Board. Bringing together experts from across government, civil society, business, think tanks and academia, the Board brings together a diversity of experts to provide guidance and support to the BFPG team, as BFPG continues to grow.
MEET THE BOARD
Diplomatic Hour Continues
In March we were delighted to host two private roundtables as part of our Diplomatic Hour series, hosting events with both His Excellency Mr Viljar Lubi, Ambassador of Estonia, and Her Excellency Ms Simona Leskovar, Ambassador of Slovenia. Both sessions provided fascinating insights into the respective bilateral relationships, as well as wider global challenges. Particular attention was given to the ongoing Russian invasion of Ukraine, the future of the EU and NATO, and how to collectively meet global security and economic challenges. We are very grateful to both Ambassadors for their time and their insights.
Women Shaping Global Politics
As part of our International Women’s Day celebrations we partnered with our sister organisations, British Expertise International and the D Group, for a panel event on ‘Women Shaping Global Politics’. We were delighted to be joined by Karin von Hippel, Director General of RUSI, Elisabeth Bowes, Deputy High Commissioner of Australia to the UK and Michelle Howard, Strategic Policy Advisor at the D Group, as speakers on the panel. It was a fascinating conversation which reflected on the myriad of global challenges we face (as well as some solutions!), and on the importance of female voices in meeting some of these challenges.
