BEI Weekly Update - 13th March 2026

Dear Members and Friends,

In times of uncertainty on a larger or smaller scale, I’ve found that the biggest challenge can be to keep on top what remains the essential “business as usual” while managing the implications of the crisis in real time. I suspect many of our members and friends will be experiencing something like this right now.

For our part, while sensitive to the pressures our stakeholders are under, our regular programme continues, as does our planning around the key events coming up in the months ahead from the Global Partnerships Conference to Education World Forum and London Climate Action Week, as well as our planned engagements with the Multilateral Development Banks and, of course, not forgetting our regular “Meet the Ambassador” series which we hope to run this year aligned with the FCDO’s Leadership Conference week.

This week we held three interesting webinars on very different subjects. On Tuesday, it was great to be able to welcome Cynthia Rowe, FCDO Development Director for Nigeria, who shared her insights on the country programme at a challenging time for the sector.  Among the topics covered was how UK expertise can be best mobilised to deliver development programmes within a shift “from donor to investor”. Underlying this of course is the as yet unconfirmed details of the ODA allocations in the coming weeks, for which all our international development members will be keenly waiting.

On Thursday, we turned to the transformation of India’s Water Sector, focusing on non-revenue water (NRW) trends and growth opportunities. Our speakers included Jinoos Shariati, First Secretary (Trade), Department of Business & Trade, British High Commission; Rohit Chandragiri, National Lead – Water Sector, Department of Business & Trade, British High Commission, Ashok Natarajan, CEO Steady Taps, Former CEO, Tamil Nadu Water Investment Company; Dr Vidya Sagar, Chief Technology Officer- Water Technology Centre, L&T Water & Effluent Treatment business; and Simon Ayley, Director at WRc. In a wide-ranging discussion, we explored investment trends in urban water supply infrastructure, key priorities for reducing NRW and emerging opportunities for UK organisations. Many thanks to our speakers for joining us, and to the UK High Commission in India for working with us on this event.  

While we’re on India, it’s good to hear from our colleagues at DBT that the UK-India Free Trade Agreement (FTA) is expected to enter into force this Spring. To take advantage of preferential tariff rates, businesses must register through the HMRC Origin Registration Portal. A summary of the key details and a link to the portal can be found here.

On Thursday afternoon, we were pleased to be able to facilitate another in our a series of discussions designed to connect the FCDO SME Advisory Forum with the wider SME community. The session was chaired by Dominic Le Moignan, Executive Director at GovRisk and David Fleming, Partner at Itad; it was good also to be joined by Elaine Woodbine and Diane Roy from the FCDO. This was a useful opportunity for members of the Advisory Forum to report back on their recent meeting and to hear views from a diverse range of SMEs. Thank you to all who helped make this possible.

Next week, we have a busy round of geographically-focused events. On Tuesday from 09:00-10:30 GMT, we look forward to a session on COP17 which will focus on Urban and Rural Synergies for Water Resilience in Mongolia. We will be joined by H.E. Battumur Enkhsukh, Mongolian Ambassador to the UK, alongside a range of experts on water resilience from both Mongolia and the UK. If you are interested in joining, please register here.

Also next week, I hope our infrastructure members will join us on Wednesday 18 March from 14:00-16:30 for a dialogue with a delegation from the Ministry of Roads and Highways of Ghana. This roundtable will provide a platform for members to engage directly with representatives of the Government of Ghana, to gain market insights and showcase their expertise. If you are interested in joining, please contact Alex Murr at am@britishexpertise.org.  

Finally, on Thursday 19 March from 11:00-13:00 GMT, we will welcome Greg Watkins MBE, Executive Director at the British Chamber of Commerce Thailand for a Market Opportunity Update. We will explore opportunities for UK organisations as well as an update of the political and economic context on the ground. This roundtable will be useful for members working across a range of sectors in Thailand and the wider region, including infrastructure, education and skills, and climate. If you are a BEI member and are interested in joining, please do register on our website. If you are not a BEI member, please get in touch at events@britishexpertise.org.  

BEI members have been active in South America exploring infrastructure financing in the region, from Argentina to Uruguay and Paraguay. We will publish a summary and key insights from the mission in the near future and will be following up with further events. A very special thanks to Sasha Barnes for putting her BEI hat on once again to lead this programme.  

Last but by no means, least, I recently mentioned that BEI will be moving to a model in which our team is supplemented by the appointment of Senior Advisers to enhance our sectoral offering to members. In this vein, I am delighted to welcome John Pelton, who has joined us as Senior Adviser for infrastructure. John has spent the past 15 years working with many major infrastructure programmes, including HS2, CrossRail, EWR and Parliament’s R&R, and brings a wealth of experience of the delivery of such programmes and the lessons learned. As part of his portfolio, he is also Honorary Professor of Construction Management at UCL’s Bartlett School for Sustainable Construction. Drawing on all his experience, John will be available to support the range of members’ international activities; do get in touch with him at jp@britishexpertise.org.

Whether you are travelling (as I am, to South Asia) or staying put, my best wishes for the weekend ahead,

‍

David Landsman

Executive Chair  

British Expertise International

Upcoming BEI Events:

• 17th March 2026 09:00 – 10:30 GMT: Towards COP17: Urban and Rural Synergies for Water Resilience in Mongolia - As COP17 draws global attention to climate resilience, this platform will showcase current Mongolian efforts and discuss transferable tools and innovations with UK water experts. This virtual panel will convene policymakers, researchers and practitioners to explore Integrated Catchment Management (ICM) strategies that can reinforce water security and drive sustainable development across both urban and rural settings in the Tuul River Basin.
• 18th March 2026  14:00 – 16:30 GMT: Roundtable with the Ministry of Roads and Highways, Ghana - Join us for a dialogue with a delegation from the Ministry of Roads and Highways of Ghana. This roundtable event will provide the Ministry with the opportunity to engage with UK companies with an interest in Ghana, as well as providing a platform for UK organisations to gain market insights and demonstrate their expertise.
• 19th March 2026 11:00 – 13:00 GMT: Market Opportunity Update: Thailand - Join us for a roundtable with the British Chamber of Commerce Thailand exploring opportunities for UK organisations in the region. The session will provide an update of the political and economic context on the ground, alongside sectoral focuses on infrastructure, education and skills, and climate change.
• Date and Time TBC: Infrastructure Deep Dive - Republic of Korea - Join us for a virtual Market Opportunity Overview on the Republic of Korea to explore opportunities for UK organisations looking to work in the region. This session will highlight available support for UK private sector delivery partners and offer a platform for discussions of success, challenges and market access barriers.
• Date and Time TBC: Skills for the Future - This session will provide a platform for learning and collaboration between partners and organisations providing skills programmes. Decisions made today about education, workforce readiness, and social development will determine the level of resilience to future challenges, especially related to increasingly harsh climate conditions. As such, this session will focus on digital skills, green skills, and the inclusion of marginalised groups.
• Date and Time TBC: In conversation with Africa EdTech Exchange (AEE): Opportunities for Partnership and Innovation - This webinar is an opportunity to meet the team behind the Africa EdTech Exchange (AEE) following its launch at Bett UK, and to connect with African EdTech companies driving innovation and reform in Education across the continent and beyond.
• Date and Time TBC: Strengthening Equitable and Inclusive Health - This in-person panel event will explore best practice for strengthening global health systems. With a focus on equitable and inclusive health, the session will highlight gender and disability inclusion, with a deep dive on Sexual and Reproductive Health and Rights (SHRH) programming within international development programming.
• Date and Time TBC: Working with the Inter-American Development Bank - Preceding the Inter-American Development Bank's (IDB) visit to the UK in early June, join us for this virtual session exploring the IDB's work as a principle source of financing, technical expertise and knowledge for sustainable and inclusive development. Our panel of speakers from the IDB will share an update on its strategy, alongside information about how it works with suppliers and guidance on navigating its procurement process.

Register for an upcoming event →

External Events and Resources:

• 18th March 2026 10:00 - 17:00 GMT: Workshop Series with the Embassy of Kazakhstan in the UK - This workshop series will include briefings by senior officials of the Government of Kazakhstan on critical minerals, digital transformation and AI, civil nuclear energy, and transport and logistics  in the "Middle Corridor". The workshop will take place at Kazakhstan House, 125 Pall Mall London, SW1Y 5EA. RSVP via t.kapyshov@mfa.kz and ab.besken@mfa.kz.
• 14th-25th April 2026: International Forum “Partnership for Sustainable Development: Green. Digital. Smart” in Dushanbe, Republic of Tajikistan - The International University of Tourism and Entrepreneurship of Tajikistan (IUTET), in coordination with the Government of the Republic of Tajikistan, is organizing the International Forum "Partnership for Sustainable Development: GREEN. DIGITAL. SMART".‍
• Cambridge Education Legacy Webinar Series - A special legacy webinar series sharing key lessons from 45 years of supporting education systems worldwide, with a look ahead to the future of the global education sector.‍
• AI for Social Impact Webcast Series from Accenture - A series of one-hour sessions, open to all organizations in the social impact sector including non-profits and social enterprises. Each webcast will focus on a key theme within AI, designed to be relevant and applicable to social impact organizations of a variety of sizes, geographies, and current levels of AI proficiency.
• City & Guilds: Essential Digital Skills: Employer Perceptions Survey

News & Articles:

• News: John Pelton MBE Joins British Expertise International (BEI) as Senior Adviser by British Expertise International
• News: Strategy International Group’s Advisory Board Member: The Lord Forbes of Newcastle CBE by British Expertise International
• Press Release: Minister Gabriel Oddone travels to the United Kingdom to strengthen economic and financial ties by the Ministry of Economy and Finance, Uruguay
• Press Release: British Expertise International – Helping UK Education Service Providers to Forge Global Partnerships by British Expertise International
• Yearly review: Strategy International 2025 Yearbook by Strategy International
• Article: 2025 Christmas Message from British Expertise International
• Report: From Strategy to Delivery: What New Zealand Can Learn from the UK Infrastructure System from Infrastructure New Zealand
• Written evidence: Future of UK aid and development assistance from British Expertise International
• Communique: UK and Overseas Territories Joint Ministerial Council 2025: communiqué from the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office
• Article: Infrastructure as Legacy: UK Perspectives on Strategic Delivery and Innovation by Sasha Barnes and Sofia Pennacchietti
• Press Release: Overseas Territories Joint Ministerial Council Business Engagement Session from British Expertise International
• Article: Why Water is Everyone’s Business: A UK Perspective on Global Water Challenges by Evie Ramsay
• Article: Ukraine’s Recovery – Mobilising Private Sector Engagement by Sasha Barnes
• Article: Global Energy Landscapes: Key Takeaways and Insights by Sofia Pennacchietti
• Press Release: Minister of Public Works and Infrastructure, South Africa, Mr Dean Macpherson at British Expertise International (BEI) from British Expertise International
• Article: Shaping the Future of the Higher Education Sector by Evie Ramsay
• Article: With FCDO slashing budgets, where will UK NGOs turn for funding? from DevEx
• Report: Water Resilience - Unlocking local and global benefits through collaboration (Second Edition) by British Expertise International & Water Resilience Working Group
• Report: Systems Strengthening: The UK Education providers’ contribution to the global education systems by British Expertise International & Education Working Group
• Report: Beyond Boundaries: The Role of UK-Based Organisations in Advancing Global Gender Equality and Social Inclusion by British Expertise International and its members delivering GES

Not a member?

Apply for membership →

‍
Learn more

For more information about British Expertise International: Sign up to receive this Weekly Update

• View our upcoming events
• Becoming a member
• Follow us on X‍
• Follow us on Linkedin