Nov 21, 2025

BEI Weekly Update - 21st November 2025

by

David Landsman

by

Dear Members and Friends,

This week it was great to be able to welcome a good number of members and partners to Birdcage Walk for the first in a new series of discussions on the intersection between international development and geopolitics. Our focus on this occasion was on national security and international development. There’s more detail below on the panel and on our future plans for the series. I came away from this session with the sense that “everything has changed and nothing has changed”.

The geopolitics has certainly changed, manifested in the decision earlier this year to reduce ODA spending to fund an increase to the defence budget and reflected across a large part of Europe. The increased threat and a much tighter fiscal context have created a political need to justify international spending in terms of national interest. And yet on the ground (if not always so much in capitals) defence and development have always worked together. As neither the threats nor the fiscal pressure looks likely to abate any time soon, we are closer to being at the beginning of a process than at the end. Our series will continue to explore these themes with a view of breaking down silos and supporting our members to explore new opportunities.

Our panel for our “Intersections” event on Wednesday included: Zoe Swanick, Senior Researcher at the Coalition for Global Prosperity; Nick Moore, Principal Expert at Integrity Global; Dr Roli Asthana, Associate Fellow, UK in the World Programme at Chatham House; and Scott Gilfillan, Associate Director at Global Counsel. We explored how and where international development and defence intersect and how the UK can make the most of these synergies to support a coherent approach in line with the objectives set out in the National Security Strategy. Presentations covered both a conceptual approach to the intersection and practical examples of projects along with approaches to measuring impact. The discussion touched on how development can be seen in this context as a hard power asset and how changes to the way Government departments work together and a less siloed approach can support greater coherence and impact in the UK’s international effort. Next week we will be publishing the first in a series of pieces on the direction of international development, with insights and analysis from this week’s event to follow.

We’re now looking forward to next Thursday’s (virtual) session with members of the FCDO SME Advisory Forum from 15:00-16:00. We are delighted to continue this programme facilitating a dialogue between members of FCDO’s SME Advisory Forum and the wider community, with a view to ensuring that members of the Advisory Forum are briefed on the full range of views of the SME supplier community and to enable them to provide feedback on their meetings with FCDO. You can register here.

On 2 December, we look forward to welcoming members to ‘Working with the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD)’ with an update on the Bank’s strategy and useful guidance on navigating the procurement processes. This session will also include a briefing on EBRD’s infrastructure Project Preparation Facility and a review of the infrastructure project pipeline. To register, please click here.

On 4 December, those with an interest in water are invited to us virtually as we host the National Center for Waste Management (MWAN) and the Saudi Water Authority (SWA), in collaboration with DBT Saudi Arabia, for an overview of water sector opportunities in the Kingdom and a discussion of how UK organisations’ capabilities align with Saudi requirements. For more information and to register, click here.

Later, on 10 December from 10:00-11:00, please join us for a webinar discussion bringing together experts in Social and Emotional Learning (SEL) and delving into best-practice for integrating SEL into education systems globally. For more information and to register, see this link.

Finally, some BEI weekend reading. Our latest piece will be especially of interest to those working in infrastructure and water resilience. “Why Water is Everyone’s Business : A UK Perspective on Global Water Challenges” encapsulates the takeaways from our recent joint BEI – D Group event on the challenges opportunities associated with turning water risk into resilience.

My best wishes for a restful weekend to prepare for the excitements of next week’s Budget,

David Landsman

Executive Chairman

British Expertise International

‍Upcoming Events:

27th November 2025 15:00 – 16:00 GMT: SME wider community engagement with the FCDO SME Advisory Forum - BEI is delighted to continue supporting the members of FCDO’s SME Advisory Forum to engage with the wider SME community. Our aim is both to ensure that members of the Advisory Forum are briefed on the full range of views of the SME supplier community and to enable them to provide feedback on the discussions after their meetings.‍
2nd December 2025 15:00 – 17:30 GMT: Working with the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) - Join us at 1 Birdcage Walk or virtually as we host the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) for an update on the bank’s strategy and guidance on navigating its procurement processes. In addition, there will be a briefing on EBRD’s infrastructure Project Preparation Facility and a review of the infrastructure project pipeline.‍
4th December 2025 10:00 – 11:00 GMT: Water & Waste Management Opportunities in Saudi Arabia - Join us virtually as we host the National Center for Waste Management (MWAN) and the Saudi Water Authority (SWA), as well as DBT Saudi Arabia, for an overview of water sector opportunities in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and how UK organisations’ capabilities align with Saudi requirements.‍
10th December 2025 10:00 – 11:00 GMT: Integrating Social and Emotional Learning (SEL) into Education Systems - Join us for a webinar discussion bringing together experts in Social and Emotional Learning (SEL) and delving into best-practice for integrating SEL into education systems globally.

External Events and Reports:

13th January 2026 - UK-Asian Development Bank Business Connect: Advancing Partnerships through Infrastructure and Innovation - SAVE THE DATE - This half-day event, taking place in Singapore (venue TBC) is hosted by the UK’s Department for Business and Trade, in collaboration with the Asian Development Bank’s Singapore Office, with the aim of deepening UK business engagement with ADB and showcase UK innovation, expertise and available financing solutions across ADB’s priority sectors.

Register for an upcoming event →