BEI Weekly Update - 23rd January 2026

Dear Members and Friends,

At the end of this week, the line attributed to Lenin about weeks in which decades happen sounds less like a glib sound bite than a statement of fact. With so much noise - on all sides - we shouldn’t pretend we know what the long-term consequences will be. But we shouldn’t comfort ourselves that it’s all theatre, and that when we emerge into the fresh air after the performance, everything will be “back to normal”.  

I had the opportunity earlier in the week with some of our international development members to discuss some of the broader trends and what the sector can do to succeed within the new context, in the UK and internationally. Among other issues, we looked at the interface between development and national security, opportunities in ODA programmes in the remit of departments outside FCDO, as well as work within emerging bilateral donors, MDBs (more news to come) and foundations. You’ll see these in the coming weeks reflected in our 2026 programme.

Dragging ourselves away from the rolling news, we have had a busy week at BEI, in particular with a full programme of education events taking advantage of BETT, reported in more detail below. As we prepare for another series around EWF, do get in touch if you would like to discuss your priorities.  

On Monday, we had five events taking place in the margins of BETT. We began with a roundtable with the Ministry of Primary and Secondary Education from Indonesia. In line with SDG4, Indonesia has seen a series of educational reforms in the country to ensure quality education for students - the session fostered dialogue on policymaking, school governance, curriculum standards, and accreditation. Many thanks to our speakers from the Ministry and our members for the discussion, which I know was useful for many.  

We were later delighted to welcome back the Southeast Asian Ministers of Education Organization (SEAMEO) Secretariat for a roundtable to discuss opportunities and priorities in the region. We covered a range of topics, from AI and coding in curriculum to disability and gender inclusion. Many thanks to Datuk Dr. Habibah Abdul Rahim, Director of the SEAMEO Secretariat and Carlos Fernando for joining us.

We then moved on to a roundtable with a delegation visiting from Kazakhstan, led by Serik Kalkamanov, Director of the Department of International Cooperation, at the Ministry of Science and Higher Education. We were delighted to hear from Mr Ruslan Karabulov, Chargé d'Affaires of the Republic of Kazakhstan in the UK and H.E. Sally Axworthy, His Majesty’s Ambassador to Kazakhstan.  

After the roundtable we were delighted to be able to host signing ceremonies for three Memoranda of Understanding between Efekta and the Satbayev University, Suleyman Demirel University (SDU) and London Birkbeck, and the Kazakh Ministry of HIgher Education and Apprentify. We then were then joined by delegations from across Central Asia as well as their London Embassies for a reception, providing an excellent opportunity for members working in the region to continue conversations started at BETT or indeed long before. Many thanks to all those who joined us and for making (what seemed like a decade’s worth of activities) take place in just one day.  

On Thursday, we held a webinar on insights from COP30. As COP30 wrapped up in Belém against a tense geopolitical background, policymakers, investors and business representatives met to reflect on a conference that indicated a shift in focus towards delivery rather than new headline pledges. Our panel of speakers, which included Debbie Hiller, Mercy Corps’ policy lead for UNFCCC and the Zurich Climate Resilience Alliance Programme; Martin Shouler, Arup’s London Water Leader; and Yukiko Yamada Morovic, Technical Director for Environmental Sustainability and Climate Action at World Vision shared their on-the-ground insights from Belém and explored what the resulting signals, mechanisms and initiatives may mean longer term.  

Next week, we look forward to a webinar on Tuesday 27th January from 10:00 to 11:30, on unlocking the benefits of free trade agreements and the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP). This session is taking place in partnership with DBT to explore opportunities for UK business exporting services as a result of enhanced trade agreements between the UK and its key partners. If you’re interested, please register here.

Finally, our colleagues at the Future Leaders Group are in the process of recruiting for the next programme starting in September 2026. The course is designed to help develop high-potential talent for senior and Board-level leadership through a combination of personal development, business skills and high-level networking. From what I’ve seen, previous participants from private and public sectors have gained immensely from the programme and also come away with a valuable and enduring network. You can find out more on the FLG website and LinkedIn page or by emailing Elizabeth Beroud at elizabeth@futureleadersgroup.uk.

Whether you have been with us at our many events this week, or just watching the news, you probably need a break.  Best wishes for a restful weekend.

David Landsman

Executive Chair  

British Expertise International

Event Recordings and Resources:

(Member access only)‍

• 22nd January 2026 - COP30 Insights
• 10th December 2025 - Integrating Social and Emotional Learning (SEL) into Education Systems
• 2nd December 2025 - Working with the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development
• 4th November 2025 - India - Water Resilience
• 23rd October 2025 - Trade and Investment Opportunities in the British Overseas Territories
• 18th September 2025 - Infrastructure Opportunities in South Africa
• 16th September 2025 - Meet UKEF: Asia and the Middle-East

Upcoming BEI Events:

• 27th January 2026 10:00 – 11:30 GMT: Unlocking Free Trade Agreements and CPTPP in Practice - This session, hosted in partnership with the UK Department for Business and Trade (DBT), will explore opportunities for UK businesses exporting services as a result of a number of recent bilateral Free Trade Agreements (FTA’s) between the UK and its key partners. The session will provide an overview of the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP) and how it supports UK business.‍
• 10th February 2026 13:30 – 15:00 GMT: Meet the Minister of Economy & Finance, Uruguay -  Join us for a dialogue with Gabriel Oddone, Minister of Economy & Finance in Uruguay, and senior colleagues from the Ministry of Economy & Finance This roundtable event will provide the Minister with the opportunity to engage with UK companies with an interest in Uruguay, as well as providing a platform for UK organisations to gain market insights and demonstrate their expertise.‍
• 12th February 2025 14:00 – 15:30 GMT: Reducing Risk & Unlocking Funding for Water Resilience- Adaptation finance for the water sector remains minimal compared to the level of need. This session, in partnership with Arup, will aim to help UK organisations better understand the conditions for creating investment-ready environments which reduce climate risk and unlock funding for vital urban water infrastructure.‍
• 19th February 2026 12:00 – 13:00 GMT: Water Resilience Working Group - The UK has a distinctive offer and world-leading expertise in sustainable and climate-resilient water services. This group, in partnership with UK government, IFIs and other key stakeholders, aims to define that offer and leverage it to increase exports.‍
• 26th February 2026 13:30 – 15:30 GMT: ICAI review: UK Aid for Energy Transition - A new review from the Independent Commission for Aid Impact (ICAI) assesses the effectiveness of the UK’s support for clean energy transition in low- and middle-income countries. Join Harold Freeman, Lead Commissioner at ICAI for the UK aid for energy transition review, and other panellists to discuss the findings of the report and how UK aid can be used most effectively to meet this global challenge.

Register for an upcoming event →

News & Articles:

• 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

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