BEI Weekly Update - 6th March 2026

Dear Members and Friends,

The developments of recent days in the Middle East and the ripple effects across the world including at home will likely continue to dominate our thinking for some time to come. Many of you will have colleagues as well as family and friends in the region and their safety will of course be your first priority. On a happy note, we are delighted to welcome back BEI’s very own Sue, safely returned from Dubai. If the situation in the region is impacting on your business and we can help in any way, please let us know.

We’ve had a busy week at Birdcage Walk. We hosted a panel event on the ethical uses of AI in international development. We were joined by Nick Canning, Head of Education at Faculty, Sara Wahedi, CEO Civaam and Technology Specialist at the Oxford Institute of Technology and Justice, and Jon Faulkner, Managing Director at Cowater UK.

The discussion explored the roles of governments and the private sector in shaping and managing the use of AI in international development, from how AI can accelerate development to the importance of localisation and social protection measures, and the potential benefits and specificities of adoption in low and middle income countries. Speakers drew on case studies from development programming in Rwanda, Ukraine, Malawi and Morocco and highlighted best practices for enabling more of the world to harness the benefits of AI, alongside key considerations for adapting these technologies and mitigating associated risks.

There’s a geographical focus to a number of forthcoming events. On Tuesday 10 March from 14:00-15:00 GMT, we look forward to hearing from Cynthia Rowe, FCDO Development Director in Nigeria in the first of a new round of discussions with Development Directors. Cynthia will present the FCDO’s development strategy, programming and pipeline of opportunities in Nigeria. Click here to register.

On Thursday 12 March, we will turn our attention to India, with another virtual event on the water sector. The session will highlight the recent UK-India Free Trade Agreement and its implications for ease of doing business in the water sector, government-funded programmes, and opportunities in the Indian water supply sector, as well as case studies from private-sector operators in the region. Click here to register.

We’re glad to be continuing our series of events to facilitate engagement between the FCDO SME Advisory Forum and the wider SME community – open to members and non-members alike – with a virtual session on Thursday 14:00-15:00 GMT. This session will be led by Dominic Le Moignan, Executive Director at GovRisk and David Fleming, Partner at Itad. The aim is both to ensure that members of the Advisory Forum can suppliers on the outcome of the Advisory Forum meetings and can hear feedback on wider SME concerns. Please register here.

The following week on 17 March from 09:00-10:30 GMT we are hosting a webinar on the upcoming UNCCD COP17. This session will explore urban and rural synergies for water resilience in Mongolia. If you are interested, register here.

Infrastructure members may be interested in an event with a delegation from the Ministry of Roads and Highways from Ghana on 18 March – for more details on this, visit our website here, and to register your interest please email Alex Murr via am@britishexpertise.org.

On 19 March we will also be hosting a Market Opportunity Update on Thailand with the British Chamber of Commerce Thailand. This session will provide an update of the political and economic context on the ground, as well as a sectoral focuses on infrastructure, education and skills, and climate change. If you are interested, please do email Sofia Pennacchietti via sp@britishexpertise.org.

Those who found this week’s session on AI useful (or would like to have attended) may be interested in BEI member Accenture’s upcoming series of events on AI for Social Impact. This is a series of one-hour sessions, open to all organisations in the social impact sector including non-profits and social enterprises. Each webcast will focus on a key theme in AI, of relevance to social impact organisations of all sizes, geographies, and current levels of AI proficiency. The sessions are tailored for non-technical audiences, while also offering deeper dives into practical applications. The content draws on Accenture’s latest insights from private sector projects, thought leadership, and hands-on social impact sector experience, ensuring a blend of foundational knowledge and sector-specific perspectives. If you would like to join, please register here to access this session and all upcoming webcasts.

At the end of a turbulent week, warm wishes for a safe and restful weekend for all, wherever you are,

David Landsman

Executive Chair  

British Expertise International

Event Recordings and Resources:

(Member access only)‍

• 12th February 2026 - Reducing Risk & Unlocking Funding for Water Resilience
• 27th January 2026 - Unlocking Free Trade Agreements and CPTPP in Practice
• 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:

• 10th March 2026 14:00 – 15:00 GMT: FCDO Development Director Series: Nigeria - Join us as we host Cynthia Rowe, Development Director in Nigeria for the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO), who will present FCDO’s development strategy, programming and pipeline of opportunities in Nigeria.
• 12th March 2026 10:30 – 12:00 GMT: Transforming India’s Water Sector: Non-Revenue Water Trends & Growth Opportunities - In collaboration with the UK Department for Business and Trade and the British High Commission in India, this upcoming webinar will discuss investment trends in urban water‑supply infrastructure, key priorities around reducing Non‑Revenue Water, and emerging opportunities for UK companies.
• 12th March 2026 14:00 – 15:00 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.
• 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.
• 12th May 2025 09:30 – 11:00 BST: Market Opportunity Overview - 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:

• 10th - 11th March 2026: UK–Cambodia Skills & TVET Forum 2026 - Join leaders from government, development partners, industry, and training institutions will convene for a high‑impact event. The forum will highlight our shared ambitions to improve the quality, relevance, and accessibility of skills training, drawing on UK expertise and experience. Please register your participation by 24 February 2026 at commercial.phnompenh@fcdo.gov.uk.‍
• 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: 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

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