BEI Weekly Update
Jul 22, 2022

BEI Weekly Update — 22nd July 2022

Dear Members and Friends,

After an incredibly hot start to the week, we have been delighted to host a number of very powerful events this week.

On Wednesday 20th July, the BEI Education Working Group were delighted to host an in-person round table with Azerbaijan’s Minister of Education, Emin Amrullayev. The Minister shared details on the Ministry of Education’s strategy, insights on ways of working with British organisations and institutions, and Azerbaijan’s needs in the education and skills space. The Ministry’s focus on long-term partnerships and new desired models is particularly encouraging. We look forward to exploring a potential education sector trade mission to Azerbaijan and supporting our members in their follow up efforts.

On the same day, we hosted an event on UK Public Opinion on International Development in conversation with Sophia Gaston Director of the British Foreign Policy Group (BFPG). Sophia shared the highlights of their recently completed Annual Survey of UK Public Opinion on Foreign Policy — the leading study of British attitudes on international affairs. In a fascinating presentation and Q&A session, Sophia highlighted the current attitudes expressed by the UK public on Foreign Policy issues and gave some observations around the recently published International Development Strategy. She encouraged proactivity by UK based businesses in demonstrating their capabilities and track record to support the UK’s role internationally.

On Thursday 21st July, we were delighted to host a session on Working with The Millennium Challenge Corporation (MCC). The presenter shared details of MCC’s strategy and provided information on navigating the procurement processes. The MCC also shared details of its key sectors and focus areas, including roads and transport infrastructure, education, energy, health, water sanitation & irrigation and agriculture.

Moving into the final week of July, on 27th July, join us for a presentation on the Independent Commission for Aid Impact (ICAI) rapid review on ‘Tackling fraud in UK Aid’, which will cover two reviews, firstly the rapid review on tackling fraud in UK aid and a more recent review on tackling fraud in UK aid through multilateral organisations. The ICAI team will be joined by FCDO colleagues who will also offer insights into the review and their activities. The UK government committed to ensuring a ‘truly transparent, efficient system’ linking multilateral funding to performance.

Join us on 28th July for a presentation by FCDO Development Director, Annabel Gerry, as she shares insights on UK’s ODA funded development support priorities for Pakistan and how these align with the UK government’s International Development Strategy. Almost a third of Pakistan’s population lives in poverty, with women most seriously affected.

Our plans for Autumn are taking great shape. Our intent is to provide a programme that will enable engagement with key stakeholders across the broad range of interest areas our members are involved in. It will include

  • A series of events with HM’s Trade Commissioners and the UK PM’s Trade Envoys
  • A series of country specific overviews with Heads of Mission and their DIT colleagues exploring specific market opportunities across Physical Infrastructure, Education, Climate and Development
  • Deep dives on opportunities in each of the key thematic areas our working groups focus on — including Infrastructure/Built Environment, the Climate related themes; opportunities across the Education spectrum
  • A series of sessions on country specific ODA funded development priorities with the FCDO Country Directors
  • Events exploring key themes of Supply Chain Resilience and best practice in ESG

I will be circulating a summary of this Autumn Programme to all members next week, before we take a few weeks’ break on events and the weekly Newsletter.

With the slightly more relaxed temperature, I hope your weekend is both relaxing and enjoyable.

With Best Wishes
Derrick

Derrick Sanyahumbi
Chief Executive Officer
British Expertise International

Don’t forget…

See our full events programme here, and to enquire about becoming a member of BEI, register your interest here.

Join our Working Groups — as part of our member focus, the working groups offer opportunities for peer-to-peer engagement, learning & sharing, profiling expertise & capabilities and highlighting thought leadership. Groups include Climate Change, Education, and Equity, Diversity & Inclusion, and we also support a Safeguarding Leads Network. For details, please contact our events team.

Join our LinkedIn Group and keep up with our news and our upcoming events highlights. Members can also post and share latest news and thought leadership. Join the group here.

Upcoming Events

For any event registration support please contact the events team. Click on titles to access full event details. The full Autmn/Winter Calendar of events will be available in coming weeks.

27th July — ICAI Rapid Review Presentation: Tackling fraud in UK Aid through multilateral organisation

28th July — FCDO Pakistan: Development Priorities: UK’s development support priorities for Pakistan

7th September — FCDO Ethiopia: Development Priorities: UK’s development support priorities for Ethiopia
14th September — Middle East Opportunities for UK Business with HM Trade commissioner Simon Penney

13th October — The Aga Khan Foundation

External News & Events


15th September — 2nd Arab British Economic Summit. ABES 2022 will bring together senior government officials, ministers, diplomats, executives, investors and decision makers from the public and private sectors of the UK and the 22 Arab countries. It is a forum that attracts high calibre speakers who share their wealth of expertise and experience with the global audience of business owners, investors and exporters. ABES 2022 is organised by the Arab British Chamber of Commerce, a trusted champion of the Arab-British partnership and an influential voice for business within the UK and Arab World. For more details, click here: https://www.arabbritisheconomicsummit.com/

28th — 29th September — Field Electronics and Sensors Training: the UK Centre for Ecology & Hydrology (UKCEH) one-day BEGINNER course will give participants an introduction to electronics as applied to environmental sensors in the field. The one-day ADVANCED course will build on the Beginners course and Learners will gain advanced knowledge on data logging systems, sensors, communication protocols and remote data downloading. Find more details HERE.

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