Anna Patton Authors

Anna Patton

Anna Patton is a U.K.-based freelance journalist, an associate editor at Pioneers Post, and an accredited trainer in solutions journalism. She previously worked with development NGOs and EU/government institutions in Berlin, Brussels, and Dar es Salaam, and has led media projects with grassroots communities in Uganda and Kenya. Anna is a fellow of On Purpose, a social change leadership program.

Latest Articles

Accelerating Action: Produced in Partnership
Accelerating Action: Produced in Partnership
Mining for more: An innovative investment in maternal mental health
9 Dec 2024
An innovative pilot is exploring the integration of mental health support into existing maternal and immunization pathways in South Africa’s Limpopo province. But can it drive real, scalable impact?
For our Partners: Focus On: Youth
For our Partners: Focus On: Youth
The unlikely evidence gap in youth livelihoods work
13 Oct 2016
We still know little about what works — or even how much we’re spending — in helping young people to make a living. Does that matter?
Focus On: Youth
Focus On: Youth
A tentative 'youth spring' in the development sector
30 May 2016
Seeing young people merely as aid recipients or as the source of problems looks increasingly dated, as evidence mounts of the value that youth participation can bring to development. How are organizations integrating a new generation in their work — and how could they do better?
Social entrepreneurship
Social entrepreneurship
5 tips for social enterprises looking to scale
11 Jan 2016
Devex spoke to a number of entrepreneurs and organizations working to help them navigate growth in East Africa. Here are five tips they shared for how social enterprises can scale.
Exclusive Interview
Exclusive Interview
In search of impact: Laurie Lee on his new role at CARE
6 Oct 2014
From leading policy, advocacy and government relations at the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, Laurie Lee now finds himself on the implementing side of CARE International U.K. How will his experience with Gates shape the way he leads CARE? A Devex exclusive interview.
Expanding into the 'global south'
Expanding into the 'global south'
'Internationalizing' your NGO: 4 lessons from ActionAid
6 Oct 2014
Moving or expanding into developing countries requires careful planning — and ActionAid should know, being one of the first international NGOs to relocate to the "global south." We spoke with its strategic HR head, who shared insights on how to effectively negotiate the transition.
Branding
Branding
Up to 50 Oxfams: Balancing global brand and local legitimacy
1 Sep 2014
The need to strike a balance between wielding brand power and being sensitive to local contexts is not new. How is Oxfam International, which is planning to expand into dozens of new countries, navigating this balancing act?
Research & evaluation
Research & evaluation
Watchdog to DfID: Simplify systems, talk failure and learn better
18 Apr 2014
The U.K.'s huge investment in research and evaluation produces a wealth of information, but the government could do more to to learn from it and adapt its foreign aid projects. How? A Devex analysis.
Exclusive interview: Efua Dorkenoo
Exclusive interview: Efua Dorkenoo
'Nothing can stop' fight against female genital mutilation — advocacy group
2 Apr 2014
Female genital mutilation remains a global problem — but the mindset is changing at the grassroots level and progress is being made. Efua Dorkenoo from the End FGM Social Change Campaign tells us we’re close to a "tipping point" in the fight against this "sexual terrorism."
News: Humanitarian work
News: Humanitarian work
When aid workers ask for help — still a sign of weakness?
28 Mar 2014
Aid work is not an easy job, especially for those in conflict zones or dealing with extreme poverty, and humanitarians say they often need psychological support. We find out more about a new initiative that aims to address this concern.
See all articles by Anna Patton