The departure of William Hague and Allan Duncan from the Foreign & Commonwealth Office and the U.K. Department for International Development, respectively, will surely usher in a new area for British foreign aid, but U.K.-based NGOs are hopeful their successors will continue their legacy and decent track record on some poverty eradication efforts.
Angela Salt, director of VSO UK, commended Hague for his global leadership and “galvanizing the international community to action” on women’s rights and ending sexual violence in conflict, as well as for recognizing young people as “critical actors” in international development.
“Today’s young people make up one quarter of the world’s population, and 90 percent of them live in developing countries. They are shaping social and economic development, challenging social norms and values, and of course building the foundation of the world’s future,” Salt told Devex, adding that involving young people in the Preventing Sexual Violence Initiative Summit in London last June demonstrated Hague’s commitment to engaging the youth in a global initiative he spearheaded and that he will continue to be involved in even after departing the FCO.
About the author
Jenny Lei Ravelo@JennyLeiRavelo
Jenny Lei Ravelo is a Devex Senior Reporter based in Manila. She covers global health, with a particular focus on the World Health Organization, and other development and humanitarian aid trends in Asia Pacific. Prior to Devex, she wrote for ABS-CBN, one of the largest broadcasting networks in the Philippines, and was a copy editor for various international scientific journals. She received her journalism degree from the University of Santo Tomas.
