‘Brave New World: The changing face of aid and development’

Share this

The relationship between the developed and developing countries used to be - or seemed to be – straightforward, according to Myles Wickstead, Visiting Professor to the Open University. 

Professor Wickstead is giving a lecture in UCC on ‘Brave New World: The changing face of aid and development’ at 6pm on Thursday 15th March, in Boole 2 lecture theatre as part of the Global Challenges Lecture Series organised by UCC’s Centre for Global Development.

The certainties of that world are certain no longer he says.  The slow burn of change was accelerated by the financial crisis, and a new world order is emerging. It is an order in which nothing is neat, countries are unclear about their continuing or emerging role and responsibilities, and in which increasingly countries across the globe face common challenges such as climate change and the consequences of a rapidly increasing population - including potential shortages of water, food and jobs. Is there a convincing case for aid in this new world? And is that the same as supporting development?

Myles Wickstead was, from early 2004 to late 2005, Head of Secretariat to the Commission for Africa (CfA). The Commission’s Report 'Our Common Interest’ formed the basis of the G8 Gleneagles Communique on Africa. The Commission in September 2010 produced a follow-up Report – 'Still Our Common Interest’ – to report on progress against the CfA’s recommendations.

Professor Wickstead has a long history of involvement with, and working in, Africa. Between 1993 and 1997 he was based in Nairobi as Head of the British Development Division in Eastern Africa, responsible for British Government development programmes in Kenya, Tanzania and Uganda. He coordinated the 1997 Government White Paper ‘Eliminating World Poverty: A Challenge for the 21st Century’; served on the Board of the World Bank (and as Development Counsellor at the British Embassy) in Washington from 1997 to 2000; and from 2000 to 2004 was based in Addis Ababa as British Ambassador to Ethiopia and Djibouti.

Having left Government service in late 2005, Wickstead is now Visiting Professor (International Relations) at the Open University and is on the Boards of a number of NGOs, Trusts and Foundations. He was Chair of CONCERN UK until mid-2011; Independent Vice-Chair of the Westminster Foundation for Democracy until January 2012; and has been a Board member of the British Institute in Eastern Africa, the Crown Agents’ Foundation and the Development Studies Association. He is currently Chair of One World Media (OWM); and Board member of the Baring Foundation, the Comic Relief International Grants Committee, the II Foundation (International Inspiration is delivering the Olympic legacy to reach 12 million children in 20 partner countries) and the Advisory Council of Wilton Park. He is a Specialist Advisor to the Parliamentary International Development Select Committee.

Professor Wickstead has degrees from the Universities of St Andrews (MA First Class Honours) and Oxford (M.Litt), and has been awarded Honorary Doctorates by Leeds Met University, the Open University and the University of Ulster in recognition of his work onAfrica. In the New Year’s Honours 2006 he was appointed CBE.

For further information contact Dr Paul Conway, UCC Tel 087-939-9358 or Ms Ruth Mc Donnell, UCC Tel 086-0468950.

« Previous Item

Next Item »




« Back to 2012 Press Releases