Back to the future?

My previous role at the UK Foreign Office was in Africa Directorate. Before that in Strategy Directorate, before that at the UN in Geneva and before that in East Africa. With other bits and bobs in between. Since staring Participate World in January with Tom Williams, I have tried to find links with the various threads of my diplomatic life.

Partly it’s easier to work with existing networks. But it’s also about consolidation of experience, of networks, of projects to create lasting positive impact at scale.

It was therefore great to connect with Christopher Forsythe, founder of the Forsports Foundation in Ghana that uses community football for social good. To hear from Hywel George about Griot Ltd’s work in Kenya to help communities access water and their support for community running initiatives for wildlife conservation (of interest to you Alain MUKIRANYA?). And to know that Tom is again in touch with the World Health Organisation in Geneva to explore the potential for global community sport projects for global health outcomes.

I am also excited to get back to diplomacy 101 next week at the European Negotiation Conference hosted by Sorbonne University in Paris. There’s a session on conflict resolution through sport where I look forward to exploring why and how community sport is right at the heart of that.

Not quite back to the future, but an exciting feeling this week of old life meets new.

(The picture is of a younger me somewhere amongst many diplomats at the UN in Geneva).