I am delighted to be awarded the ‘Best Online Social Impact Journalist’ at the 2018 GHP Social Care Awards. Whoever nominated me, I am very grateful. Do drop me note via my contact form when you can.

I created this space 18 months ago because I wanted to explore new ways of discussing the ‘big questions’ in global development. Through my practice, I have discovered that the most progressive type of conversations about development are the ones which accommodate shortcomings, creative tensions and contradictions because that is what our world is composed of.

In his recent conversation with Prince Harry, Barack Obama echoed my sentiments, when he proposed that public conversations should allow a ‘multiplicity of voices, diversity of views and…ways of finding common ground.’ Although he assigned the responsibility of ‘creating common spaces’ to leaders, I believe it’s everyone’s political responsibility and freedom to create this ‘common space’. There are exciting new developments in this area such as ‘The Civil Conversations’ project by Krista Tippett, and the recently launched Creative Tensions project by IDEO. I am thrilled to be part of an increasing movement calling for a different type of public dialogue.

Digging Deeper is part of my life’s purpose and I am excited to see what contribution it will make in shifting the culture of public dialogue in our world. I’m proud of my consistency and the challenges I have overcome to stay committed and inspired. A big thank you to all the publications that have featured my work – On Being, UN Human Development Report and Overseas Development Institute. Lastly, I’m thankful to you for making time to read my work, for allowing it to move you and for challenging me to do better when I slip up. I am excited for this year and the growth opportunities unfolding.

To celebrate this milestone, here is a recap of the 10 most read blogs (in order) and some fun facts!

• Just how decent is ‘decent work’? Why the ILO decent work agenda is incomplete.
• Civilising power: The future of civil society in global governance
• Trump-ing climate change: How narratives can save the planet
• Leaving the UK Behind? A review of the UK government’s policy paper ‘Agenda 2030: Delivering the Global Goals.’
• It’s as if nothing is happening to nobody: A survivor describes life after prostitution – This is a guest post by survivor activist, Rebecca Mott.
• Bring the pain closer: Why we fail to communicate poverty with humanity 
• Dying to work: The relationship between work and human development. I wrote this on a very long car journey to Petra in Jordan!
• Wangari Maathai as UN Secretary General
• The physics of political momentum: How to accelerate progress on the #SDGs
• Yes UNDP, Poverty isn’t permanent, but development is

I also wanted to make time to celebrate other women who are using writing in provocative ways to make sense of this crazy and rather beautiful world! When you show up the way you are, I’m inspired to show up the way I am too. Thank you!

Victoria Princewill – writer, philosopher and avid learner of life. Check out her essay on Zadie Smith and the danger of single narratives when depicting the black experience.

Phoebe Boswell – incredible visual artist. Check out her visual essay, Stranger in the Village.

Aya Chebbi – pan-African feminist, Aya, used blogging to challenge the narratives of the Middle East and Africa uprisings which she calls the ‘Revolution of Dignity.’ Check out her views on ‘youth radicalisation and trust’.

For consultation opportunities and commissioned work on writing, and/or the Sustainable Development Agenda, please contact me using my contact form.

With gratitude,

picture: my utterly delightful big sister and I.