The new Secretary of State for International Development comes to her post at a hugely exciting time for the United Kingdom. With political tides changing across the world, it has never been more important for Britain to take a leading role on the international stage. Indeed, Britain is a global actor with a unique standing, and we must use this moment to strengthen our position as a soft power superpower.

On the 70th Anniversary of the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation (NATO), the coalition team headed to Central Hall in Westminster to co-host the NATO Engages 2019 Conference. On the eve of the leaders summit, NATO Engages brought together heads of state and senior figures in defence and diplomacy to have a broader discussion around how the Euro-Atlantic Alliance is adapting and maintaining security for its Allies in a rapidly changing world.

The Coalition was delighted to convene CFID's Business Network meeting today to discuss the critical role that business plays in development by helping to build prosperity both at home and overseas, champion British values of freedom and human rights and reduce the scourge of global poverty.

At the start of a new decade, there is no better time to consider emerging opportunities for Britain. Our exit from the European Union is a chance for us to reassess our place in the world, and to renew and strengthen our relationships with neighbours near and far.

Update from the Coalition for Global Prosperity.

On Thursday 24th October the Coalition were thrilled to host an event in Lambeth Palace with former UK Prime Minister The Rt Hon Theresa May MP to discuss global and local responses from across the Commonwealth to tackling human trafficking and modern day slavery.

Environmental protection must be at the heart of our International Development strategy, and Britain must take the lead on this, globally, if we are to be the type of country that the world needs us to be.

The Coalition for Global Prosperity was delighted to co-host a private dinner in the House of Commons with the Conservative Friends of International Development (CFID) to discuss how Conservation & Development are two sides of the same coin, and how lifting communities out of poverty has a positive impact on local wildlife and ecosystems.

On Tuesday 10th September, the Coalition were delighted to co-host a packed room in the House of Commons to mark the 10 Year Anniversary Reception of the Labour Campaign for International Development (LCID) with The Right Honourable Gordon Brown.

The Coalition were in Brighton for Labour Party Conference this week, where Shadow Minister for International Development Preet Gill MP and leading voices from across civil society paid homage to the lifesaving role British faith organisations are playing around the world.

With Britain’s support, the marvel of science will once again outwit the protagonists peddling anti-vaccination myths.

The Coalition were thrilled to return to the Big Tent Ideas Festival last month with speakers including former Secretary of State for Defence Penny Mordaunt MP, Chair of the Foreign Affairs Committee Tom Tugendhat MP and former Defence Minister Tobias Ellwood MP joining us for a day debating how Britain can be a force for good in the world in the Global Britain Tent.

On Wednesday 17th July, Melinda Gates met with a group of conservative MPs as well as Theo Clarke from the Coalition for Global Prosperity, to discuss how the world can come together to tackle some of the biggest challenges of our time. The UK’s particular strengths as an outward-looking development superpower, as well as the most effective ways to spend our aid budget were discussed.

I speak as a Diasporan who has studied and worked in the UK for nearly 30 years, and who has worked extensively on Global health programs in Africa. I have first-hand experience working as a clinician in the NHS Trust, and have had the opportunity to share that experience through UK funded projects such as the Tropical Health and Education Trust (THET) and other charities.

The Coalition heard from senior speakers including The Rt Hon Matt Hancock MP (Secretary of State for Health and Social Care), Lord Crisp KCB (Chair, APPG for Global Health), Richard Clarke (Director-General for Policy, Research and Humanitarian, DFID), Kade Mondeh (Consultant Midwife, Barts Hospital), Dianne Stewart (Head of Donor Relations, The Global Fund to Fight AIDS, TB and Malaria), Phil Thomson (President of Global Affairs, GlaxoSmithKline), Simon Wright (Director of International Development, Save the Children) and Theo Clarke (CEO, Coalition for Global Prosperity).

The Coalition for Global Prosperity was delighted to co-host a private dinner in the House of Commons with the All-Party Parliamentary Group on Trade Out of Poverty to discuss boosting trade, investment and development in the Commonwealth ahead of the Commonwealth Head of Government Meeting (CHOGM) in Kigali, Rwanda next year.

On Tuesday 18th June, the Coalition for Global Prosperity marked World Refugee Week by hosting a packed room in parliament to showcase the leading work that the UK is doing to enable economic resilience and development for refugees across the world.

Britain has always commanded huge respect in the international arena; we punch well above our weight despite our size as an island nation. Today, the UK sits on the G7, G20, Five Eyes and the United Nations Security Council. We are one of the few countries to have hit the 2% target for NATO. And we are a global leader in development, committing to the 0.7% overseas aid budget to ensure the UK helps spread prosperity around the world.

The Coalition heard from senior speakers including; Dr Hartwig Fischer (Director, the British Museum), Tom Tugendhat MP (Chair, Foreign Affairs Committee), Tim Loughton MP (Chair, British Museum APPG), Lord Collins (Shadow International Development Minister), Shoshana Stewart (CEO, Turquoise Mountain), Jonathan Tubb (Iraq Director, British Museum), Stephen Stenning (Director, British Council) and was chaired by the BBC’s Kirsty Lang.

The Coalition for Global Prosperity was delighted to host a cross-party dinner on International Development on 13th May in the House of Lords. The event brought together senior parliamentarians from all of the four major political parties, as well as representatives from the Labour Campaign to International Development (LCID), Conservative Friends of International Development (CFID), Liberal Democrats in Development (LDID) and the SNP to discuss the future of international development and how we can work together to alleviate global poverty