Steve Metcalfe
@stevemetcalfe.bsky.social
Interested in global development, inequality, the climate crisis. And cycling. Head of communications at the Institute of Development Studies @ids.ac.uk / www.ids.ac.uk
Reposted by Steve Metcalfe
BREAKING - WE HAVE WON!
Following a successful Judicial Review brought by Huda Ammori, and a sustained campaign of defiance by defend our juries leading to almost 3,000 ‘terror’ arrests, the ban on Palestine Action has been ruled unlawful in the courts.
Following a successful Judicial Review brought by Huda Ammori, and a sustained campaign of defiance by defend our juries leading to almost 3,000 ‘terror’ arrests, the ban on Palestine Action has been ruled unlawful in the courts.
February 13, 2026 at 11:04 AM
BREAKING - WE HAVE WON!
Following a successful Judicial Review brought by Huda Ammori, and a sustained campaign of defiance by defend our juries leading to almost 3,000 ‘terror’ arrests, the ban on Palestine Action has been ruled unlawful in the courts.
Following a successful Judicial Review brought by Huda Ammori, and a sustained campaign of defiance by defend our juries leading to almost 3,000 ‘terror’ arrests, the ban on Palestine Action has been ruled unlawful in the courts.
Hard to see how this matches with the government's aspiration to implement its development agenda around 'equitable partnerships'
www.theguardian.com/environment/...
www.theguardian.com/environment/...
UK to cut climate finance to poor countries by a fifth despite promising more help
Exclusive: Campaigners say proposed cut from £11.9bn over past five years to £9bn over next five years will cost lives and livelihoods
www.theguardian.com
February 5, 2026 at 5:53 PM
Hard to see how this matches with the government's aspiration to implement its development agenda around 'equitable partnerships'
www.theguardian.com/environment/...
www.theguardian.com/environment/...
The UK government should improve ICAI, the body tasked with improving aid spending, rather than close it down and lose valuable independent scrutiny. Some practical recommendations from @cgdev.org
www.cgdev.org/blog/dont-sc...
www.cgdev.org/blog/dont-sc...
Don’t Scrap the UK’s Independent Commission for Aid Impact, Make It Better
Last month the UK development minister discussed in parliament the possibility that she might scrap the “Independent Commission for Aid Impact”. While critics have accused her of simply trying to avoi...
www.cgdev.org
February 4, 2026 at 9:28 AM
The UK government should improve ICAI, the body tasked with improving aid spending, rather than close it down and lose valuable independent scrutiny. Some practical recommendations from @cgdev.org
www.cgdev.org/blog/dont-sc...
www.cgdev.org/blog/dont-sc...
Reposted by Steve Metcalfe
Auschwitz was at the end of a process. We must remember that it did not start from gas chambers.
This hatred gradually developed: from ideas, words, stereotypes & prejudice through legal exclusion, dehumanization & escalating violence... to systematic and industrial murder.
Auschwitz took time.
This hatred gradually developed: from ideas, words, stereotypes & prejudice through legal exclusion, dehumanization & escalating violence... to systematic and industrial murder.
Auschwitz took time.
January 27, 2026 at 11:00 AM
Auschwitz was at the end of a process. We must remember that it did not start from gas chambers.
This hatred gradually developed: from ideas, words, stereotypes & prejudice through legal exclusion, dehumanization & escalating violence... to systematic and industrial murder.
Auschwitz took time.
This hatred gradually developed: from ideas, words, stereotypes & prejudice through legal exclusion, dehumanization & escalating violence... to systematic and industrial murder.
Auschwitz took time.
About time too! There are so many better ways for wealthy individuals to support equality and show solidarity with communities in less well-off parts of the world
www.theguardian.com/global-devel...
www.theguardian.com/global-devel...
ActionAid to rethink child sponsorship as part of plan to ‘decolonise’ its work
Development charity’s new co-chairs signal shift from controversial sponsor a child scheme launched in 1972 to long-term grassroots funding
www.theguardian.com
January 22, 2026 at 9:31 AM
About time too! There are so many better ways for wealthy individuals to support equality and show solidarity with communities in less well-off parts of the world
www.theguardian.com/global-devel...
www.theguardian.com/global-devel...
"As IDS prepares to celebrate its 60th year, the field is confronting complex challenges such as climate change, global health inequality and also the social and ethical implications of artificial intelligence"
Excellent interview with new @ids.ac.uk Director on future of development studies
Excellent interview with new @ids.ac.uk Director on future of development studies
The new director of the Institute of Development Studies discusses stepping into the role after 25 years, the impact of USAID cuts and the benefits of collaborating with the University of Sussex
https://ow.ly/Eq7I50Y05r0
https://ow.ly/Eq7I50Y05r0
January 21, 2026 at 10:11 AM
"As IDS prepares to celebrate its 60th year, the field is confronting complex challenges such as climate change, global health inequality and also the social and ethical implications of artificial intelligence"
Excellent interview with new @ids.ac.uk Director on future of development studies
Excellent interview with new @ids.ac.uk Director on future of development studies
This looks like a timely and important campaign ⬇️
People around the world are hungry for economic systems change.
Reclaim the Economy Week is a new moment for us to amplify and showcase the many ways we can redesign our economies.
Find events near you, communication kits, and more at: www.reclaimtheeconomy.org
#postgrowthalliance
Reclaim the Economy Week is a new moment for us to amplify and showcase the many ways we can redesign our economies.
Find events near you, communication kits, and more at: www.reclaimtheeconomy.org
#postgrowthalliance
January 15, 2026 at 5:36 PM
This looks like a timely and important campaign ⬇️
Reposted by Steve Metcalfe
"A development and human-rights perspective should always begin with the lived experience of the Venezuelan people."
IDS Honorary Associate, Lizbeth Navas-Aleman writes on the indisputable breach of international law by US and global selective solidarity👇https://ids.pulse.ly/abbgsa8uly
IDS Honorary Associate, Lizbeth Navas-Aleman writes on the indisputable breach of international law by US and global selective solidarity👇https://ids.pulse.ly/abbgsa8uly
Venezuela crisis: When good intentions are little more than ‘foreignsplaining’ - Institute of Development Studies
On 3 January 2026, a surprising US-led military operation extracted Venezuela’s dictator Nicolas Maduro despite his careful and secret security measures and the protection of his Cuban team of bodyguards. This indisputable breach of international law has sparked intense international debates about...
ids.pulse.ly
January 9, 2026 at 1:39 PM
"A development and human-rights perspective should always begin with the lived experience of the Venezuelan people."
IDS Honorary Associate, Lizbeth Navas-Aleman writes on the indisputable breach of international law by US and global selective solidarity👇https://ids.pulse.ly/abbgsa8uly
IDS Honorary Associate, Lizbeth Navas-Aleman writes on the indisputable breach of international law by US and global selective solidarity👇https://ids.pulse.ly/abbgsa8uly
Congratulations to Anu Joshi! Looking forward to working with her to support the IDS vision of a more equitable and sustainable world 🌍⚖️
We’re excited to announce Professor Anuradha Joshi as the new Director of the Institute of Development Studies (IDS).
Building on her long-standing leadership at IDS, she will lead the institute into its 60th anniversary year.
https://ids.pulse.ly/52bb9mouwl
Building on her long-standing leadership at IDS, she will lead the institute into its 60th anniversary year.
https://ids.pulse.ly/52bb9mouwl
Professor Anuradha Joshi appointed Director of the Institute of Development Studies - Institute of Development Studies
Professor Anuradha Joshi has been appointed as IDS new Director.
ids.pulse.ly
January 7, 2026 at 5:20 PM
Congratulations to Anu Joshi! Looking forward to working with her to support the IDS vision of a more equitable and sustainable world 🌍⚖️
The science and technology needed for low-carbon living is largely already here.
The bigger challenge now is behavioural.
How can we introduce climate policies that won't backfire by alienating people?
www.santafe.edu/news-center/...
The bigger challenge now is behavioural.
How can we introduce climate policies that won't backfire by alienating people?
www.santafe.edu/news-center/...
Climate policies can backfire by eroding “green” values, study finds
A popular vision of life after climate action looks like vegetarians riding bikes, city centers without cars, and people foregoing air travel. But a paper published in Nature Sustainability finds that...
www.santafe.edu
January 6, 2026 at 2:07 PM
The science and technology needed for low-carbon living is largely already here.
The bigger challenge now is behavioural.
How can we introduce climate policies that won't backfire by alienating people?
www.santafe.edu/news-center/...
The bigger challenge now is behavioural.
How can we introduce climate policies that won't backfire by alienating people?
www.santafe.edu/news-center/...
Powerful piece about how AI is killing off local knowledge systems, and how this matters not just for local communities who depend on indigenous knowledge, but for all of us
www.theguardian.com/news/2025/no...
www.theguardian.com/news/2025/no...
What AI doesn’t know: we could be creating a global ‘knowledge collapse’ | Deepak Varuvel Dennison
The long read: As GenAI becomes the primary way to find information, local and traditional wisdom is being lost. And we are only beginning to realise what we’re missing
www.theguardian.com
December 23, 2025 at 8:47 AM
Powerful piece about how AI is killing off local knowledge systems, and how this matters not just for local communities who depend on indigenous knowledge, but for all of us
www.theguardian.com/news/2025/no...
www.theguardian.com/news/2025/no...
Great thread, and useful reminder to focus on actual data not media / political hype
🧵 Is it a super flu year? Who knows, but I think the current reporting is stupid.
A pissed off thread using data.
Firstly - here are today's headlines and some from the last 3 years... spot the difference. 1/10
A pissed off thread using data.
Firstly - here are today's headlines and some from the last 3 years... spot the difference. 1/10
December 12, 2025 at 12:30 PM
Great thread, and useful reminder to focus on actual data not media / political hype
Sorry but the idea that aid is failing because it focuses too much on rights and governance instead of economic growth is ludicrous.
Recent Gen Z protests in Madagascar, Kenya, Nepal etc show how crucially important rights are.
Apart from that clanger, good piece.
www.devex.com/news/rethink...
Recent Gen Z protests in Madagascar, Kenya, Nepal etc show how crucially important rights are.
Apart from that clanger, good piece.
www.devex.com/news/rethink...
December 11, 2025 at 9:08 AM
Sorry but the idea that aid is failing because it focuses too much on rights and governance instead of economic growth is ludicrous.
Recent Gen Z protests in Madagascar, Kenya, Nepal etc show how crucially important rights are.
Apart from that clanger, good piece.
www.devex.com/news/rethink...
Recent Gen Z protests in Madagascar, Kenya, Nepal etc show how crucially important rights are.
Apart from that clanger, good piece.
www.devex.com/news/rethink...
Reposted by Steve Metcalfe
In response to news of 25% staff cuts at FCDO
@petertaylor-uk.bsky.social, IDS Director says:
“We strongly urge the Government to pause these cuts, set out a coherent vision for UK development leadership, and ensure that decisions are driven by evidence rather than urgency."
shorturl.at/5XUVZ
@petertaylor-uk.bsky.social, IDS Director says:
“We strongly urge the Government to pause these cuts, set out a coherent vision for UK development leadership, and ensure that decisions are driven by evidence rather than urgency."
shorturl.at/5XUVZ
Government must pause FCDO staffing cuts or risk exodus, Committee Chair says - Committees - UK Parliament
Plans to cut 2,000 UK staff at the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) may breach the department’s obligations to its workforce and cause an exodus of staff, the Chair of the Int...
committees.parliament.uk
November 28, 2025 at 2:29 PM
In response to news of 25% staff cuts at FCDO
@petertaylor-uk.bsky.social, IDS Director says:
“We strongly urge the Government to pause these cuts, set out a coherent vision for UK development leadership, and ensure that decisions are driven by evidence rather than urgency."
shorturl.at/5XUVZ
@petertaylor-uk.bsky.social, IDS Director says:
“We strongly urge the Government to pause these cuts, set out a coherent vision for UK development leadership, and ensure that decisions are driven by evidence rather than urgency."
shorturl.at/5XUVZ
One of our students has written a brilliant piece about escaping war in Sudan and the impact, particularly, of the conflict on women.
"The deepest silence, however, surrounds the plight of Sudanese women...who is speaking about what is happening to women in Sudan?"
www.ids.ac.uk/opinions/fro...
"The deepest silence, however, surrounds the plight of Sudanese women...who is speaking about what is happening to women in Sudan?"
www.ids.ac.uk/opinions/fro...
From Khartoum to IDS: How living the war shapes how I study it - Institute of Development Studies
As the 16 Days of Activism gets underway, an IDS student shares a powerful account of escaping war in Sudan through a feminist lens.
www.ids.ac.uk
November 27, 2025 at 8:56 AM
One of our students has written a brilliant piece about escaping war in Sudan and the impact, particularly, of the conflict on women.
"The deepest silence, however, surrounds the plight of Sudanese women...who is speaking about what is happening to women in Sudan?"
www.ids.ac.uk/opinions/fro...
"The deepest silence, however, surrounds the plight of Sudanese women...who is speaking about what is happening to women in Sudan?"
www.ids.ac.uk/opinions/fro...
Reposted by Steve Metcalfe
BREAKING 🚨: The government has just announced that they are ending new oil and gas exploration in the UK and have started a plan for workers and communities to transition away from fossil fuels.
🧵
🧵
November 26, 2025 at 5:55 PM
BREAKING 🚨: The government has just announced that they are ending new oil and gas exploration in the UK and have started a plan for workers and communities to transition away from fossil fuels.
🧵
🧵
Beautiful wintery morning today in west Sussex
November 26, 2025 at 9:30 AM
Beautiful wintery morning today in west Sussex
Another nail in the coffin for US hegemony www.ft.com/content/79ea...
G20 defies Trump as leaders press on without the US
Agreements at G20 and COP30 show how America’s absence has not demoralised world leaders
www.ft.com
November 24, 2025 at 9:31 AM
Another nail in the coffin for US hegemony www.ft.com/content/79ea...
Reposted by Steve Metcalfe
🌏 NEW: The UK government is failing to tackle global heating – so we’re forcing it to take action with Global Legal Action Network.
Help fund the fight 👇
https://goodlaw.social/h5ik
Help fund the fight 👇
https://goodlaw.social/h5ik
November 6, 2025 at 1:44 PM
🌏 NEW: The UK government is failing to tackle global heating – so we’re forcing it to take action with Global Legal Action Network.
Help fund the fight 👇
https://goodlaw.social/h5ik
Help fund the fight 👇
https://goodlaw.social/h5ik
Reposted by Steve Metcalfe
Nowhere in the hysterical pile-on against the BBC in the British press has anyone mentioned that BBC News now has 77 million viewers & listeners in the US and has established itself as the second most trusted news source there.
November 11, 2025 at 8:37 AM
Nowhere in the hysterical pile-on against the BBC in the British press has anyone mentioned that BBC News now has 77 million viewers & listeners in the US and has established itself as the second most trusted news source there.
Reposted by Steve Metcalfe
Deadline extended!
Are you a US-based public health academic working on issues of health equity? If your work is under threat, the Sanctuary for Health Justice initiative at IDS could help.
You now have until 30 November to apply 👇
https://ids.pulse.ly/otlnmngso3
#PublicHealth #HealthEquity
Are you a US-based public health academic working on issues of health equity? If your work is under threat, the Sanctuary for Health Justice initiative at IDS could help.
You now have until 30 November to apply 👇
https://ids.pulse.ly/otlnmngso3
#PublicHealth #HealthEquity
November 6, 2025 at 1:59 PM
Deadline extended!
Are you a US-based public health academic working on issues of health equity? If your work is under threat, the Sanctuary for Health Justice initiative at IDS could help.
You now have until 30 November to apply 👇
https://ids.pulse.ly/otlnmngso3
#PublicHealth #HealthEquity
Are you a US-based public health academic working on issues of health equity? If your work is under threat, the Sanctuary for Health Justice initiative at IDS could help.
You now have until 30 November to apply 👇
https://ids.pulse.ly/otlnmngso3
#PublicHealth #HealthEquity
"our presence in Global North institutions was not just about what we could learn but equally about what we could contribute"
www.researchprofessionalnews.com/rr-news-afri...
www.researchprofessionalnews.com/rr-news-afri...
Global south scientists call for rethink of ‘brain drain’ narrative - Research Professional News
Researchers argue overseas training strengthens, rather than weakens, home-country research capacity
www.researchprofessionalnews.com
October 30, 2025 at 9:46 AM
"our presence in Global North institutions was not just about what we could learn but equally about what we could contribute"
www.researchprofessionalnews.com/rr-news-afri...
www.researchprofessionalnews.com/rr-news-afri...
Cuts in US and European development spending risk undoing the progress we've made on tackling malaria. This could cost millions of lives, and billions in lost economic growth
www.theguardian.com/global-devel...
www.theguardian.com/global-devel...
Anti-malaria funding cuts could lead to ‘deadliest resurgence ever’, study warns
Expected reduction in contributions by wealthy countries likely to cost millions of lives and billions in lost growth
www.theguardian.com
October 28, 2025 at 9:16 AM
Cuts in US and European development spending risk undoing the progress we've made on tackling malaria. This could cost millions of lives, and billions in lost economic growth
www.theguardian.com/global-devel...
www.theguardian.com/global-devel...
"the Tutor will be someone qualified to support the educational and developmental needs of children from ultra-high-net-worth and royal families" 🤮🤮 www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/home...
Family seeks £180,000 tutor for toddler to help him become ‘an English gentleman’
Parents hope immersion in a ‘comprehensive British cultural environment’ will help prepare their son for Eton or Harrow
www.independent.co.uk
October 23, 2025 at 7:57 AM
"the Tutor will be someone qualified to support the educational and developmental needs of children from ultra-high-net-worth and royal families" 🤮🤮 www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/home...
Super excited by this new IDS initiative!
US researchers working on health justice are under attack.
In response, IDS launches the new Sanctuary for Health Justice initiative, offering the opportunity to temporarily relocate to the UK.
Apply now!
https://ids.pulse.ly/cposngzpnn
In response, IDS launches the new Sanctuary for Health Justice initiative, offering the opportunity to temporarily relocate to the UK.
Apply now!
https://ids.pulse.ly/cposngzpnn
IDS offers sanctuary to US health researchers amid academic restrictions - Institute of Development Studies
American academics facing threats to their work on health equities can apply to temporarily relocate to the UK to continue their research, in a new initiative announced today. The Sanctuary for Health Justice, set up by the Institute of Development Studies, provides US researchers with an open and w...
ids.pulse.ly
October 18, 2025 at 3:52 PM
Super excited by this new IDS initiative!