GOVERNMENT

Accadian’s work for the UK and other governments’ development, diplomatic and defence agencies in the Middle East, Africa and South Asia has given us deep experience in running effective research and strategic communications projects that achieve focused outcomes.

Our work has spanned briefs including addressing unauthorised migration, countering violent extremism and promoting education, civil society, social enterprise and representative governance.

In managing domestic challenges such as terrorism or illegal migration, governments often seek to intervene ‘upstream’ in the countries directly affected by conflict or instability, to address issues at source.

Other state-funded interventions in developing countries recognise the same core truth: that in an increasingly connected world, helping to tackle social ills – such as poverty, corruption or injustice – and promoting drivers of positive change, is as much in the interests of the donor country as those of the recipient.

But hard lessons have been learnt about intervening in other countries in the pursuit of national interests. Solutions cannot be imposed and unintended consequences are a constant risk.

Successful interventions must be based on a sound understanding of local contexts and must engage local people in sensitive, relevant and sustainable ways. In our governmental work, Accadian always upholds these principles while meeting the compliance and efficiency obligations that public sector contracts rightly demand.